BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  AB 2202
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   April 18, 2012

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                Felipe Fuentes, Chair

                    AB 2202 (Block) - As Amended:  March 20, 2012 

          Policy Committee:                              Higher 
          EducationVote:9-0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program: 
          No     Reimbursable:              No

           SUMMARY  

          This bill 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  

          Absorbable one-time cost to the LAO for the study.

           COMMENTS  

           Purpose  . 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 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 








                                                                  AB 2202
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          that the subject matter of this bill is appropriately focused 
          and completed in a timely fashion.

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