BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 2302
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Date of Hearing: April 19, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION
Jose Medina, Chair
AB 2302
(Harper) - As Introduced February 18, 2016
SUBJECT: University of California: labor institute.
SUMMARY: Urges the University of California (UC) Regents to
refrain from forming a labor institute at UC Irvine.
EXISTING LAW: Provides that the UC shall constitute a public
trust, to be administered by the existing corporation known as
UC Regents, with full powers of organization and government,
subject only to such legislative control as may be necessary, as
specified (California Constitution Article IX, Section 9).
FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown. This bill is keyed non-fiscal by the
Legislative Counsel.
COMMENTS: Background. The UC Institute for Labor and
Employment (ILE) was a multi-campus research program devoted to
studying, and finding solutions for, problems of labor and
employment in the state and nation. The ILE expanded upon the
existing Institutes of Industrial Relations (IIRs) at UC
Berkeley and UCLA, which were founded in 1945, and upon the two
Centers for Labor Research and Education (CLREs) housed in the
IIRs on the campuses of UC Berkeley and UCLA. From 2000-2003
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the ILE supported a wide range of research, teaching, and
community service activities.
The ILE was restructured in 2004 in order to reduce costs and
improve the efficiency and effectiveness of its research
initiatives. The UC systemwide grants and research program,
formerly administered by ILE has been replaced by a Labor and
Employment Research Fund, which is administered by the Office of
Research within the UC Office of the President. The Fund is
overseen by a faculty steering committee comprised of faculty
from all 10 UC campuses. An advisory board to the two IIR
directors provides input on priority research areas. The
advisory board is comprised of a faculty member from each of six
UC campuses, the two CLRE directors, and two members of the
labor community. Final decisions regarding research funding are
made by the faculty steering committee of the Fund.
The UC Berkeley Institute of Industrial Relations and the UCLA
Institute of Industrial Relations continue to conduct and fund
research, teaching, and service activities on issues of
importance to working people, employers, and the state.
Need for this measure. According to the author, "In 2016, the
University of California will receive millions of dollars in
additional funding to create a new labor institute at UC
Irvine." The author argues that, "while legitimate think tanks
do not engage in partisan politics, unions have every right to
do so, of course, and may even call their institute a think
tank. But the unions themselves, not California taxpayers,
should pay the bills."
Creation of a third institute? The author contends that the UC
will create a third UC IIR, but according to the UC Office of
the President, there is no pending plan to be presented to the
Regents, who are the sole authority in the approval of
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additional IIRs, for the funding or creation of an IIR at UC
Irvine, or any other UC campus.
Alternative approach. It is unclear why this measure is
necessary. If the author is concerned that the reports that
have been produced by the existing UC IIRs have not been
researched and written without bias, the author may wish to
consider not pursuing this measure, and instead, work with the
existing UC IIRs in determining various approaches to conducting
their research and writing their reports.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
Associated Builders and Contractors of California
Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association
Western Electrical Contractors Association
Opposition
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees,
AFL-CIO
AB 2302
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Analysis Prepared by:Jeanice Warden / HIGHER ED. / (916)
319-3960