BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Carol Liu, Chair
2013-2014 Regular Session
BILL NO: AB 447
AUTHOR: Williams
AMENDED: June 25, 2013
FISCAL COMM: Yes HEARING DATE: July 3, 2013
URGENCY: No CONSULTANT:Daniel Alvarez
SUBJECT : California State University: student trustees.
SUMMARY
This bill authorizes the non-voting student trustee to vote
at the California State University (CSU) Board of Trustees
meeting if the voting student member is absent from the
meeting.
BACKGROUND
Under current law (Education Code § 66602), the CSU Board
of Trustees is comprised of, at any time, 25 members, as
follows:
1) Five (5) ex-officio members: (a) the Governor, (b) the
Lieutenant Governor, (c) Speaker of the Assembly, (d)
the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and (e) the
Chancellor of the CSU.
2) Sixteen (16) Governor appointees confirmed by
two-thirds of the Senate, each serving an eight-year
term.
3) One (1) alumni association representative, who cannot
be an employee of the CSU, appointed by the Governor
serving a two-year term.
4) One (1) tenured CSU faculty representative appointed
by the Governor, for a two-year term, from a list of
names of at least two persons furnished by the CSU
Academic Senate. The faculty member cannot
participate on any subcommittees of the board
responsible for collective bargaining negotiations.
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5) Two (2) CSU students appointed by the Governor for
staggered two-year terms from a list of nominees
furnished by the governing board of any statewide
student organization that represents CSU students and
the student body organizations of the CSU campuses.
Only one student is eligible to vote at any time.
ANALYSIS
This bill authorizes the non-voting student trustee to vote
at the California State University (CSU) Board of Trustees
(BOT) meeting if the voting student member is absent from
the meeting.
STAFF COMMENTS
1) Need for the bill . Current law provides for two CSU
students, nominated by the statewide student
association and appointed by the governor, to serve on
the CSU BOT for staggered two-year terms. The student
trustee in his or her second year serves as the voting
trustee. The student trustee in his or her first year
cannot vote in the absence of the voting student
trustee. This has created a serious problem for
student representation in recent years. For example,
in the 2012-13 academic year the voting student
trustee had health issues and missed two out of the
six meetings. In January 2013, the voting student
trustee was ill and could not attend the meeting.
These absences, through no fault of the student, meant
that there was no single member voting solely on
behalf of students. The student trustees are
constantly engaging with students to better understand
their needs, in addition to their thoughts on pressing
CSU issues.
2) Concept in this measure caught up in other issues .
Other efforts to allow the student trustee to vote in
the absence of the voting student trustee have been
previously attempted within the framework of larger
bills, but no bill with the specific provision in this
measure has been signed by the governor.
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For example, in 2012, AB 1965 (Pan) would have
authorized the student voting as proposed in this
bill. However, AB 1965 also included a provision
allowing for substitute attendance and voting for
ex-officio members at BOT meetings. At the behest of
the Senate Education Committee, the author agreed to
maintain only the student trustee voting provisions,
however, AB 1965 was ultimately gutted and amended to
deal with floodplain maps.
3) Flexibility in order for students to be represented is
not unreasonable ; however, commitment to the job of a
student trustee should not be taken lightly. Students
should recognize the intense time commitment and
demands that are being placed upon them of their own
choosing. By and large student trustees juggle
classroom time, studying, constituent work, and BOT
meetings; student trustees should not however use the
possible flexibility envisioned by this measure
imprudently. Therefore, staff recommends an amendment
to provide the voting option as envisioned in this
measure can only be exercised in the case of illness,
family or medical emergency.
4) Similar legislation . AB 46 (Pan) authorizes an ex
officio member of the CSU Board of Trustees, excluding
the Chancellor of the CSU, to designate a staff person
to attend, speak, and vote at CSU Board of Trustees
meetings in the ex officio member's absence, as well
as allowing for the nonvoting student trustee to vote
at BOT meetings if the voting student member is
absent.
SUPPORT
California State Student Association
California State University
OPPOSITION
None on file.
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