(a) This article shall be known, and may be cited, as the Awards for Innovation in Higher Education Program.
(b) The Awards for Innovation in Higher Education Program is hereby established to award funds appropriated for the program.
(c) The Committee on Awards for Innovation in Higher Education shall award funds appropriated for the program.
(d) The committee shall consist of the following members:
(1) The Director of Finance, or his or her designee, who shall serve as the chairperson of the committee.
(2) Four members appointed by the Governor.
(3) One member appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly.
(4) One member appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules.
(e) The Department of Finance shall serve as staff to the committee.
(f) Members of the committee shall serve without compensation, but the committee may reimburse members for necessary expenses incurred in the discharge of their duties.
(g) Actions taken to implement the provisions of this section by the Department of Finance, or the committee, shall not be subject to provisions of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the
Government Code.
(h) Any contract executed to implement the provisions of this section shall not be subject to the provisions of Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 10100) of Part 2 of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code, or Article 6 (commencing with Section 999) of Chapter 6 of Division 4 of the Military and Veterans Code.
(i) For purposes of Section 1090 of the Government Code, members of the committee shall not be deemed to be interested in any contract, including any award of funds by the committee, pursuant to this section.
(j) The committee shall develop administrative guidelines and other requirements for purposes of administering the program.
(Added by Stats. 2016, Ch. 24, Sec. 14. (AB 1602) Effective June 27, 2016.)
(a) The Committee on Awards for Innovation in Higher Education shall use funds appropriated in Item 6910-102-0001 of Section 2.00 of the Budget Act of 2016 to make awards pursuant to this section.
(b) Moneys shall be awarded for innovations that reduce the time it takes students to complete degrees and credentials or reduce the total cost of attendance for students, or both, through any of the following:
(1) Redesign of curriculum and instruction, such as implementation of three-year degrees.
(2) Programs that allow students to make progress toward completion of degrees
and credentials based on demonstration of knowledge and competencies, including military training, prior learning, and prior experiences.
(3) Programs that make financial aid more accessible, including by increasing the number of students who apply for financial aid, or that reduce the costs of books and supplies.
(c) The committee shall make an award only to a community college, but the award may be for innovations that encourage or require partnership between the community college and other entities.
(d) The committee shall give preference, when making awards, to innovations that do at least one of the following:
(1) Improve the outcomes described in subdivision (b) for students from groups that are underrepresented in higher education, such as
low-income students, underrepresented minority students, first-generation students, students who are current or former foster youth, students with disabilities, and students who are veterans.
(2) Use technology in ways that are not common in higher education to improve the outcomes described in subdivision (b).
(Added by Stats. 2016, Ch. 24, Sec. 14. (AB 1602) Effective June 27, 2016.)