BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    






                                                       Bill No:  AB  
          2610
          
                 SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION
                       Senator Roderick D. Wright, Chair
                           2009-2010 Regular Session
                                 Staff Analysis



          AB 2610  Author:  Niello
          As Introduced:  February 19, 2010
          Hearing Date:  June 9, 2010
          Consultant:  Chris Lindstrom


                                     SUBJECT  

                     Arts Council: officers and employees.

                                   DESCRIPTION
           
          AB 2610 removes the governor's authority to appoint the  
          director and two deputies for the California Arts Council  
          (CAC) and instead requires the council to select a  
          director, who would be responsible for hiring council  
          staff, including deputy directors.

                                   EXISTING LAW

           Existing law provides that the Governor shall appoint a  
          director and two deputies for the CAC who shall serve at  
          the pleasure of the Governor.
           
          Existing law allows the CAC to delegate to the director the  
          responsibilities for carrying out its policy.

          Existing law further provides that the director shall  
          assist the CAC in the carrying out of its work, be  
          responsible for the management and administration of the  
          staff, and perform other duties as directed.

                                    BACKGROUND
           
           Purpose of the bill  .  According to the author's office,  
          "Most state arts councils in the U.S. select their  




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          Directors; only three - California, Virginia and Georgia -  
          have Directors who are appointed solely by the Governor,  
          not in concert with their Council Members.  Members of  
          California's Arts Council would like to have the ability to  
          select the Arts Council Director, a protocol that is  
          working successfully across the nation.  Nine of  
          California's 11 Council Members are appointed by the  
          Governor, one by the Senate, and one by the Assembly, so a  
          connection between the Governor, the Legislature and the  
          Council is assured.  Having the Council select the Director  
          strengthens the council/staff working relationship.  Rapid  
          turnover at the head of such a small agency can prove  
          disruptive and lessen the Arts Council's efficiency.  This  
          small alteration in the hiring process will provide the  
          staff with the possibility of more longevity and continuity  
          in the Director's leadership."  
          
           Background on CAC  :  The CAC is a  state agency  headquartered  
          in Sacramento.  Its eleven council members are appointed by  
          the  Governor  and the  state Legislature  .  The California  
          Arts Council was established in 1975, replacing the then  
          existing 15-member California Arts Commission, which had  
          been in operation since 1963.

          According to its webpage, "The mission of the California  
          Arts Council is to advance California through the arts and  
          creativity.  The agency encourages widespread public  
          participation in the arts; helps build strong arts  
          organizations at the local level; assists with the  
          professional development of arts leaders; promotes  
          awareness of the value of the arts; and directly support  
          arts program for children and communities.

          "The California Arts Council encourages widespread public  
          participation in and appreciation of the arts and creative  
          endeavors.  The agency helps build strong arts  
          organizations at the local and statewide level, directly  
          supports arts programs for all citizens, assists with the  
          professional development of arts leaders, supports arts  
          education in schools in all areas of the state, and  
          promotes awareness of the value of the arts.  The agency  
          does this by administering a number of competitive grant  
          programs and special initiatives, collecting and  
          disseminating information, and assisting organizations and  
          individuals."





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                            PRIOR/RELATED LEGISLATION
           
           SB 958 (Fletcher and Burns), Chapter 134, Statutes of 1943  .  
           Established the Government Code.

           SB 1024 (Zenovich), Chapter 1192, Statutes of 1975  .   
          Repeals the law establishing the California Arts  
          Commission.  Recasts the law creating and specifying the  
          authority of the California Arts Council.

           SUPPORT:   As of June 4, 2010:

          California Arts Council (Sponsor)

           OPPOSE:   None on file as of June 4, 2010)

           FISCAL COMMITTEE:   Senate Appropriations Committee



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