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Governor Signs One Bill - Vetoes Two Others
Governor Davis is moving slowly in addressing the more than 40 community college bills that were sent to him by the Legislature before they adjourned on September 10. The Governor has until October 10 to sign or veto legislation, and the following bills are the first of many that will be addressed during the coming week:
AB 734 (Romero, D-Los Angeles) This legislation requires the Board of Governors to report to the Legislature and Governor on various issues relating to community college financing formulas which include program-based funding, criteria, equalization, cost-of-living adjustment rates, and non-credit instruction rates. The report is due on or before January 15, 2000. Further, the report will identify budgetary or statutory changes needed to implement the recommendations of the board.
The Governor agreed that evaluations of current funding formulas should be shared with the Legislature and Administration. However, he expressed concern that his signature may imply an endorsement for changing the existing budget process or diminish the focus on the Partnership for Excellence. He stressed that any recommended changes in funding formulas should not further constrain the budget process, but rather should provide incentives to increase educational outcomes within funding available for the colleges. Furthermore, the Governor pointed-out that the bills' emphasis on funding formulas should not overshadow completion of the details on the Partnership for Excellence Program. The system's priority should be to complete the requirements for the $145 million that has been provided in the State Budget. Basically, what the Governor is saying is don't expect an increase in funds simply because you have completed a study that identifies the need for more money.
Bills That Were Vetoed
AB 378 (Steinberg, D-Sacramento) This bill would have permitted the governing board of any non-merit system school district or community college district to delegate decisions on discipline of classified employees to binding arbitration. AB 378 would have also clarified existing law to provide that districts that have adopted the merit system are not precluded from negotiating a provision that makes the findings and decisions of a hearing officer or other authorized representative binding.
The Governor's veto message stated, "while I am supportive of binding arbitration in some cases, I see no reason to alter the current system of discipline in school and community college districts with regard to classified employees. School districts and community college districts should retain the authority granted under current law."
SB 76 (Murray, D-Los Angeles) This bill would have guaranteed admission to the University of California or the California State University for community college students who attain associate of arts or associate of science degrees in liberal arts.
The Governor's veto message expressed concern that SB 76 appears to offer a higher priority to liberal arts students over students who attain degrees in all other areas. He stated, "while I am supportive of the bills' provisions that seeks to examine the feasibility of an integrated associate degree program as a method of improving student transfer. I believe that any consideration of creating new admission priorities for transfer should not occur until after a feasibility study is completed."
-- Arnold Bray