BILL NUMBER: AB 895 INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Rendon FEBRUARY 22, 2013 An act to add and repeal Section 66940.7 of the Education Code, relating to postsecondary education. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 895, as introduced, Rendon. Postsecondary education: online education task force. The Donahoe Higher Education Act sets forth, among other things, the missions and functions of California's public and independent segments of higher education, and their respective institutions of higher education. Provisions of the act establish the California Postsecondary Education Commission for, among other purposes, the collection of data pertinent to the planning and coordination of the higher education system. Existing law establishes the California Distance Learning Policy, which sets forth the guiding goal and principles for the utilization of technology in California postsecondary education. This bill would establish the California Postsecondary Online Education Task Force, to consist of 11 members to be appointed on or before March 31, 2014. This bill would require the task force to examine online education programs in other states, and analyze methods to implement online education programs in California postsecondary institutions. This bill would require the task force to submit a report on or before an unspecified date to the Legislature with recommendations of innovative online education methods. The bill would repeal these provisions on an unspecified date. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 66940.7 is added to the Education Code, to read: 66940.7. (a) The California Postsecondary Online Education Task Force is hereby established. As used in this section, "task force" means the California Postsecondary Online Education Task Force. (b) The task force shall consist of 11 members, who shall be appointed on or before March 31, 2014, in accordance with the following: (1) Three representatives from the business community with expertise in business and education technology, appointed by the Governor, the Speaker of the Assembly, and the Senate Committee on Rules, respectively. (2) Three members shall be appointed by the Governor, one from each of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, the Regents of the University of California, and the Trustees of the California State University. (3) A faculty member from the California Community Colleges, appointed by the Governor. (4) A faculty member from the California State University, appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules. (5) A faculty member of the University of California appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly. (6) The Superintendent of Public Instruction or his or her designee. (7) The Lieutenant Governor or his or he designee. (c) The duties of the task force shall include both of the following: (1) Examining postsecondary online education programs in other states. (2) Analyzing methods to implement online education programs in California postsecondary institutions. (d) The task force shall submit a report, on or before ______, to the Legislature with recommendations of innovative online education methods. (e) The report required pursuant to subdivision (d) shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code. (f) This section shall remain in effect only until ____, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before ____, deletes or extends that date.