Postsecondary education: California Higher Education Authority.

Existing law establishes the system of postsecondary education in this state, consisting of 5 segments: the University of California, the California State University, the California Community Colleges, independent institutions of higher education, and private postsecondary educational institutions, as defined. Existing law establishes the California Postsecondary Education Commission (CPEC) to be responsible for coordinating public, independent, and private postsecondary education in this state and to provide independent policy analyses and recommendations to the Legislature and the Governor on postsecondary education issues. The Budget Act of 2011 deleted funding and personnel from CPEC. This bill would repeal the provisions establishing and providing for the duties of CPEC, and commencing July 1, 2015, would establish the California Higher Education Authority, under the administration of an 11-member board of directors. The bill would specify the appointing authorities and the length of the terms of the members of the board of directors. The bill would establish a 9-member student advisory committee to advise the board of directors on all matters related to student fees and policies, student financial aid, student services, student life, and other appropriate educational policy. The bill would also set forth the responsibilities of the authority relating to public and private postsecondary education in this state, to be carried out by the authority in accordance with a specified schedule. The bill would require the board of directors to convene a technical working group, including specified persons, to advise on data and policy matters before the board of directors. Among other duties, the authority would be responsible for developing, presenting, and monitoring state goals for postsecondary education, and the development of appropriate metrics that shall be used to monitor and report on the progress of the postsecondary segments toward meeting those state goals, as specified; measuring, and reporting about, how efficiently and effectively the postsecondary segments are serving the state's needs; making recommendations about how to improve the performance of the postsecondary segments; developing and recommending strategic finance policy to the Governor and the Legislature on topics including, but not necessarily limited to, the allocation of state appropriations among the postsecondary education segments, student fee policy, and student financial aid; developing and presenting basic policy parameters for capacity development or realignment, including, but not necessarily limited to, expansion or realignment of enrollment capacity among or within the postsecondary education segments, to meet the state's higher education goals; reviewing, and making recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature relating to, major capacity decisions, such as changes in mission or the establishment of new campuses or centers, that are to be financed from specified funding sources; and acting as a clearinghouse for postsecondary education information and as a primary source of information for the Legislature, the Governor, and other agencies, and succeeding to certain data management responsibilities of CPEC by developing and maintaining a comprehensive database in accordance with prescribed criteria.