BILL ANALYSIS �
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Alan Lowenthal, Chair
2011-2012 Regular Session
BILL NO: AB 2309
AUTHOR: Hill
AMENDED: May 2, 2012
FISCAL COMM: No HEARING DATE: June 20, 2012
URGENCY: No CONSULTANT: Kathleen
Chavira
SUBJECT : San Mateo Innovation Center Pilot Program.
SUMMARY
This bill, until January 1, 2016 and contingent upon an
appropriation by the Legislature or sufficient private
funding, as specified, authorizes the San Mateo County
Community College District to partner with the San Mateo
Area Chamber of Commerce to evaluate a public-private
partnership model through the establishment of a pilot
program designed to accomplish specified objectives
relative to business development and job creation in the
region.
BACKGROUND
Current law establishes the Economic and Workforce
Development Program (EWDP), administered through the
Community College Chancellor's Office, with the mission to
advance California's economic growth and global
competitiveness through high quality education and services
focusing on continuous workforce improvement, technology
deployment, and business development, consistent with the
current needs of the state's regional economies. Under the
EWDP, current law authorizes the awarding of grants to
districts for leadership in accomplishing the mission and
goals of the program, as well as authorizing centers and
regional collaborative and job development incentive
training programs. (Education Code � 88500-88551)
ANALYSIS
This bill :
AB 2309
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1) Authorizes the San Mateo County Community College
District to partner with the San Mateo Area Chamber of
Commerce to evaluate a public-private partnership
model through the establishment of the San Mateo
Innovation Center pilot program.
2) Requires that the pilot program be designed to:
a) Promote business development and
job creation by assisting early state business
ventures, as specified.
b) Leverage the college's
entrepreneurship programs.
c) Recruit and coordinate local
businesses and investors to provide funding,
sponsorships, and internships.
3) If they agree to establish a pilot program, requires
the San Mateo Area Chamber of Commerce to enter into a
partnership agreement with the San Mateo County
Community College District, and outlines minimum
requirements for the agreement.
4) If the pilot program is implemented, requires a
written summary of findings, recommendations and a
description of the partnership model be posted on the
website of the Economic Development and Growth
Enterprise (EDGE), and, within 30 days, notify the
Dean of the California Community College's Economic
and Workforce Development Program, the Director of the
Governor's Office of Business and Economic
Development, and the relevant legislative policy
committees of the posting.
5) Provides that the provisions of the bill are operative
only if either:
a) The Legislature appropriates funds
expressly for this purpose.
b) Sufficient private funding is
received by the Economic Development and Growth
Enterprise.
AB 2309
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6) Repeals the provisions of the bill on January 1, 2016
STAFF COMMENTS
1) Need for the bill . According to the author, this bill
represents the 2012 constitutent bill idea winner. In
its current form, it is unclear why this bill is
necessary, as it simply appears to authorize a
partnership to evaluate whether or not to establish
the pilot program. As current law does not prohibit
such a partnership, the bill appears to be unnecessary
in order for the San Mateo County Community College
District to partner with the San Mateo Area Chamber of
Commerce to develop the program envisioned.
2) Does a competitive grant program make more sense ?
This bill ultimately anticipates the formal
establishment and funding of a specific effort at a
single community college district. If there is a
need/ interest in this type of program throughout the
community colleges, and a Legislative appropriation is
anticipated, it would seem prudent to select a pilot
program based upon criteria established by an entity
with a statewide perspective, rather than assume that
an existing project at a single district affords the
best model/opportunity for developing the community
colleges capacity to support business promotion and
job creation. If it is the desire of the committee to
support such an effort, staff recommends the bill be
amended to delete the current specificity of the bill
and to create a competitive grant pilot program to be
selected, funded, administered, and evaluated through
the Board of Governor's of the community colleges.
3) Economic Development and Growth Enterprise (EDGE) .
This bill anticipates funding from, and requires
posting of a written summary of findings,
recommendations and a description of the partnership
model on the website of, the EDGE. The EDGE is an
economic development and growth initiative of the San
Mateo Area Chamber of Commerce formed in 2010 with the
intent to foster collaboration and communication among
all constituencies it believes necessary to ensuring a
vital business community.
SUPPORT
AB 2309
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None received.
OPPOSITION
None received.