BILL NUMBER: AB 455 VETOED DATE: 07/25/2011 To the Members of the California State Assembly: I am returning Assembly Bill 455 without my signature. This bill prescribes how all local merit or personnel commission members should be appointed. It requires that half of the members be selected by the employer and half by largest employee bargaining unit. While intended to create more balanced commissions and address concerns relating to individual commissions, this measure imposes a top down, one-size-fits-all solution on all merit and personnel commissions statewide. This measure seeks to impose a level of state control that is inconsistent with my administration's efforts to realign state services and to increase local control. Concerns relating to specific commissions should be addressed on a case-by-case basis at the local level. Sincerely, Edmund G. Brown Jr.