In the 2003-04 legislative session a bill was passed (SB 1757) which required the CSU to participate in a duplicative process for the purchasing of vehicles. In light of this duplication, the CSU has been given an opportunity to propose removing the system from the oversight of the Department of General Services (DGS). Assembly Member Joe Coto of San Jose has agreed to amend his campus credit card disclosure measure to add this language into the bill removing CSU from DGS.

In the past few years the CSU has been subject to DGS authority, it has cost in excess of $340,000 annually, and caused numerous delays in purchases. In the past this process has been difficult because the CSU is not a typical state agency and for example, DGS was unable to deal expeditiously with purchases such as farm vehicles. The CSU is pleased to have reached this agreement and hope the legislation will be successful.

The CSU also requested language to extend the Board of Trustee’s Regulatory Authority to self-govern itself to be added to this measure as well. Since 1996 the CSU has been given the authority to issue regulations without a legal and process review from the State. The initial authority was granted for a period of five years and legislation has been subsequently introduced to extend that deadline until January 1, 2008. AB 262 will extend this sunset until 2013. The CSU believes that the ability of the Board of Trustees to govern the CSU has been an unqualified success, resulting in a more simplified and efficient administrative process, less expense to the state, and more immediate implementation of regulations. This measure will be heard, with these new amendments, in Senate Education on June 27th.

For more information on this measure, please visit Assembly Member Joe Coto’s website or visit the Advocacy and Institutional Relations website as well.