BILL ANALYSIS
AB 690
Page 1
GOVERNOR'S VETO
AB 690 (Ammiano)
As Amended August 17, 2009
2/3 vote
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|ASSEMBLY: |50-28|(May 21, 2009) |SENATE: |22-15|(September 2, |
| | | | | |2009) |
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|ASSEMBLY: |49-30|(September 8, 2009) |
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Original Committee Reference: HIGHER ED.
SUMMARY : Authorizes ex officio members of the California State
University (CSU) Board of Trustees (BOT), except for the CSU
Chancellor, to designate a non-voting representative, as
specified, to attend CSU BOT meetings in the ex officio member's
absence. Specifically, this bill :
1)Authorizes ex officio members of the CSU BOT, excluding the
CSU Chancellor, to designate a representative, who is an
officer or member of the same office or elective body as the
member, to attend CSU BOT meetings in the ex officio member's
absence, as follows:
a) Governor: a secretary of an executive agency appointed
by the Governor;
b) Lieutenant Governor: a member of the Senate;
c) Superintendent of Public Instruction: a county
superintendent of schools; and,
d) Speaker of the Assembly: a member of the Assembly.
2)Prohibits the designated representative from voting on behalf
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of the ex officio member or being counted toward the
establishment of a quorum.
3)Allows the ex officio member to designate only one person in a
calendar year to attend a CSU BOT meeting or meetings in the
ex officio member's absence.
4)States legislative intent that each ex officio member of the
University of California (UC) Board of Regents (Regents)
designates a person to attend a UC Regents meeting or meetings
in the ex officio member's absence.
The Senate amendments prohibit the CSU Chancellor from
designating a representative.
AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY , this bill is substantially similar to
the version that passed the Senate.
FISCAL EFFECT : None
COMMENTS : The CSU BOT is composed of 24 voting members,
including the following five ex officio members: the Governor,
the Lieutenant Governor, the Superintendent of Public
Instruction, the Speaker of the Assembly, and the CSU
Chancellor. The Legislature established the importance of
certain state-elected offices participating on the UC and CSU
governing boards as a means to ensure that elected leaders are
able to share their perspective in the formulation of system
policy. By virtue of the office they hold, these individuals
bring unique perspectives and experiences to the policy and
governance discussions of the UC and CSU governing boards.
The UC and CSU governing boards have six standing meetings per
year, as well as special meetings as necessary. While these
governing boards have often met on the same dates in previous
years, in 2009, UC and CSU governing board meetings will
conflict once-November 2009.
The California Public Employees' Retirement System, California
State Teachers' Retirement System, Board of Equalization, and
Franchise Tax Board allow ex officio members to send a deputy to
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act on their behalf at board meetings.
GOVERNOR'S VETO MESSAGE :
I vetoed similar legislation previously. As I
stated before, it is unnecessary to statutorily
authorize a person to attend a board meeting in the
absence of an ex-officio member since the meetings
are open to anyone from the public to attend and
provide comment.
Moreover, ex officio members serve by virtue of
their experience and qualifications in sharing their
perspective on issues impacting higher education.
Allowing these members to appoint a substitute to
attend in their absence creates a disincentive for
the member to actually attend the meetings, and
diminishes the value of an ex-officio member's
contribution to the public discourse.
Analysis Prepared by : Sandra Fried / HIGHER ED. / (916)
319-3960
FN: 0003299