BILL NUMBER:  AB 553
  VETOED	DATE: 09/26/2007




To the Members of the California State Assembly:

I am returning Assembly Bill 553 without my signature.

This bill would provide the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB)
with exclusive authority to determine whether public health and
safety would be at risk in strike or lockout situations.  Doing so
would add an unnecessary layer of bureaucracy and potentially place
the public at risk.

Cities and counties have common law and statutory authority over
matters of public health and safety.  When local governments seek
injunctive relief from a strike, they are doing so because of a
potential threat to the public health and safety of citizens.  It is
therefore imperative that local governments have access to immediate
injunctive relief from superior courts during strike situations.  As
the courts are sufficiently suited to address matters of public
health and safety, there is no reason to force decisions on
injunctive relief into the slower PERB process.

For these reasons I am returning this bill without my signature.

Sincerely,



Arnold Schwarzenegger