In 1977, the State Board of Governors adopted legislation mandating the establishment of advisory committees for handicapped student programs and services in California community colleges. In fall 1980, a statewide survey was conducted to investigate the current operational structure and activities of these committees. Program coordinators at 106 California community colleges were asked to provide information on their characteristics; the characteristics of advisory committee members; the organizational structure of the committees; present and past emphases in committee activities; and committee problems, effectiveness, and functions. Selected findings, based on responses from 83 colleges, include the following: (1) respondents worked in colleges with an average enrollment of 10,995 students serving an average of 337 handicapped students; (2) while faculty and staff composed the largest group of committee members, other groups were adequately represented; (3) 71.1% of the committees lacked written by-laws; (4) during 1980-81, committee activities focused primarily on improving program operations and curriculum and instruction; and (5) major problems were identified as lack of a clearly defined committee role, member apathy, and lack of attendance. Recommendations, based on these and other findings, called for a clearer definition of committee roles, chairpersons from outside the college staff, greater community representation, more convenient meeting times, training sessions for new and continuing members, and statewide guidelines. (HB)