Copyright© 1999 by School Services of California, Inc.

October 15, 1999

Governor Signs AB 420 - Part-Time Faculty Study

With little fanfare, the much debated and often reported on legislation dealing with part-time faculty issues was finally signed into law by Governor Davis. AB 420 (Wildman, D-Los Angeles) becomes effective January 1, 2000 and requires the California Postsecondary Education Commission (CPEC) to conduct a study on comparable part-time faculty pay and working conditions. As you are aware, the bill also contains provisions pertaining to office hours and health benefits for part-time faculty. These provisions are not mandatory and are subject to negotiations at the local level.

The faculty coalition, CFT, CTA, and FACCC that sponsored AB 420 are now attempting to put a positive spin on the Governor's approval of the bill. They obviously did not get what they wanted - pro-rata pay and seniority rights for part-timers. But based on the recommendations of the CPEC report, they hope to have information in time to influence the May budget revision.

In signing AB 420, Governor Davis did not give any indication of his intentions to support increases in benefits for part-time faculty in the future.

-- Arnold Bray