BILL NUMBER: AB 552	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Furutani

                        FEBRUARY 25, 2009

   An act to add Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 86000) to Part 50
of Division 7 of Title 3 of the Education Code, relating to
community colleges.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 552, as introduced, Furutani. California Community Colleges:
career technical and vocational education: financing.
   Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, which
are administered by the Board of Governors of the California
Community Colleges, as a segment of public postsecondary education in
the state. Existing law requires the board to appoint a chief
executive officer, who is known as the Chancellor of the California
Community Colleges.
   This bill would establish the Commission on Adequate Funding for
Career Technical and Vocational Education at the California Community
Colleges, which would be required to conduct a study and make
recommendations regarding financing alternatives for career technical
education, vocational education, and high-cost laboratory programs
at the California Community Colleges. The bill would require the
commission to submit a report of its findings and recommendations to
the Legislature and the Governor on or before July 1, 2011. The bill
would provide for the collection of private donations and the
expenditure of those moneys, upon appropriation by the Legislature,
for the support of the commission.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 85500) is added to
Part 50 of Division 7 of Title 3 of the Education Code, to read:
      CHAPTER 9.  FINANCING ALTERNATIVES FOR CAREER TECHNICAL AND
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AT THE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGES



      Article 1.  General Provisions


   85500.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
   (a) The California Community Colleges play a vital role in the
state's economy.
   (b) The existing financing structure for the California Community
Colleges creates a financial disincentive to develop or continue
existing career technical education, vocational education, and
high-cost laboratory programs.
   (c) The need for career technical education, vocational education,
and high cost laboratory programs varies within region-specific
industries where there is a shortage in the workforce.
   (d) Establishing a commission composed of representatives from the
California Community Colleges, industry, and state government will
help to provide recommendations to the Legislature on financing
alternatives for career technical education, vocational education,
and high-cost laboratory programs at the California Community
Colleges.
   85502.  As used in this chapter, "commission" means the Commission
on Adequate Funding for Career Technical and Vocational Education at
the California Community Colleges established pursuant to Section
85510.

      Article 2.  The Commission on Adequate Funding for Career
Technical and Vocational Education at the California Community
Colleges


   85510.  (a) The Commission on Adequate Funding for Career
Technical and Vocational Education at the California Community
Colleges is hereby established.
   (b) (1) The commission shall be composed of nine voting members,
who shall be appointed as follows:
   (A) Three members appointed by the Governor, which shall include a
professor employed by the California Community Colleges, an
administrator employed by the California Community Colleges, and a
representative of a local workforce investment board.
   (B) Three members appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules,
which shall include a professor employed by the California Community
Colleges, an administrator employed by the California Community
Colleges, and a representative of a local workforce investment board.

   (C) Three members appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly, which
shall include a professor employed by the California Community
Colleges, an administrator employed by the California Community
Colleges, and a representative of a local workforce investment board.

   (2) The commission shall also include the following ex officio,
nonvoting members:
   (A) The Chair of the Senate Committee on Education or a member of
that committee appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules.
   (B) The Chair of the Assembly Committee on Higher Education or a
member of that committee appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly.
   (C) A representative of the Legislative Analyst's Office.
   (D) A representative of the Department of Finance.
   (E) A representative of the California Workforce Investment Board.

   (F) A representative of the Office of the Chancellor of the
California Community Colleges.
   (c) The commission shall elect a chair and a vice chair from among
the members specified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b). The term
of office for the chair and vice chair shall be for the duration of
the commission.
   (d) The term of office for all members shall be for the duration
of the commission. A vacancy in the commission shall not affect its
powers and shall be filled in the same manner in which the original
appointment was made.
   (e) Five voting members of the commission shall constitute a
quorum at any meeting for transacting the business of the commission,
but a lesser number may conduct hearings.
   85513.  Members of the commission shall serve without
compensation. However, all members of the commission may be
reimbursed for travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses
incurred in the performance of their duties, to the extent that funds
are available for these purposes, in accordance with Section 85515.
   85515.  State funds shall not be available to the commission
pursuant to this chapter, except that private donations collected
pursuant to Section 85530 may be expended, upon appropriation by the
Legislature, to reimburse members for expenses and for any other
purpose of this chapter.

      Article 3.  Powers and Duties of the Commission


   85520.  (a) The commission shall gather facts and conduct a study
regarding financing alternatives for career technical education,
vocational education, and high-cost laboratory programs at the
California Community Colleges, for the purpose of making
recommendations to the Governor and Legislature pursuant to
subdivision (b).
   (b) The commission shall make recommendations to the Governor and
the Legislature, including, but not limited to, its findings
regarding financing alternatives for career technical education,
vocational education, and high-cost laboratory programs at the
California Community Colleges, and any other recommendations that the
commission deems necessary to discharge its duties.
   (c) On or before July 1, 2011, the commission shall submit to the
Governor and the Legislature a written report of its findings and
recommendations pursuant to subdivision (b).
   85523.  The commission shall hold public meetings and hearings in
any city that the commission deems necessary and proper.
   85525.  The commission may authorize any subcommittee or member of
the commission to hold hearings and may request the attendance and
testimony of any witnesses and the production of records,
correspondence, and documents that the commission, any subcommittee
of the commission, or any member of the commission deems necessary in
order to implement this chapter.

      Article 4.  Financial Provisions


   85530.  (a) Subject to Sections 11005 and 11005.1 of the
Government Code, the commission may solicit, and the Director of
Finance may accept on behalf of the commission, gifts, donations, and
other financial support from private entities, for the purposes of
this chapter.
   (b) Private entities may deposit gifts, donations, and other
financial support with the state for the purposes of this chapter.