BILL NUMBER: AB 255	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 19, 2013

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Waldron

                        FEBRUARY 7, 2013

   An act  to add and repeal Article 6.5 (commencing with Section
66065) of Chapter 2 of Part 40 of Division 5 of Title 3 of the
Education Code,  relating to public postsecondary education.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 255, as amended, Waldron. Public postsecondary education:
digital arts pilot  program: video games.  
program. 
   Existing law establishes the segments of the public postsecondary
education system in the state, including the University of California
administered by the Regents of the University of California, the
California State University administered by the Trustees of the
California State University, and the California Community Colleges
administered by the Board of Governors of the California Community
Colleges.
   This bill would  state the intent of the Legislature to
enact legislation that would create a digital arts pilot program at
California's public postsecondary educational institutions for the
advancement of video game creation and design.  
establish a Digital Arts Degree Pilot   Program at the
California Community Colleges and up to 8 campuses of the California
State University. The bill would require representatives from the
Office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges and
representatives from the California State University to collaborate
with representatives of the digital arts design industry and video
game industry for purposes of developing a course of study leading to
the award of an associate degree and a baccalaureate degree in
digital arts on or before January 1, 2015. The bill would request the
Regents of the University of California to establish a digital arts
degree pilot program at up to 2 campuses of the University of
California and to include representatives of the University of
California in the development of the digital arts degree course of
study. The bill would require the first digital arts degree pilot
programs to be established by the start of the 2015-16 academic year
and would repeal thes   e provisions as of January 1, 2020.
By requiring   community colleges to offer a degree program,
this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.  
   The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local
agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.  
   This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates
determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state,
reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these
statutory provisions. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no
  yes  . State-mandated local program:  no
  yes  .


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

   SECTION 1.    Article 6.5 (commencing with Section
66065) is added to Chapter 2 of Part 40 of   Division 5 of
Title 3 of the   Education Code   , to read: 


      Article 6.5.  Digital Arts Degree Pilot Program


   66065.  (a) The Digital Arts Degree Pilot Program is hereby
established for purposes of offering an associate degree and a
baccalaureate degree in digital arts.
   (b) (1) The pilot program shall be established at up to eight
campuses of the California State University.
   (2) The pilot program shall be established at any number of
campuses of the California Community Colleges.
   (3) The Regents of the University of California are requested to
establish the pilot program at up to two campuses of the University
of California.
   (c) (1) On or before January 1, 2015, representatives from the
Office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges and the
California State University, in collaboration with representatives
of the digital arts design industry and the video game industry,
shall develop a course of study leading to the award of an associate
degree or a baccalaureate degree in digital arts.
   (2) The Regents of the University of California are requested to
appoint representatives to participate in the development of the
course of study described in paragraph (1).
   (d) The first digital arts degree pilot programs in the California
Community Colleges and the California State University shall be
established by the start of the 2015-16 academic year.
   (e) This article shall remain in effect only until January 1,
2020, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted
statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2020, deletes or extends
that date. 
   SEC. 2.    If the Commission on State Mandates
determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state,
reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs
shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of
Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.  
  SECTION 1.    (a) The Legislature finds and
declares that California is home to some of the most popular video
game developers and titles in the world, and many video game studios
require highly talented computer programmers to fill a growing need.
   (b) It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that
would create a digital arts pilot program at California's public
postsecondary educational institutions for the advancement of video
game creation and design.