BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  AB 224
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   April 1, 2009

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                Kevin De Leon, Chair

                  AB 224 (Portantino) - As Amended:  March 25, 2009 

          Policy Committee:                              Higher  
          EducationVote:9-0

          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 and CSU for implementation.  (CSU  
          is currently working to provide live audio webcasts.) UC, 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  








                                                                  AB 224
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            eligibility, and enrollments.

           2)Prior Legislation  .  SB 312 (Romero), pending in Senate  
            Education, requires the State Board of Education and the State  
            Allocation Board to provide live video and audio transmission  
            of all meetings open to the public.

           Analysis Prepared by  :    Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916) 319-2081