BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  AB 1290
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   May 6, 2009

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                Kevin De Leon, Chair

                   AB 1290 (Conway) - As Amended:  April 15, 2009 

          Policy Committee:                              P.E.R. &  
          S.S.Vote:    6-0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          No     Reimbursable:              

           SUMMARY
           
          This bill directs the State Personnel Board (SPB) to establish a  
          state internship program to facilitate the hiring of college  
          graduates in the state civil service.  Specifically, this bill:   


          1)Specifies that eligibility for an internship classification  
            will be based upon a competitive assessment.

          2)Requires the appointing power to prepare written job  
            performance evaluations for each intern including a final  
            evaluation that will contain a recommendation to the SPB as to  
            whether or not to appoint the intern to the related civil  
            service classification.  Upon approval of the SPB, the  
            appointing power may appoint the intern to that  
            classification.

           FISCAL EFFECT
           
          1)Potentially significant (more than $150,000) GF cost to SPB to  
            develop a new intern program, develop and conduct competitive  
            assessments of applicants, and to develop tests to determine  
            whether an intern is eligible to move into a regular job  
            classification.

          2)Unknown, potentially significant costs to state agencies to  
            prepare evaluations, administer intern programs, and pay for  
            intern salaries.

           COMMENTS
           








                                                                  AB 1290
                                                                  Page  2

           1)Background  .  SPB is responsible for overseeing California's  
            civil service selection system, which is a merit-based system.  
             Under this system, employers select from lists of eligible  
            candidates which are established through competitive  
            examinations. Eligibility criteria can include experience in  
            specific job classifications.

           2)Rationale  . This bill, sponsored by SBP, is intended to enhance  
            recruitment of college students into the civil service ranks.  
            SPB asserts that, while the state currently has student  
            assistant programs, there is currently no way for successful  
            participants in these programs to be hired directly into a  
            related civil service by the employer agency. SPB indicates  
            the program is needed to address an impending shortage of  
            applicants for state civil service jobs.
           
          Analysis Prepared by :    Brad Williams / APPR. / (916) 319-2081