BILL ANALYSIS ------------------------------------------------------------ |SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | AB 2610| |Office of Senate Floor Analyses | | |1020 N Street, Suite 524 | | |(916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) | | |327-4478 | | ------------------------------------------------------------ THIRD READING Bill No: AB 2610 Author: Niello (R) Amended: As introduced Vote: 21 SENATE GOVERNMENTAL ORG. COMMITTEE : 6-0, 6/9/10 AYES: Wright, Negrete McLeod, Padilla, Price, Wyland, Yee NO VOTE RECORDED: Harman, Calderon, Denham, Florez, Oropeza SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : Senate Rule 28.8 ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 74-0, 5/6/10 - See last page for vote SUBJECT : Arts Council: officers and employees SOURCE : California Arts Council DIGEST : This bill removes the Governors authority to appoint the director and two deputies to the California Arts Council and instead requires the council to select a director, who is responsible for hiring council staff, including deputy directors. ANALYSIS : Existing law provides that the Governor shall appoint a director and two deputies to the California Arts Council (CAC) who shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor. CONTINUED AB 2610 Page 2 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. Comments The California Arts Council . The CAC is a state agency headquartered in Sacramento. Its eleven council members are appointed by the Governor and the state Legislature. The CAC 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." According to the author's office, "Most state arts councils in the U.S. select their 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 CONTINUED AB 2610 Page 3 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." Prior/Related Legislation SB 1024 (Zenovich), Chapter 1192, Statutes of 1975, repeals the law establishing the California Arts Commission. Recasts the law creating and specifies the authority of the CAC. FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes Local: No SUPPORT : (Verified 6/28/10) California Arts Council (source) ASSEMBLY FLOOR : AYES: Adams, Ammiano, Anderson, Arambula, Beall, Bill Berryhill, Tom Berryhill, Blakeslee, Blumenfield, Bradford, Brownley, Buchanan, Caballero, Charles Calderon, Carter, Chesbro, Conway, Cook, Coto, Davis, De Leon, DeVore, Emmerson, Eng, Evans, Feuer, Fletcher, Fong, Fuentes, Fuller, Furutani, Gaines, Galgiani, Garrick, Hagman, Hall, Harkey, Hayashi, Hernandez, Hill, Huber, Huffman, Jeffries, Jones, Knight, Lieu, Logue, Bonnie Lowenthal, Ma, Miller, Monning, Nava, Nestande, Niello, Nielsen, Norby, V. Manuel Perez, Portantino, Ruskin, Salas, Saldana, Silva, Skinner, Smyth, Solorio, Audra Strickland, Swanson, Torlakson, Torres, Torrico, Tran, Villines, Yamada, John A. Perez NO VOTE RECORDED: Bass, Block, De La Torre, Gilmore, Mendoza, Vacancy CONTINUED AB 2610 Page 4 TSM:do 6/29/10 Senate Floor Analyses SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE **** END **** CONTINUED