BILL NUMBER: AB 2656	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 8, 2010

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member De Leon

                        FEBRUARY 19, 2010

   An act to  amend Section 18872 of the Revenue and Taxation
  add Section 66014.7 to the Education  Code,
relating to  taxation   postsecondary education
 .


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2656, as amended, De Leon.  Personal income taxes:
contributions.   Postsecondary education: contracts for
academic research.  
   Existing law, the Donahoe Higher Education Act, sets forth the
missions of the public and private segments of higher education in
this state. Existing law, the State Contract Act, contains provisions
that generally regulate the process through which state agencies
enter into contracts for goods and services.  
   This bill would require that any research conducted by an
administrator, faculty member, or staff member of a public or private
postsecondary educational institution in this state be subject to
internal institutional policies to ensure that the research has been
peer reviewed and meets minimum standards and protocols. The bill
would prohibit a state agency from entering into a contract for
academic research without verifying that the contracting institution
and the administrator, faculty member, or staff member conducting the
research complies with the internal policies to ensure that adequate
academic standards and protocols have been met.  
   Existing law requires persons who prepare tax returns, as
specified, to inform their clients, in writing, that they may make a
voluntary contribution to specified funds or programs as provided on
the state income tax return and to give them an opportunity, in
writing, to designate a contribution to one of the specified funds or
programs, and makes legislative findings and declarations in that
regard.  
   This bill would make a technical, nonsubstantive change in those
legislative findings and declarations. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  no
  yes  . State-mandated local program: no.


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

   SECTION 1.    Section 66014.7 is added to the 
 Education Code  , to read:  
   66014.7.  (a) Notwithstanding any other law, any research
conducted pursuant to a contract with the State of California by any
administrator, faculty member, or staff member of a public or private
postsecondary educational institution in this state shall be subject
to internal institutional policies to ensure that the research has
been peer reviewed and meets minimum academic standards and
protocols, in accordance with Section 10109.3 of the Public Contract
Code, prior to being released to the contracting agency.
   (b) A state agency shall not enter into a contract with a public
or private postsecondary educational institution for academic
research without first verifying that the contracting institution,
and the administrator, faculty member, or staff member conducting the
research, have complied with internal policies of the institution to
ensure that adequate academic standards and protocols have been met
in accordance with subdivision (a).  
  SECTION 1.    Section 18872 of the Revenue and
Taxation Code is amended to read:
   18872.  The Legislature finds and declares that it is important to
inform taxpayers of their ability to make voluntary contributions to
certain funds or programs, as provided on the state income tax
return. The Legislature further finds and declares that many
taxpayers remain unaware of the voluntary contribution check-offs on
the state income tax return. Therefore, it is the intent of the
Legislature to encourage all persons who prepare state income tax
returns to inform their clients in writing, prior to the completion
of any tax return, that they may make a contribution to any voluntary
contribution check-off on the state income tax return if they so
choose.