BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
Senator Christine Kehoe, Chair
1271 (Romero)
Hearing Date: 05/03/2010 Amended: 04/05/2010
Consultant: Maureen Ortiz Policy Vote: ER&CA 5-0
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BILL SUMMARY: SB 1271 requires public retirement boards,
commissions and agencies to attach to its Conflict of Interest
Code a list of positions that manage public investments.
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Fiscal Impact (in thousands)
Major Provisions 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 Fund
Admin expenses --------------minor,
absorbable-------------- Specials*
Admin expenses ----unknown, likely less
than $50--------- General**
*Teachers Retirement Fund and Public Employees Retirement Fund
**Reimbursable State Mandate
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STAFF COMMENTS:
CalSTRS and CalPERS indicate minor, absorbable costs as does the
Fair Political Practices Commission. Although the bill
constitutes a state-reimbursable mandated program, it is not
likely that costs to local pension systems will exceed $50,000.
SB 1271 requires every public retirement board to attach to its
Conflict of Interest Code an appendix entitled "Agency Positions
that Manage Public Investments for Purposes of Section 87200 of
the Government Code". The appendix will include a list of every
position with the board, commission, or agency for which an
individual occupying that specific position is required to file
a Statement of Economic Interests as a public official who
manages public investments within the meaning of Section 87200
of the Government Code. (Section 87200 applies to elected state
officers, judges and
commissioners of courts of the judicial branch of government,
members of the
Public Utilities Commission, members of the State Energy
Resources Conservation and Development Commission, members of
the Fair Political Practices Commission, members of the
California Coastal Commission, members of planning commissions,
members of the board of supervisors, district attorneys, county
counsels, county treasurers, and chief administrative officers
of counties, mayors, city managers, city attorneys, city
treasurers, chief administrative officers and members of city
councils of cities, and other public officials who manage public
investments, and to candidates for any of these offices at any
election.) The board, commission, or agency will also be
required to post the appendix on its Internet Web site.
SB 1271 (Romero)
Page 2
The affected positions include salaried or unsalaried members of
the committee, board, commission or other entity that possess
decision-making authority. SB 1271 provides that the entity
does not possess decision-making authority if it is formed for
the sole purpose of researching a subject and preparing a report
or recommendation for submission to another governmental entity
that has final decision-making authority.
Existing law requires each state and local government agency to
adopt and promulgate a conflict of interest code to establish
standards for designated employees, and to require those
employees to file periodic statements of economic interest.
Existing law also requires specified public officials, including
officials who manage public investments, to also file statements
of economic interest, but does not require those official
positions to be specifically listed in the agency's conflict of
interest code.
This bill will bring uniformity to all public retirement boards
and require persons who participate in the decision making
process, but do not vote, to file statements of economic
interest.
SB 1271 furthers the purpose of the Political Reform Act of 1974
and will, therefore, require a 2/3 vote on the Floor.