SACRAMENTO (AP) — The California Assembly Select Committee on Community Colleges met just once in its two-year existence, but it provided its Democratic chairman 14 personal aides at a cost of $644,000.It was one of 68 special committees that were supposed to study issues such as wine, ports and community development in the 2013-2014 legislative session but also provided lawmakers $6.7 million worth of additional staffing, according to an analysis by The Associated Press.Democratic legislative leaders spread clout and funding for staff by appointing lawmakers to lead regular committees that consider bills. Not everyone can lead these committees, so leaders also create “select” committees that also carry staff funding but don’t consider legislation. Some lawmakers use these assignments to develop expertise and inspire policy, but they are not required to hold hearings or issue reports.An AP review of legislative records show more than half of staff expenses for select committees, or $3.8 million, went to panels that held no hearings or convened once.“Sometimes the only output is the press release announcing the committee.