CALIFORNIA — The California State Senate unanimously passed legislation today that would make state university executive compensation decisions public.
Drafted by Sen. Leland Yee (D-San Francisco-San Mateo), SB 190 requires all executive salary decisions at the University of California and California State University systems to be voted on in an open session of a subcommittee and the full board.
SB 190 was introduced after lawsuits and audits revealed that top administrators in the University of California and California State University systems did not get public approval from the Regents or Trustees for compensation packages and that some top executives were paid more than the amount released to the public.
“With today’s vote, the Senate spoke loud and clear to the UC and CSU governing boards: end this culture of secrecy,” Yee said in a statement. “SB 190 will bring much needed sunshine to executive compensation discussions, provide members of the media the democratic access they deserve, and help restore the public’s trust.”
The bill now moves to the California State Assembly for consideration.
By Jared Taylor, SPLC staff writer