(a) This article shall be known, and may be cited, as the Awards for Innovation in Higher Education Program.

(b) The Awards for Innovation in Higher Education Program is hereby established to award funds appropriated for the program.

(c) The Committee on Awards for Innovation in Higher Education shall award funds appropriated for the program.

(d) The committee shall consist of the following members:

(1) The Director of Finance, or his or her designee, who shall serve as the chairperson of the committee.

(2) Four members appointed by the Governor.

(3) One member appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly.

(4) One member appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules.

(e) The Department of Finance shall serve as staff to the committee.

(f) Members of the committee shall serve without compensation, but the committee may reimburse members for necessary expenses incurred in the discharge of their duties.

(g) Actions taken to implement the provisions of this section by the Department of Finance, or the committee, shall not be subject to provisions of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.

(h) Any contract executed to implement the provisions of this section shall not be subject to the provisions of Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 10100) of Part 2 of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code, or Article 6 (commencing with Section 999) of Chapter 6 of Division 4 of the Military and Veterans Code.

(i) For purposes of Section 1090 of the Government Code, members of the committee shall not be deemed to be interested in any contract, including any award of funds by the committee, pursuant to this section.

(j) The committee shall develop administrative guidelines and other requirements for purposes of administering the program.

(Added by Stats. 2016, Ch. 24, Sec. 14. (AB 1602) Effective June 27, 2016.)