BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



                                                                  AB 2202
                                                                  Page  1


          ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
          AB 2202 (Block)
          As Amended  May 25, 2012
          Majority vote 

           HIGHER EDUCATION    9-0         APPROPRIATIONS      12-5        
           
           ------------------------------------------------------------------ 
          |Ayes: |Block, Olsen, Achadjian, |Ayes:|Fuentes, Blumenfield,      |
          |      |Brownley, Fong,          |     |Bradford, Charles          |
          |      |Galgiani, Lara, Miller,  |     |Calderon, Campos, Davis,   |
          |      |Portantino               |     |Gatto, Ammiano, Hill,      |
          |      |                         |     |Lara, Mitchell, Solorio    |
          |      |                         |     |                           |
          |------+-------------------------+-----+---------------------------|
          |      |                         |Nays:|Harkey, Donnelly, Nielsen, |
          |      |                         |     |Norby, Wagner              |
          |      |                         |     |                           |
          |      |                         |     |                           |
           ------------------------------------------------------------------ 
           SUMMARY  :  Requires the Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO) to 
          conduct and study and make recommendations, by January 1, 2014, 
          regarding opportunities to expand access to higher education in 
          underserved areas, including through expanded distance 
          education, new off-campus centers and campuses, regional 
          partnerships of existing institutions, and local admissions 
          guarantees.

           FISCAL EFFECT  :  According to the Assembly Appropriations 
          Committee, absorbable one-time cost to the LAO for the study.

           COMMENTS  :  Prior to 2011 when its funding was eliminated in the 
          2011-12 Budget Act, the California Postsecondary Education 
          Commission (CPEC) was the coordinating entity for postsecondary 
          education in California, which included review and 
          recommendation for new public postsecondary institutions or 
          branches.  Currently functions related to campus growth and 
          planning are not being performed by any higher education 
          coordinating entity the State of California.   

          According to the author, our state's impacted higher education 
          infrastructure has neither the space nor the resources to meet 
          forecasted population growth.  Difficult economic times coupled 
          with growing demand for higher education has seen California's 








                                                                  AB 2202
                                                                  Page  2


          public colleges and universities turning away tens of thousands 
          of students.  The author contends that more should be done to 
          ensure that California's higher education system reaches those 
          who are being underserved.  This bill will direct the LAO to 
          conduct a study of how best to expand postsecondary education 
          access in California.

          The LAO is the non-partisan fiscal and policy advisor to the 
          Legislature and the LAO staff routinely provides assistance and 
          resources for Legislative offices upon verbal and written 
          request.  The author contends that while the LAO can conduct 
          studies without a legislative mandate, this bill will ensure 
          that the subject matter of this bill is appropriately focused 
          and completed in a timely fashion.
          
           Analysis Prepared by  :    Sandra Fried / HIGHER ED. / (916) 
          319-3960 


                                                                FN: 0003905