Senate Approves UC, CSU Accountability Bills
California Political Desk
January 29, 2010
SACRAMENTO – Today, the California Senate approved two bills designed to bring greater transparency and accountability to the State´s public higher education institutions. Both bills authored by Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco/San Mateo) were vetoed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-Los Angeles) in October.
"These bills are imperative in order to rid the University of California and the California State University of waste, fraud, and abuse," said Yee. "Through this legislation, we will give the Governor a second chance to do the right thing. Taxpayers and students deserve to know how their public universities are run."
SB 330, which is a reintroduction of last year´s SB 218, would update the California Public Records Act (CPRA) to include auxiliary organizations that perform government functions at the UC and CSU. To address the Governor´s veto message, the new bill will exempt from disclosure the names of volunteers and donors who wish to remain anonymous provided they do not receive something of value greater than $500 in exchange for their donation or service.
SB 650, which is a reintroduction of SB 219, would provide UC and CSU employees who report waste, fraud and abuse, with the same legal protections as other state employees. Specifically, the bill will ensure that UC and CSU employees can exercise their right to seek damages in court if the university has either reached or failed to reach a decision regarding a complaint within the time limits established by the Regents and Trustees respectively; or if the university has not satisfactorily addressed the complaint within 18 months.
"These bills are the right tools to give Californians confidence in our institutions of higher learning," said Lakesha Harrison, President of AFSCME Local 3299. "Californians deserve Governor Schwarzenegger to keep his word and stamp out waste, fraud and abuse of taxpayer funds throughout government."
"The time has come to bring transparency and accountability to our public colleges and universities," said Lillian Taiz, President of the California Faculty Association and a history professor at CSU Los Angeles. "Because of state funding cuts to public higher education, we must ensure that what money the system has is spent as it was intended – in the classroom educating students."
"These bills are imperative in order to rid the University of California and the California State University of waste, fraud, and abuse," said Yee. "Through this legislation, we will give the Governor a second chance to do the right thing. Taxpayers and students deserve to know how their public universities are run."
SB 330, which is a reintroduction of last year´s SB 218, would update the California Public Records Act (CPRA) to include auxiliary organizations that perform government functions at the UC and CSU. To address the Governor´s veto message, the new bill will exempt from disclosure the names of volunteers and donors who wish to remain anonymous provided they do not receive something of value greater than $500 in exchange for their donation or service.
SB 650, which is a reintroduction of SB 219, would provide UC and CSU employees who report waste, fraud and abuse, with the same legal protections as other state employees. Specifically, the bill will ensure that UC and CSU employees can exercise their right to seek damages in court if the university has either reached or failed to reach a decision regarding a complaint within the time limits established by the Regents and Trustees respectively; or if the university has not satisfactorily addressed the complaint within 18 months.
"These bills are the right tools to give Californians confidence in our institutions of higher learning," said Lakesha Harrison, President of AFSCME Local 3299. "Californians deserve Governor Schwarzenegger to keep his word and stamp out waste, fraud and abuse of taxpayer funds throughout government."
"The time has come to bring transparency and accountability to our public colleges and universities," said Lillian Taiz, President of the California Faculty Association and a history professor at CSU Los Angeles. "Because of state funding cuts to public higher education, we must ensure that what money the system has is spent as it was intended – in the classroom educating students."
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