BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
Senator Tom Torlakson, Chairman
385 (Ruskin)
Hearing Date: 8/30/07 Amended: 6/4/07
Consultant: Maureen Ortiz Policy Vote: P. E. & R. 3-2
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BILL SUMMARY: AB 385 requires the Department of Personnel
Administration (DPA) and state Bargaining Unit 10 (California
Association of Professional Scientists) to jointly conduct a
salary survey.
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Fiscal Impact (in thousands)
Major Provisions 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 Fund
Salary survey
---------------minor--------------------------- General
Salary increases --------unknown,
potentially significant----- General
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STAFF COMMENTS: SUSPENSE FILE. Since similar joint-survey
provisions have been included in the Unit 10 MOUs since 2003,
DPA does not anticipate any increased costs associated with the
salary surveys. This bill will, however, codify that
requirement. To the extent that the survey results in an
increase in salaries for state scientists, the bill could result
in multi-millions of dollars in increased payroll costs. A 5%
salary increase for the classifications covered by Unit 10 would
result in approximately $8 million in state costs. The
California Association of Professional Scientists (CAPS) is
experiencing a severe recruitment and retention problem. Recent
surveys have indicated that state scientists are paid between
20%-40% less than comparable positions in the private or local
sectors. In addition, it is anticipated that up to 40% of this
workforce will retire within the next ten years.
Current law requires DPA to establish and adjust salary ranges
for each class of position and requires the department to report
on its survey of comparable occupations in private industry and
other governmental agencies. AB 385 requires the DPA to conduct
the survey jointly with Bargaining Unit 10, to submit a report
to the Legislature upon completion of the salary survey, and to
consider the survey's findings when making salary
recommendations. The survey must be conducted one year prior
to the expiration of a ratified collective bargaining agreement
between the state and Unit 10, and must use calculations of the
estimated 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 survey must include benchmark classes in California cities,
counties, and special districts, the University of California,
the CSU, and similar classifications in state government and the
federal government. Unit 10 consists of about 2,300 scientific
employees working in areas of scientific research,
investigation, testing, and analysis in the life, earth, and
environmental sciences. Among the largest classifications are
environmental scientists, hazardous substances specialists,
industrial waste management specialists, industrial hygienists,
chemists, and marine and fish biologists. This bill is similar
to AB 284 (Bermudez) which was held in this Committee's Suspense
file in 2005, and AB 1027 (Bermudez) which was vetoed by the
Governor in 2003.