BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION
Senator Isadore Hall, III
Chair
2015 - 2016 Regular
Bill No: AB 1234 Hearing Date: 6/9/2015
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|Author: |McCarty |
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|Version: |5/7/2015 Amended |
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|Urgency: |Yes |Fiscal: |Yes |
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|Consultant:|Felipe Lopez |
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SUBJECT: State Archives: museum activities.
DIGEST: This bill makes minor, mostly technical changes to
provisions governing the operating agreement between the
California Secretary of State (SOS) and the California Museum
for History, Women, and the Arts, which is located in the State
Archives Building Complex.
ANALYSIS:
Existing law:
1)Requires the SOS to administer the State Archives Building
Complex for the use, education, and enjoyment of the public.
2)Authorizes the SOS to enter into an operating agreement with
the Golden State Museum Public Benefit Corporation to operate
a museum in the State Archives Building Complex.
This bill:
1)Requires the SOS, in addition to administering the State
Archive Building Complex for the use, education and enjoyment
of the public, to also include uses to advance civic education
and civic engagement by all Californians.
2)Removes the SOS authorization to enter into an operating
agreement with the Golden State Museum Public Benefit
AB 1234 (McCarty) Page 2 of ?
Corporation and instead authorizes the SOS to enter into an
operating agreement with the California Museum for History,
Women and the Arts and would require that the operating
agreement provide for the integration of State Archives
artifacts, collections and programs in museum exhibits and
programs.
3)Requires the operating agreement to provide for support by the
SOS, as specified.
4)Removes the SOS and the Director of Parks and Recreation from
their ex officio voting positions on the governing board of
the corporation and instead makes them and the State Archivist
honorary nonvoting members of the board.
5)Makes other technical changes.
Background
Purpose of the bill. According to the author, current law
authorizes the SOS to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) with the Golden State Museum Public Benefit Corporation
for the use and operation of the California Museum. The MOU is
automatically renewed on July 1st of ever year, unless there are
changes to the operating statute. While in discussions for the
new MOU, the new SOS has identified specific goals of the museum
that he would like to add to the authorizing language, thus the
need for this bill.
California Museum. The California Museum opened in June of 1998
through a unique partnership with the State of California as a
private non-profit institution focused on California History and
culture. Under the development of the Secretary of State's
office, the Museum was created to be the public showplace for
contents of the California State Archives and it's the home of
the California Hall of Fame.
Since its opening, nearly three million people have visited the
museum. The mission of the Museum is to engage, enlighten and
inspire visitors about California's rich history and its unique
influence on the world of ideas, innovation, art, and culture by
creating opportunities for learning about past decisions and
events, present circumstances and future possibilities.
Prior/Related Legislation
AB 1234 (McCarty) Page 3 of ?
AB 2755 (Bocanegra, Chapter 914, Statutes of 2014) modified the
definition of directors for the purposes of the Nonprofit
Corporation Law.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal
Com.: Yes Local: No
SUPPORT:
California Secretary of State (Source)
The California Museum
OPPOSITION:
None Received
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: The California Secretary of State
states that this bill updates authority in current law for the
SOS to renew an agreement that expires on June 30, 2015, with
the California Museum. The SOS argues that the changes made by
this bill do not require new funding and are primarily technical
to enable the Museum and Archives to continue as a vital center
of civic engagement for use by all Californians.