BILL ANALYSIS Ó
Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
Senator Christine Kehoe, Chair
AB 1313 (Lara)
Hearing Date: 8/15/2011 Amended: 5/27/2011
Consultant: Bob Franzoia Policy Vote: L&IR 5-1
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BILL SUMMARY: AB 1313 would require the Agricultural Labor
Relations Board (board) and its general counsel to publish
specified information regarding open cases on the board's
Internet Web site.
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Fiscal Impact (in thousands)
Major Provisions 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 Fund
Case information posting $123 $116
$116General
requirement
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STAFF COMMENTS: This bill meets the criteria for referral to the
Suspense File.
The board would be required to post the following information:
- The name of the case.
- The nature of the case.
- The date the case was opened.
- The anticipated timeline for resolution of the case.
In 2009-10, the ALRB investigated 197 Unfair Labor Practice
charges. Of those charges, 70 were withdrawn after
investigation, 84 were dismissed for lack of a prima facie case,
20 were settled and 23 were included in complaints. The ALRB
issued decisions in 9 cases and released 23 Administrative
Orders.
Over the last eight years, the board has lost approximately 30
percent of its staff, having dropped from 50.3 personnel years
in 2001-02 to 35.5 personnel years in 2011-12. It is unlikely
any new costs could be absorbed by the board.
The estimated cost of creating a data bank with search function
on the board's Web site is $50,000 initially and $15,000
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annually thereafter. The board does not have information
technology personnel and may contract with a private vendor for
the development and maintenance of the site.
Describing the nature of the case and providing the anticipated
time line for resolution would require an evaluation by counsel
familiar with the case and the board's regulations and
procedures. The request for the time required for resolution
may be particularly problematic because no two cases are alike
and the time to resolution can vary widely. This analysis
estimates the board would require one-half personnel year in two
regional offices and in the Sacramento headquarters. While much
of the work could be done at the associate governmental program
analyst (AGPA) level, staff attorneys and investigators would be
needed to provide updates on charges, complaints and compliance
cases. Three half time AGPAs ($2,437) with benefits (32
percent) would result in costs of $116,000 annually.