Public postsecondary education: digital arts pilot program.

Existing law establishes the segments of the public postsecondary education system in the state, including the University of California administered by the Regents of the University of California, the California State University administered by the Trustees of the California State University, and the California Community Colleges administered by the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges. This bill would establish a Digital Arts Degree Pilot Program at the California Community Colleges and up to 8 campuses of the California State University. The bill would require representatives from the Office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges and representatives from the California State University to collaborate with representatives of the digital arts design industry and video game industry for purposes of developing a course of study leading to the award of an associate degree and a baccalaureate degree in digital arts on or before January 1, 2015. The bill would request the Regents of the University of California to establish a digital arts degree pilot program at up to 2 campuses of the University of California and to include representatives of the University of California in the development of the digital arts degree course of study. The bill would require the first digital arts degree pilot programs to be established by the start of the 2015–16 academic year and would repeal these provisions as of January 1, 2020. By requiring community colleges to offer a degree program, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.