RESOLVED: That the Academic Senate of the California State University (ASCSU) adopt the positions on pending legislation currently under consideration in the California Legislature as identified in the document titled Academic Senate of the California
State University, Positions on Proposed Bills in the California State Legislature– 2017; and be it further
RESOLVED: That these adopted positions guide ASCSU advocacy activities during the 2017 legislative calendar; and be it further
RESOLVED: That if a change in the ASCSU position on a bill is warranted and, due to time or other constraints, consultation with the Academic Senate is not possible, the ASCSU Executive Committee is empowered to act on behalf of the Senate, in accordance with resolution AS-3148-13/FGA (Rev) and the ASCSU Bylaws, while exercising due diligence in keeping the ASCSU informed of such actions;
RESOLVED: That the ASCSU distribute this resolution and document to the Governor of the State of California, CSU Board of Trustees, CSU Chancellor, CSU campus Presidents, CSU campus Senate Chairs, CSU Provosts/Vice Presidents of Academic Affairs, California Faculty Association (CFA), California State Student Association (CSSA), CSU Emeritus and Retired Faculty Association (CSUERFA), Academic Senate for the California Community Colleges, Academic Senate of the University of California, President of the California Community Colleges’ Board of Governors, Chair of the University of California Board of Regents, Senate Pro tem, Speaker of the California Assembly, Chair of the Assembly Higher Education Committee, Chair of the Senate Education Committee, Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee, Chair of the Senate Budget Committee, Chair of the Assembly Banking and Finance Committee.
RATIONALE: This resolution is part of the ASCSU Legislative advocacy strategy for 2017, based on the guidelines approved by the Senate in fall 2013. Its purpose is to assist the Academic Senate and its members to be effective and to respond quickly to proposed legislation during the key period of the legislative calendar (March-May). It is during this time that Legislative bills are heard in committee in their House of origin. Advocacy efforts to shape and influence bill development are likely to be most effective at this time.
Under the California state legislative calendar, proposed legislation is not introduced until late February. In the past, it has been the practice of ASCSU to establish its position on legislation by means of resolutions addressing individual
bills, which limits the number of bills to which the Academic Senate can respond meaningfully. Moreover, as a result of our practice of first and second readings, Senate legislative positions frequently were not finalized until the May plenary under this approach. By that time, important discussion on the bills in the legislative committees has already occurred. This resolution establishes official ASCSU positions on a wide range of bills early in the legislative process in order to enable the Academic Senate to participate more effectively in bill development.