SACRAMENTO (AP) - Public universities and colleges could start and oversee charter schools that focus on teacher training and helping underprivileged students into higher education under a bill heard in an Assembly committee Wednesday.

A long line of charter school advocates, in Sacramento for the California Charter Schools Association convention, testified in favor of the bill by Assemblywoman Pat Bates, R-Laguna Niguel.

The Assembly Education Committee delayed a vote on the bill, after several committee members said they were concerned the legislation would weaken oversight of charter schools.

The bill builds on a recommendation by the Legislative Analyst's Office to expand charter school oversight beyond school districts, which it said sometimes lack the time, money or expertise to monitor charters aggressively.

Charter schools are publicly funded, independent schools that enjoy some freedom from state regulations in hopes that more flexibility will mean higher student achievement. More than 170,000 students are enrolled in California's 471 charter schools. Bill supporters said getting universities involved with charter schools would encourage elementary and high school students to continue their education, would let colleges share their expertise with K-12 students and would strengthen oversight of the alternative public schools.

The California Teachers Association, the state's largest teacher union, opposed Bates' bill, as did the California School Boards Association.

Public schools and both charter and traditional schools can partner with universities and colleges, opponents said, so there was no need for the legislation.

Currently, the law allows the 1,000 California school districts to start charter schools. If a local school district rejects an application, the charter school founders can apply to the state Board of Education.

The school district gets a 3 percent cut of the per-pupil funds given to charter schools to pay for oversight and administration.

The Legislative Analyst's Office said in a report earlier this year that many districts don't have the expertise to oversee their charter schools adequately, which can lead to fiscal mismanagement and or lax academic achievement.

School districts also often view charter schools as competition and are hesitant to authorize them, charter school advocates say.