The Leaning-Aligned Employment Program is hereby created to provide eligible college and university students with the opportunity to earn money to help defray their educational costs, while gaining education-aligned, career-related

experience. The program shall be administered by the commission, in consultation with the office of the President of the University of California, the office of the Chancellor of the California State University, and the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges. The Legislature finds that the program furthers the interests of the state, and specifically lessens the burdens of government by ensuring eligible college and university students can pursue higher education in the state.

and strongly encouraged to participate in the

program.

guidance developed by the commission, in consultation with the office of the President of the University of California, the office of the Chancellor of the California State University, and the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges. The agreement shall include the procedures that the institution shall use to ensure that each learning-aligned employment position is related to the student’s area of study or career interests.

public postsecondary educational institution shall be required, as a condition of participation in the program, to comply with such auditing or other fiscal reporting requirements as the commission, in consultation with the office of the President of the University of California, the office of the Chancellor of the California State University, and the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, may establish. These requirements shall be applied by the

commission, in consultation with the office of the President of the University of California, the office of the Chancellor of the California State University, and the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, so as to ensure that no payments received pursuant to this article are applied to the general aid or support of the institution.

All of the following entities shall be eligible to employ students participating in the program:

department.

the state, if they are capable of providing participating students with full-time employment opportunities, or opportunities to connect with other employers capable of providing participating students with full-time employment opportunities, within their areas of study after graduation.

“satisfactory academic progress” at that institution that may be considered by the institution to alter or excuse compliance with the progress requirements.

1965, as amended. If individual circumstances affect the ability of the student or the student’s family to contribute to the student’s total financial resources, the financial aid administrator may make reasonable individualized adjustments to the computed total applicant resources.

discipline.

learning-aligned employment position identified by an institution shall be reviewed by the appropriate institution’s staff to determine whether it satisfies all of the conditions specified in Section 69960.

the parties. The agreement shall be subject to annual renewal by mutual agreement of the institution and the employer.

learning-aligned employment position with adequate information to facilitate a student’s potential employment. If the priorities specified in Section 69959 have been met, the employer may indicate the employer’s hiring preferences. An employer shall not discriminate between applicants on any basis listed in subdivision (a) of Section 12940 of the Government Code, as those bases are defined in Sections 12926 and 12926.1 of the Government Code, except as otherwise provided in Section 12940 of the Government Code, or subject any applicant to any

other discriminatory practices prohibited by state or federal law.

Both of the following priorities shall be followed at the time of job referral and placement:

student

shall only be placed in an educationally beneficial position that relates to the student’s area of study, career objective, or the exploration of career objectives.

and emphasize placements for students with

employers that are capable of providing them with full-time employment opportunities, or opportunities to connect with other employers that are capable of providing them with full-time employment opportunities, within their areas of study after graduation.

The institution shall assure that each learning-aligned employment position meets all of the following conditions:

employment of a

learning-aligned employment student shall not displace workers currently employed by the participating employer, or impair existing contracts for services.

employing organization. If the employing organization has no comparable position, the student shall be paid at a rate comparable to that paid by other organizations in the field for work involving comparable duties and responsibilities. The positions shall be compared on the basis of the nature of the work performed and the background and skills required for the position, and not upon the employee’s part-time or student status.

combination of work and study hours on a student’s satisfactory academic progress. The employer shall provide the institution with an accurate accounting of hours worked and wages earned.

supplant any state, federal, or institutional funds used to support existing paid positions for students in profit or nonprofit organizations.

A participating institution shall do both of the following:

program, respectively.

subparagraph (A), if the direct employer is the University of California, the California State University, the California Community Colleges, or one of its respective campuses, the program may provide 100 percent of the student’s compensation.

learning-aligned employment position, maintain all necessary records, including, but not limited to, need analysis documents, employer agreements, financial aid award documents, time sheets, and records of payments provided to the student.

A participating public postsecondary educational institution is strongly encouraged to develop competency-based educational opportunities in order to grant academic credit for work performed in a learning-aligned employment position.

may find it difficult to locate meaningful employment because of a rigorous academic program that does not allow them to work during the academic year or because they are required to participate in an intensive work experience that satisfies academic requirements.

institutional expenditures to ensure proper allocation and

use of program funds.

by their respective campuses during that fiscal year and provide the data to the commission.

administrative practices of each

of their respective participating campuses to ensure compliance with program requirements. The office of the President of the University of California, the office of the Chancellor of the California State University, and office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges are encouraged to use existing institutional compliance and auditing processes to verify program compliance.

program.

opportunities identified pursuant to the requirements of this article.