Senate Bill 190 – legislation with the goal of bringing greater transparency and public access to executive compensation actions in both the California State University and University of California systems – was unanimously approved by the State Senate on May 2.

Senator Leland Yee, D-San Francisco/San Mateo, who sponsored the bill, said people such as students and faculty have urged the bill be passed because it would make it so that all executives have their pay approved in open session of a subcommittee and the full board.

Susan Meisenhelder, an English professor at CSU, San Bernardino said in a phone interview that she testified in committee about the bill and said it was a good measure to take.

“This bill will increase the transparency of CSU executives and their pay,” Meisenhelder said. “We hope that the CSU will support this bill also.”

The measure would require voting on pay to be open to public discourse. It would also require any other meetings regarding compensation to be open as well.

“Thousands of students turn to this university for the education they need to contribute to California. Instead of helping students get an education, the administration caters to elite executives who get huge pay raises and golden parachutes,” Meisenhelder said in a press release.

Yee said in a press release this bill would bring the needed exposure to how executives in the CSU and the UC system receive their pay.

“We need to end the culture of secrecy at the UC and CSU governing boards,” Yee said from a press release. “SB 190 will bring much needed sunshine to these discussions, provide members of the media the democratic access they deserve and help restore the public’s trust.”

Kathryn Radkey-Gaither, associate director of advocacy and institutional relations with the CSU, said the CSU is working with Senator Yee to come to a compromise.

“The California State University is committed to conducting itself with the utmost transparency and accountability to the public. We already comply with the vast majority of provisions of SB 190.” Radkey-Gaither said.

“While we do not oppose the bill, we have been working closely with Senator Yee’s office to correct some of the provisions that would be duplicative or conflict with California’s existing open meeting laws, and appreciate his interest in making those changes,” Radkey-Gaither said in an e-mail interview.

Yee said in his press release he took on this issue because he is a product of both the UC and CSU systems.

“It seems as if the students and faculty – the backbone of our university – are always left to bear the burden, while high execs live high on the hog,” Yee said.- “As a graduate of both the UC and CSU, I want to make sure our higher education systems succeed.- We should be investing in instruction, not creating a get-rich factory for executives.”

Cecil Canton, a criminal justice professor, and California Faculty Association president for Sacramento State, said the bill is a victory for the people of California, not the CFA.

“Anything that helps create more transparency of executive pay is something that will benefit all of us,” Canton said.

Philip Malan can be reached at [email protected]