(a) Each participating public postsecondary educational institution shall collaborate with local employers to identify learning-aligned employment opportunities that are located near the institution, aligned with the areas of study offered by the institution, and aligned with an eligible student’s area of study. Each 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.

(b) Once the public postsecondary educational institution has identified a learning-aligned employment position, the employer and the institution shall execute a written agreement that confirms the employer’s eligibility to participate in the program and its willingness to comply with all program requirements, and specifies the responsibilities of each of the parties. The agreement shall be subject to annual renewal by mutual agreement of the institution and the employer.

(c) Following execution of the agreement pursuant to subdivision (b), the employer may interview prospective students. The institution shall provide the employer and each applicant for the 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 § 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 § 12940 of the Government Code, or subject any applicant to any other discriminatory practices prohibited by state or federal law.

(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 144, Sec. 38. (AB 132) Effective July 27, 2021.)