69981
. (a) There is hereby created an instrumentality of the State
of California to be known as the Golden State Scholarshare College
Savings Trust.
(b) The purposes, powers, and duties of the Scholarshare trust are
vested in, and shall be exercised by, the board.
(c) The board, in the capacity of trustee, shall have the power
and authority to do all of the following:
(1) Sue and be sued.
(2) Make and enter into contracts necessary for the administration
of the Scholarshare trust.
(3) Adopt a corporate seal and change and amend it from time to
time.
(4) Cause moneys in the program fund to be held and invested and
reinvested.
(5) Enter into agreements with any institution of higher education
or any federal or other state agency or other entity as required for
the effectuation of its rights and duties.
(6) Accept any grants, gifts, appropriation, and other moneys from
any unit of federal, state, or local government or any other person,
firm, partnership, or corporation for deposit to the administrative
fund or the program fund. Except as otherwise provided in Section
69982, the board may not accept any contribution by any nonpublic
entity, person, firm, partnership, or corporation that is not
designated for a specified beneficiary, unless the contribution is
deposited in the CalSAVE account pursuant to subdivision (d).
(7) Enter into participation agreements with participants, as set
forth in Section 69983.
(8) Make payments to institutions of higher education pursuant to
participation agreements on behalf of beneficiaries.
(9) Make refunds to participants upon the cancellation of
participation agreements pursuant to the provisions, limitations, and
restrictions set forth in this article.
(10) Appoint an executive director, who shall serve at the
pleasure of the board, and determine the duties of the executive
director and other staff as necessary and set their compensation. The
board may authorize the executive director to enter into contracts
on behalf of the board or conduct any business necessary for the
efficient operation of the board.
(11) Make provisions for the payment of costs of administration
and operation of the Scholarshare trust.
(12) Carry out the duties and obligations of the Scholarshare
trust pursuant to this article and have any and all other powers as
may be reasonably necessary for the effectuation of the purposes,
objectives, and provisions of this article.
(d) (1) There is established within the Scholarshare trust the
California Scholarshare Advancement Vehicle for Education (CalSAVE)
program to fund scholarships for beneficiaries to be determined by
the board that may include, but are not limited to, foster youth,
youth in at-risk categories, individuals with demonstrated economic
need, former and active members of the California National Guard,
individuals seeking undergraduate or postbaccalaureate courses in
disciplines in which the state faces shortages, including nursing and
teaching, and other categories to be determined by the board.
(2) The CalSAVE account is created within the program fund and is
continuously appropriated, without regard to fiscal years, to the
board for the purposes of the CalSAVE program. The board shall create
subaccounts within the CalSAVE account for each category of
beneficiary determined pursuant to paragraph (1). The CalSAVE account
shall be funded by contributions from federal or local governments,
or any other person, firm, partnership, or corporation, and from the
administrative fund established pursuant to Section 69984. Any person
contributing to the CalSAVE account may designate that his or her
contribution be deposited into any subaccount within the CalSAVE
account, or may contribute without any designation. The board shall
apportion any undesignated funds among the subaccounts, taking into
consideration factors, including, but not limited to, the number of
eligible applications received seeking funding from a particular
subaccount.
(e) The board shall adopt regulations as it deems necessary to
implement this article consistent with the federal Internal Revenue
Code and regulations issued pursuant to that code to ensure that this
program meets all criteria for federal tax-deferral or tax-exempt
benefits, or both.