BILL NUMBER: AB 385	ENROLLED
	BILL TEXT

	PASSED THE SENATE  SEPTEMBER 5, 2007
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  JUNE 6, 2007
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JUNE 4, 2007
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 26, 2007

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, 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, one year prior to the expiration of a
ratified collective bargaining agreement between State Bargaining
Unit 10 and the state, the total compensation for comparable services
in other public agencies, as specified. The bill would require the
department, upon completion of the survey, 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.


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, one year prior to
the expiration of a ratified collective bargaining agreement between
State Bargaining Unit 10 and the state, 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 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. Upon completion of the
survey, 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.