BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  AB 1712
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   May 5, 2010

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                Felipe Fuentes, Chair

                  AB 1712 (Furutani) - As Amended:  April 13, 2010 

          Policy Committee:                              P.E.R. &  
          S.S.Vote:    5-1

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          Yes    Reimbursable:              

           SUMMARY  

          This bill requires a school or community college district to  
          grant a leave of absence to any permanent classified employee  
          elected to the Legislature.  The bill also:

          1)Allows such an employee employed by the district to perform  
            less than full-time duties as mutually agreed upon.

          2)Specifies that within six months after the end of the term of  
            office for which the classified employee has been granted a  
            leave, the employee is entitled to return to their prior  
            position at the same salary they had prior to the leave.

           FISCAL EFFECT
           
          By imposing new requirements on local school districts, the bill  
          contains a potentially reimbursable state mandated local cost.  
          Any costs, however, are likely to be minor.

           COMMENTS

          1)Background.   Existing law requires school districts to grant a  
            leave of absence to permanent elementary and secondary  
            teachers who are elected to the Legislature.  Community  
            college districts are also required to grant a leave of  
            absence to permanent employees in academic positions who are  
            elected to the Legislature. However, no such requirement  
            exists for non-academic employees of school districts.

           2)Rationale  .  The sponsor, (California School Employees  
            Association) states the bill is intended to provide greater  








                                                                  AB 1712
                                                                  Page  2

            equity to non-teaching employees of school districts. It  
            points out that other states have enacted laws providing  
            leaves of absence for public employees who are elected to the  
            Legislature, and that California has provided such leaves to  
            teachers and community college faculty since 1976.  

           Analysis Prepared by  :    Brad Williams / APPR. / (916) 319-2081