The Kenneth L. Maddy State Endowment Fund was established with a $1 million grant from the California State Legislature in 1999 to support the activities of the Maddy Institute.

The money was to be used to “provide training for leadership in government, and shall prepare students and elected officials for public service in the tradition established by The Honorable Kenneth L. Maddy during his more than 25 years of service to the citizens of California.”  Cal. Ed. Code Sec. 89260.  The legislation further states that:

It is the intent of the Legislature that the Institute provide public leadership training in two primary areas:

(a) Students nearing completion of the requirements for a bachelor of arts degree or for a master’s degree shall be eligible for internships with local, state, and federal government officials without regard to political party affiliation. The internship experience shall provide students with the opportunity to develop public leadership skills while gaining practical knowledge of the day-to-day operations of government and the political process.

(b) The institute shall develop and sponsor seminars, extension courses, and symposia on topics directly related to public administration in local and state government. The institute shall serve as a nonpartisan training center to provide elected officials with practical, intensive, and convenient instruction in topics such as public finance, staff administration, budget planning, drafting of legislation, and the legislative process. The institute shall issue certificates for completion of course and program modules.

Instruction at the institute shall be provided primarily by the California State University, Fresno, supplemented by frequent, in-depth discussions with active and retired appointed and elected public officials, and shall include an oral history element. It is the intent of the Legislature that the institute shall specifically seek to sponsor regular roundtable discussions among experienced elected officials on topics related to public administration, emerging public policy, and legislation in their areas of government service.

Id. at Sec. 89260.3 and 89260.5.