(a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(1) The recent college admissions scandal highlights the need for fair and transparent admissions processes, and concern for what is referred to as “back door” admissions for legacy and donor-related applicants who collectively do not reflect the diversity of the state.

(2) Research has shown that legacy and donor admissions give an unfair advantage to wealthier students who benefit from having parents or other individuals in their lives who went to college.

(3) It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to bring more fairness and transparency to college admissions in the state, especially at institutions of higher education that enroll students who receive state-funded financial aid.

(b) On or before June 30, 2020, and on or before June 30 of each year from 2021 to 2024, inclusive, the Trustees of the California State University, the Regents of the University of California, and the appropriate governing bodies of each independent institution of higher education that is a “qualifying institution,” as defined in subdivision (l) of Section 69432.7, shall report to the appropriate budget subcommittees and policy committees of the Legislature whether their respective institutions provide any manner of preferential treatment in admission to applicants on the basis of their relationships to donors or alumni of the institution.

(c) Each institution that provides preferential treatment as described in subdivision (b) shall include in its report pursuant to subdivision (b) all of the following for the academic year commencing in the previous calendar year pertaining to applicants described in subdivision (b):

(1) The number of applicants who did not meet the institution’s admission standards that apply to all applicants, but who were offered admission.

(2) The number of applicants reported pursuant to paragraph (1) who accepted admission to the institution.

(3) The number of applicants reported pursuant to paragraph (2) who enrolled at the institution.

(4) The number of applicants who met the institution’s admission standards that apply to all applicants and who were offered admission.

(5) The number of applicants reported pursuant to paragraph (4) who accepted admission to the institution.

(6) The number of applicants reported pursuant to paragraph (5) who enrolled at the institution.

(d) Information reported by the California State University and the University of California pursuant to subdivisions (b) and (c) shall be disaggregated by each campus of these segments.

(e) Notwithstanding Section 67400, this section shall apply to the University of California.

(Added by Stats. 2019, Ch. 514, Sec. 1. (AB 697) Effective January 1, 2020.)