BILL ANALYSIS �
Bill No: SB
153
SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION
Senator Roderick D. Wright, Chair
2011-2012 Regular Session
Staff Analysis
SB 153 Author: Strickland
As Amended: April 14, 2011
Hearing Date: April 26, 2011
Consultant: Art Terzakis
SUBJECT
State Boards: salaries
DESCRIPTION
SB 153 prohibits members appointed to the Agricultural
Labor Relations Board (ALRB), the California Unemployment
Insurance Appeals Board (UIAB), the Public Employment
Relations Board (PERB), and the State Water Resources
Control Board (SWRCB) from receiving a salary and
authorizes a member of these boards to receive a specified
per diem payment ($100 per day).
EXISTING LAW
Existing law provides for the payment of salaries of
specified appointed members serving on various state boards
and allows appointed board members to receive a per diem
allowance of $100 per day to pay for additional expenses
incurred.
BACKGROUND
Purpose of SB 153: The author's office notes that the
state is facing a record budget shortfall and the
Legislature is working diligently to solve this shortfall
by examining how the state spends tax dollars. According
to the author's office, this measure is intended to
eliminate the salaries paid to members of the following
boards: the Agricultural Labor Relations Board, the
Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board, the Public Employment
SB 153 (Strickland) continued
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Relations Board, and the State Water Resources Control
Board. The author's office contends that political
patronage still dominates appointments to various boards
and commissions and such bodies become a landing place for
termed-out legislators. Additionally, certain board
appointments do not require that board members "show up"
every day for work. The author's office believes that
service on a state board should be viewed as public
service, with members receiving compensation (per diem) for
their day of service and their travel expenses.
Impacted Boards and Commissions: As noted above, SB 153
provides that the members appointed to the following 4
boards listed below shall receive no salary however they
would be authorized to receive a specified per diem payment
($100 per day). The extent of the impacts of this measure
to these boards is unclear. Additionally, it is unclear
what bearing, if any, this measure would have on the
constituencies served by these boards and the corresponding
economic and societal impacts to the state.
1)Agricultural Labor Relations Board (ALRB) - the ALRB,
comprised of five (5) members appointed by the Governor,
oversees agricultural employee elections and whether or
not they wish to be represented by a labor organization.
ALRB also investigates and remedies unfair labor
practices on the part of both employers and labor
organizations. The annual salary of ALRB members is
$122,190.
2)California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board (UIAB) -
the UIAB, comprised of seven (7) members, five (5)
appointed by the Governor and one each from the Senate
Rules Committee and Speaker of the Assembly conducts
hearings on appeals of unemployment and disability
benefit claims. UIAB also holds hearings on petitions
from taxpayers concerning tax assessments made by the
Employment Development Department. The annual salary of
UIAB members is $128,109.
3)Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) - the PERB,
comprised of five (5) members appointed by the Governor,
is a quasi-judicial agency that administers the
collective bargaining statutes related to California's
public schools (K-12) and community colleges; state
government employees; California State University System;
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University of California System; Hastings College of Law;
California municipal, county, and local special district
employers and employees; and the Los Angeles County
Metropolitan Transportation Authority Transit employees.
The annual salary of PERB members is $128,109.
4)State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) - the SWRCB,
comprised of five (5) members appointed by the Governor,
is charged with ensuring the highest reasonable quality
water and achieving a balance of beneficial uses by
regulating sources of water pollution, the diversion and
storage of water, and the administration of grant and
loan programs for the cleanup or prevention of water
pollution. The annual salary of SWRCB members is
$128,109.
PRIOR/RELATED LEGISLATION
SB 685 (Strickland) of 2009-10 Session. Would have
suspended the salaries for members of 12 specified state
boards and commissions for three fiscal years except that
they would have been allowed to receive a per diem payment.
(Died in this Committee)
AB 556 (Strickland) of 2003-04 Session. Would have
suspended the salaries for members of 14 specified state
boards and commissions for three fiscal years, except that
they would have been allowed to receive a per diem payment.
(Died in Assembly G.O)
AB 2539 (Strickland), 2007-2008 Legislative Session . Would
have eliminated the salary of any member of a state board
or commission that received a salary in excess of $100,000
in 2007 if a state law or regulation required the board to
meet two or less times per month. (Died in Assembly
Business and Professions Committee)
AB 309 (Tran), 2007-2008 Legislative Session . Would have
suspended the salaries for members of 10 specified state
boards and commissions for three fiscal years, except that
they would have been allowed to receive a per diem payment.
(Died in Assembly Business and Professions Committee)
AB 38 (Tran), 2005-2006 Legislative Session . Would have
suspended the salaries for members of 12 specified state
boards and commissions for three fiscal years, except that
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they would have been allowed to receive a per diem payment.
(Died in Assembly Business and Professions Committee)
SUPPORT: As of April 22, 2011:
California Dump Truck Owners Association
Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association
OPPOSE: As of April 22, 2011:
Glendale City Employees Association
Organization of SMUD Employees
Professional Engineers in California Government
San Bernardino Public Employees Association
Santa Rosa City Employees Association
FISCAL COMMITTEE: Senate Appropriations Committee
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