FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEFrom: Martinez, Eduardo [Eduardo.Martinez@asm.ca.gov]
Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2007 12:51 PM
Subject: Press Release -- Legislation to Bring Transparency and Accountability to the California State University Clears Key Senate Committee

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Eduardo Martinez

July 12, 2007 916-319-2044

 

Legislation to Bring Transparency and Accountability to the California State University Clears Key Senate Committee

AB 1413 proposes common-sense reforms to restore the public’s trust in the CSU system

 

Sacramento – Legislation to bring much needed reforms to the governance of the CSU system was approved by the Senate Education Committee. Authored by Assemblymember Portantino, Chair of the Assembly Higher Education Committee, AB 1413 would enact important transparency and fairness requirements regarding the CSU Board of Trustees.

 

“This legislation is about restoring the public’s trust in one of the nation’s finest public institution of higher learning,” said Portantino. “At the same meeting that the Board of Trustees raised student fees for the fourth time in five years, they also felt it prudent to provide a golden parachute compensation package for one of their most loyal executives. This legislation requires the CSU to adhere to a policy of transparency and fairness so that we need not rely on the newspapers to expose what’s happening behind closed doors.”

 

In the past year, many press accounts, spearheaded by the San Francisco Chronicle, have detailed California State University policies and practices related to executive compensation. Investigative reporting revealed previously secret compensation packages that included transition pay, professorships and special benefits that are clearly excessive, especially in light of budget deficits and student fee increases that have plagued California in recent years.

 

AB 1413 contains the following reforms of the CSU Governance process:

 

a.. Requires the Board of Trustees to approve all executive contracts in public session, revealing all benefits, not just salary and housing as is now the practice.
a.. Requires that transition pay not exceed the executive's salary at the time of separation and must be paid only for actual work performed.
a.. Eliminates the practice of “ghost professorships” by requiring CSU executives who are paid for professorships to actually teach if given this designation and prevents that compensation from exceeding the amount a full-time professor in the CSU system would be paid for similar teaching duties.
a.. Allows ex officio members of the Board of Trustees to designate a deputy or staff person to attend and participate on their behalf to ensure these key public officials have input into the governance of CSU. (Existing law already allows ex officio members to appoint an acting representative for many state boards and commissions).

“It’s unfortunate that this legislation is so necessary,” said Lilian Tiaz, President of the California Faculty Association, the sponsors of AB 1413. “With this bill, we will restore the public’s trust and recommit the CSU to its original mission: to provide an affordable and quality education to every eligible student in California.”

 

With the approval of the Senate Education Committee, AB 1413 now moves to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

 

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