BILL ANALYSIS AB 1436 Page 1 Date of Hearing: January 21, 2010 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Kevin De Leon, Chair AB 1436 (Portantino) - As Amended: January 4, 2010 Policy Committee: Higher EducationVote:8-0 Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: SUMMARY This bill: 1)Requires the governing boards of the California State University (CSU) and the California Community Colleges (CCC), the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) and its auxiliary organization EdFund, and the California Postsecondary Education Commission (CPEC), and requests the Regents of the University of California (UC), to make available live internet audio broadcasts of all board and commission meetings that are open to the public. 2)Requires that notice of the meetings and a link to the audio webcasts be easily accessible on each entity's website. FISCAL EFFECT Minor absorbable costs to CSAC for implementation. UC, CSU, CCC, CPEC, and EdFund already meet the bill's requirements. COMMENTS 1)Purpose . According to the author, California's open meeting laws are intended to ensure the public is informed about, and able to participate in, government discussions and decisions. However, it is unrealistic to expect most interested parties to be able to travel to attend these open meetings. Audio webcasts provide alternate means of participation that should be made available, since these boards and commissions make decisions regarding issues such as student fees, Cal Grant eligibility, and enrollments. AB 1436 Page 2 2)Prior Legislation . This bill is identical to AB 224 (Portantino) of 2009, which the author amended in the Senate to address another subject. Analysis Prepared by : Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916) 319-2081