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 be subject to internal institutional policies regarding minimum academic standards and protocols, as defined by the public or private postsecondary educational institution. The bill would prohibit a state agency from entering into a contract for academic research without first verifying that the contracting institution, and the administrator, faculty member, or staff member conducting the research, are subject to those internal institutional policies. The bill would also require a state agency to require the administrator, facility member, or staff member who conducts research pursuant to a contract with the State of California to certify that the research complies with those minimum academic standards and protocols.