BILL ANALYSIS
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | AB 2610|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: AB 2610
Author: Niello (R)
Amended: As introduced
Vote: 21
SENATE GOVERNMENTAL ORG. COMMITTEE : 6-0, 6/9/10
AYES: Wright, Negrete McLeod, Padilla, Price, Wyland, Yee
NO VOTE RECORDED: Harman, Calderon, Denham, Florez,
Oropeza
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : Senate Rule 28.8
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 74-0, 5/6/10 - See last page for vote
SUBJECT : Arts Council: officers and employees
SOURCE : California Arts Council
DIGEST : This bill removes the Governors authority to
appoint the director and two deputies to the California
Arts Council and instead requires the council to select a
director, who is responsible for hiring council staff,
including deputy directors.
ANALYSIS :
Existing law provides that the Governor shall appoint a
director and two deputies to the California Arts Council
(CAC) who shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor.
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AB 2610
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Existing law allows the CAC to delegate to the director the
responsibilities for carrying out its policy.
Existing law further provides that the director shall
assist the CAC in the carrying out of its work, be
responsible for the management and administration of the
staff, and perform other duties as directed.
Comments
The California Arts Council . The CAC is a state agency
headquartered in Sacramento. Its eleven council members
are appointed by the Governor and the state Legislature.
The CAC was established in 1975, replacing the then
existing 15-member California Arts Commission, which had
been in operation since 1963.
According to its webpage, "The mission of the California
Arts Council is to advance California through the arts and
creativity. The agency encourages widespread public
participation in the arts; helps build strong arts
organizations at the local level; assists with the
professional development of arts leaders; promotes
awareness of the value of the arts; and directly support
arts program for children and communities.
"The California Arts Council encourages widespread public
participation in and appreciation of the arts and creative
endeavors. The agency helps build strong arts
organizations at the local and statewide level, directly
supports arts programs for all citizens, assists with the
professional development of arts leaders, supports arts
education in schools in all areas of the state, and
promotes awareness of the value of the arts. The agency
does this by administering a number of competitive grant
programs and special initiatives, collecting and
disseminating information, and assisting organizations and
individuals."
According to the author's office, "Most state arts councils
in the U.S. select their Directors; only three -
California, Virginia and Georgia - have Directors who are
appointed solely by the Governor, not in concert with their
Council Members. Members of California's Arts Council
would like to have the ability to select the Arts Council
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Director, a protocol that is working successfully across
the nation. Nine of California's 11 Council Members are
appointed by the Governor, one by the Senate, and one by
the Assembly, so a connection between the Governor, the
Legislature and the Council is assured. Having the Council
select the Director strengthens the council/staff working
relationship. Rapid turnover at the head of such a small
agency can prove disruptive and lessen the Arts Council's
efficiency. This small alteration in the hiring process
will provide the staff with the possibility of more
longevity and continuity in the Director's leadership."
Prior/Related Legislation
SB 1024 (Zenovich), Chapter 1192, Statutes of 1975, repeals
the law establishing the California Arts Commission.
Recasts the law creating and specifies the authority of the
CAC.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
SUPPORT : (Verified 6/28/10)
California Arts Council (source)
ASSEMBLY FLOOR :
AYES: Adams, Ammiano, Anderson, Arambula, Beall, Bill
Berryhill, Tom Berryhill, Blakeslee, Blumenfield,
Bradford, Brownley, Buchanan, Caballero, Charles
Calderon, Carter, Chesbro, Conway, Cook, Coto, Davis, De
Leon, DeVore, Emmerson, Eng, Evans, Feuer, Fletcher,
Fong, Fuentes, Fuller, Furutani, Gaines, Galgiani,
Garrick, Hagman, Hall, Harkey, Hayashi, Hernandez, Hill,
Huber, Huffman, Jeffries, Jones, Knight, Lieu, Logue,
Bonnie Lowenthal, Ma, Miller, Monning, Nava, Nestande,
Niello, Nielsen, Norby, V. Manuel Perez, Portantino,
Ruskin, Salas, Saldana, Silva, Skinner, Smyth, Solorio,
Audra Strickland, Swanson, Torlakson, Torres, Torrico,
Tran, Villines, Yamada, John A. Perez
NO VOTE RECORDED: Bass, Block, De La Torre, Gilmore,
Mendoza, Vacancy
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TSM:do 6/29/10 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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