Community colleges: Pathways to Biotechnology Programs.

Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as one of the segments of public postsecondary education in this state. Under existing law, the board of governors selects the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges to serve as the chief executive officer of the segment. Existing law establishes various programs establishing courses of study at campuses of the California Community Colleges. This bill would make available, upon appropriation in the annual Budget Act, the sum of $10,000,000 to the Chancellor's Office of the California Community Colleges for the purpose of expanding student pathways to biotechnology programs, as specified. The bill would authorize the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, or its authorized designees, to contract with the Foundation for California Community Colleges for the purpose of providing administrative support for the expansion of pathways to biotechnology programs. The bill would require the Chancellor's Office of the California Community Colleges, on or before July 1, 2025, to submit a report to the appropriate budget and policy committees of the Legislature regarding the outcomes resulting from the use of these funds, as specified. This bill would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2026.