BILL NUMBER: AB 385	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Ruskin

                        FEBRUARY 15, 2007

   An act to add Section 19826.7 to the Government Code, relating to
public employees.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 385, as introduced, Ruskin. Public employees: salaries:
professional scientists.
   Existing law requires the Department of Personnel Administration
to establish and adjust salary ranges for each class of position in
the state civil service subject to any merit limits contained in
Article VII of the California Constitution. Accordingly, the
department represents the Governor and presents the state's
management position in negotiations with recognized employee
organizations representing state employees.
   At least 6 months before the end of the term of an existing
memorandum of understanding or immediately upon the reopening of
negotiations under an existing memorandum of understanding, existing
law requires the department to submit to the parties involved and the
Legislature, a report containing the department's findings relating
to the salaries of employees in comparable occupations in private
industry and other governmental agencies.
   This bill would instead require the Department of Personnel
Administration and the exclusive representative of State Bargaining
Unit 10 to jointly survey annually the salaries of comparable
occupations in other public agencies, as specified. On or before
January 10 of each year. The bill would then require the department
to submit a report to the Legislature containing the survey's
findings, and would declare the policy of the state to consider
comparable salaries prior to making salary recommendations.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 19826.7 is added to the Government Code, to
read:
   19826.7.  (a) In lieu of the report required under subdivision (c)
of Section 19826, the department and the exclusive representative
for State Bargaining Unit 10 shall jointly survey annually and
calculate the estimated average total compensation based on projected
average total compensation for comparable services in other public
agencies as of July 1 of the fiscal year in which the survey is
conducted. The state and the exclusive representative for State
Bargaining Unit 10 shall meet and confer in good faith pursuant to
the Ralph C. Dills Act (Chapter 10.3 (commencing with Section 3512)
of Division 4 of Title 1) regarding survey methodology consistent
with this section. The survey shall be completed on or before January
10 each year and shall contain comparable occupations or benchmark
classes in California cities, counties, and special districts, the
University of California, the California State University, and
similar classifications in state government and the federal
government. For survey comparison purposes, each State Bargaining
Unit 10 classification shall be placed into one of the following
categories: Environmental Scientist Range C, Chemist Range C,
Associate Geologist, Research Scientist III and IV, Associate
Industrial Hygienist, and Associate Health Physicist. On or before
January 10 of each year, the department shall submit to the
Legislature a report containing the survey's findings related to the
salaries of employees in comparable occupations in the other public
sector agencies.
   (b) In order for the state to recruit and retain highly skilled
and educated professional scientists and to recognize the vital role
these employees serve within state government, it is the policy of
the state to consider comparable salaries prior to making salary
recommendations.
   (c) In order to provide comparability in pay for professional
scientists in State Bargaining Unit 10, the department shall take
into consideration the salary of other scientists in public
employment as contained in the annual report prepared pursuant to
this section.