BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 2664
Page 1
Date of Hearing: May 11, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Lorena Gonzalez, Chair
AB
2664 (Irwin) - As Amended April 26, 2016
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|Policy |Higher Education |Vote:|12 - 1 |
|Committee: | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
|-------------+-------------------------------+-----+-------------|
| |Jobs, Economic Development, | |9 - 0 |
| |and the Economy | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill requires the University of California (UC), subject to
appropriation by the Legislature, to fund innovation and
entrepreneurship programs at each UC campus and at the Lawrence
Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), and in other areas of the
state that may benefit from these programs.
AB 2664
Page 2
FISCAL EFFECT:
General Fund cost pressure, at least in the low tens of millions
of dollars to fund activities at 10 UC campuses and the LBNL,
and potentially other areas of the state. A prior version of
this bill included at $66 million General Fund appropriation, to
be available in equal increments over three fiscal years,
equivalent to $2 million per year to each of the 11 UC sites.
COMMENTS:
Purpose. As the research arm of the state, the UC has driven
innovation and economic growth. According to the UC, it is now
the world's academic leader in the number or research
inventions, with 1,700 reported in 2014. The UC continues to be
the launching platform for a numerous startup companies that
stimulate the economic and job growth in California.
According to the UC, specific investments are needed so that the
pace can be maintained to keep up with the demand for innovation
and entrepreneurial infrastructure, resources, and support
programs. The UC contends that the investments will leverage UC
research in two ways: by providing researchers with the
necessary tools to turn their ideas into job-providing
companies; and by organizing research systemwide in order to
address the various challenges facing California.
Analysis Prepared by:Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916)
319-2081
AB 2664
Page 3