BILL NUMBER: SB 487INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Senator Ashburn FEBRUARY 26, 2009 An act to amend Section 6050 of the Penal Code, relating to prisons. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 487, as introduced, Ashburn. Wardens: Senate confirmation. Under existing law, the Governor appoints the Secretary of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and 2 undersecretaries, 3 deputy secretaries, and an assistant secretary of the department, all of whom are subject to Senate confirmation. Under existing law, the Governor, upon recommendation of the secretary, appoints the wardens of the state prisons. This bill would make the warden appointments subject to Senate confirmation. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. The Legislature hereby declares that wardens of the state prisons play an important role in protecting public safety, ensuring the well-being of inmates, and overseeing the administration of many critical programs within the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Therefore, it is important that the state Senate have a role in confirming the persons who are selected to perform those critical functions. SEC. 2. Section 6050 of the Penal Code is amended to read: 6050. (a) The Governor, upon recommendation of the secretary, shall appoint the wardens of the various state prisons , subject to confirmation by the Senate . Each warden shall be subject to removal by the secretary. If the secretary removes him or her, the secretary's action shall be final. The wardens shall be exempt from civil service. (b) The Department of Personnel Administration shall fix the compensation of the wardens of the state prisons.