Lawmakers pledged to reform the oft-criticized California State University system at a press conference Wednesday in the State Capitol.

Assemblymembers Anthony J. Portantino and Julia Brownley announced their introduction of Assembly Bill 1413 which calls for limiting CSU executive compensation packages and more legislative oversight of the CSU Governance Board.

“Their priorities are upside down. While (executives) enjoy lavish compensation packages, students are being hit with raised fees,” Brownley said. “Priority number one is providing the best education for California’s students.”

Authored by Brownley and Portantino, the bill will require all executive compensation packages be approved in public session, actual teaching and a salary cap for those granted professorships and regular employee compensation reports. AB 1413 will also add two legislative-appointed trustees to the CSU Governance Board, which currently consists of 16 governor-appointed trustees.

The bill follows a request for a thorough audit of the CSU system submitted by Portantino and two other legislators two weeks ago. Portantino said both the audit and the bill were prompted by recent media coverage of questionable practices by the CSU system.

“It concerns me that legitimate questions were raised in the media about certain practices both on executive compensation and how the CSU system makes its decisions,” Portantino said. “Certainly, it’s good to raise the questions but I want to have the answers.”

Senator Gloria Romero, a graduate of CSU San Bernardino and member of the California Faculty Association, said she supported the bill and vowed to work for its passage in the California Senate.

“The trustees have been operating in the dark of night. Those days are over,” Romero said. “It’s a period for sunshine and accountability.”

Marilen Bugarin can be reached at [email protected]