Last week the Senate Pro tem Don Perata announced the creation of several select committees in the California State Senate that are of interest to the CSU. The select committees, unlike standing committees which meet on a regular basis throughout the year to hear legislative proposals, are small in membership size, generally consisting of only the chair and a few members. They meet infrequently as their charge is to conduct hearings to study significant California public policy issues and challenging problems facing the State, with a goal to develop long-term solutions. Over time, legislative proposals come out of their work on issues studied by the select committee resulting from research and recommendations during their hearings. The following committees have been created, and chairs have been appointed, for the 2007-2008 legislative session in the Senate:

• Select Committee on Biotechnology, chaired by Ellen Corbett of San Leandro;
• Select Committee on California Master Plan for Education, chaired by Joe Simitian of Palo Alto;
• Select Committee on Colleges and University Admission Outreach, chaired by Alex Padilla of Pacoima;
• Select Committee on Emerging Technology and Economic Competitiveness, chaired by Elaine Alquist of San Clara;
• Select Committee on High School Retention, chaired by Darrell Steinberg of Sacramento; and
• Select Committee on Privacy, chaired by Joe Smitian of Palo Alto.

In addition, Senator Perata announced that Jack Scott will also chair the Higher Education Subcommittee of the Senate Education Committee, of which he also is chairman.

For the complete list of select committees named by Senate Pro Tem Don Perata, please visit Senator Don Perata's website.