California 2021-2022 Regular Session

California Assembly Bill AB289 Compare Versions

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1-Assembly Bill No. 289 CHAPTER 88 An act to amend Sections 45221, 45319, 88051, and 88138 of the Education Code, relating to school employees. [ Approved by Governor July 16, 2021. Filed with Secretary of State July 16, 2021. ] LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 289, Calderon. Classified school employees: merit system: adoption and termination.Existing law authorizes both the adoption and termination of a merit system in a school district or community college district by a majority vote of its classified employees or by a majority of the voting electors of the school district or community college district, as provided. Upon the filing of a petition for the adoption or for the termination of the merit system for classified employees of a school district or community college district, existing law requires the governing board of the district to perform specified activities in response, including, among others, devising an identification system to ensure against fraud in the balloting process and forming a tabulation committee.This bill would require the devised identification system to also ensure ballot secrecy and would prohibit a representative of the district from making any marks upon the ballot envelope or ballot of any employee, except the bill would allow the tabulation committee to adopt a system of uniformly stamping in a consistent manner and in the same location on all ballots received or all ballots counted, or both of those, to help ensure an accurate count. The bill would require at least one member of the tabulation committee to be a classified employee designated by the largest exclusive representative of classified employees within the district. If a district communicates with classified employees in opposition to adopting the merit system or in favor of terminating that system, the bill would require the district to provide at least equal time and equal access to any exclusive representative of classified employees within the district to communicate its position on adopting or terminating that system, as applicable. The bill would require all election procedures not specified for an election to adopt or terminate a merit system for a district pursuant to those provisions to be within the scope of representation for purposes of the Educational Employment Relations Act, including the rules for campaigning, the election date, time, and place, translation of the ballot, electioneering near the polls, and balloting methods. To the extent the bill would impose additional duties on local educational entities, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YES Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 45221 of the Education Code is amended to read:45221. (a) (1) The classified employees of a school district whose average daily attendance is 3,000 or greater, may, in accordance with this article, petition the governing board of the school district to make the provisions of Article 6 (commencing with Section 45240) applicable to the school district. That petition shall read substantially as follows:We, the undersigned classified employees of the _______________ (name of school district), constituting 15 percent or more of the classified personnel entitled to vote, request the governing board to submit to election the question of whether or not the merit (civil service) system shall become applicable to this district.NAMEPOSITION CLASSIFICATION(2) Classified employee, as used in this section, shall be construed to include all personnel who are a part of the classified service, as defined in Section 45103.(b) Within 120 days after receipt of the petition the governing board of the school district shall do all of the following:(1) Obtain the services of competent and qualified persons to present the pros and cons of the issue. Notwithstanding this paragraph, the classified employees who submitted the petition may select the person or persons to present the proponent position on the issue.(2) Provide adequate and ample opportunity for all of its classified personnel to attend one or more meetings at which the issue is presented.(3) (A) Having complied with paragraphs (1) and (2), conduct an election by secret ballot of its classified personnel to determine whether or not they desire to make the merit system applicable to the school district. The ballot shall read:Shall the merit (civil service) system for classified employees be applicable in the ____________ (name of school district)? Yes No(B) Although the ballot shall not require the employees signatures or other personal identifying requirements, the governing board of the school district shall devise an identification system to ensure against fraud in the balloting process while also ensuring ballot secrecy.(c) (1) The governing board of the school district shall appoint a three- or five-person tabulation committee, at least one member of which shall be a member of the governing board of the school district and at least one member of which shall be a classified employee designated by the largest exclusive representative of classified employees within the school district, to canvass the ballots and present the results to the governing board of the school district. No representative of the school district shall make any marks upon the ballot envelope or ballot of any employee, except that the tabulation committee may adopt a system of uniformly stamping in a consistent manner and in the same location on all ballots received or all ballots counted, or both of those, to help ensure an accurate count. If a simple majority votes in favor of the merit system, that system shall become applicable in the school district.(2) The tabulation committee shall certify the results of the election to the governing board of the school district at the next regular or special meeting of the governing board of the school district following the date the committee completes tabulation of the votes. If the tabulation committee completes the tabulation on the same day that the governing board of the school district meets in regular or special session, the committee shall certify the results of the election to the governing board of the school district at that meeting.(d) If the school district communicates with classified employees in opposition to adopting the merit (civil service) system, it shall provide at least equal time and equal access to any exclusive representative of classified employees within the school district to communicate in favor of that system. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as limiting the rights of an exclusive representative under the Educational Employment Relations Act (Chapter 10.7 (commencing with Section 3540) of Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code) for access to communicate its position on adopting the system.(e) All election procedures not specified above for an election pursuant to this section shall be within the scope of representation of an exclusive representative under Section 3543.2 of the Government Code, including the rules for campaigning, the election date, time, and place, translation of the ballot, electioneering near the polls, and balloting methods.SEC. 2. Section 45319 of the Education Code is amended to read:45319. (a) A merit (civil service) system within a school district may be terminated by one of the following methods:(1) (A) If the governing board of a school district, or a county board of education, receives a written petition of qualified electors not less in number than 10 percent of the number voting in the last election for a member of the board calling for the termination of the merit (civil service) system and the system has been in operation for not less than five years or has been imposed pursuant to the terms of Section 45119 or 45120, the board shall order the county superintendent of schools to place the question of termination of the system on the ballot at the next regular governing board member election, or county board of education member election, or the next primary or general election in a general election year, whichever is the earlier after receipt by the county superintendent of schools.(B) The statement of purpose of the election shall read:Shall the merit (civil service) system for school employees not requiring certification qualifications, as provided for in Article 6 (commencing with Section 45240) of Chapter 5 of Part 25 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Education Code of the State of California, and which has been in operation for at least five years, be terminated by the ____ School District of ____ County (or counties, where appropriate), or by the County Office of Education of ____ County on ____ (date to be specified by board)?(C) The petition calling for the election, to be valid, shall contain the statement of purpose for the election as contained in this section.(2) (A) If the governing board of a school district, or the county board of education, receives a written petition from 40 percent of the classified employees entitled to vote calling for the termination of the merit (civil service) system and the system has been in operation for not less than five years or has been imposed pursuant to the terms of Section 45119 or 45120, the governing board of the school district shall conduct an election by secret ballot of its classified personnel to determine whether or not they desire to have the merit system terminated within the school district. The ballot shall read: Shall the merit (civil service) system for classified employees be terminated in the ____ (name of school district, or county office of education) as of ____ (termination date)?(B) As used in this subdivision, classified employees means all personnel who are a part of the classified service who are appointed in accordance with Section 45272.(C) In order to be valid, the petition calling for the termination of the merit (civil service) system shall be submitted to the governing board of the school district within 90 days after the date that the notice for the circulation of the petition was filed with the governing board of the school district. The election shall be held during the regular school year and shall be held no earlier than 45 days and no later than 180 days after the date that the petition was submitted to the governing board of the school district.(D) If the merit system was adopted pursuant to Section 45224.5, classified employees entitled to vote in an election pursuant to this paragraph shall be limited to those classified employees who reside in the school district.(E) The governing board of the school district shall devise an identification system designed to protect against fraud in the balloting process while also ensuring ballot secrecy. In addition, the governing board of the school district shall appoint a three-member tabulation committee consisting of one member of the governing board of the school district, one member of the personnel commission of the school district, and one member who shall be a classified employee of the school district designated by the largest exclusive representative of classified employees within the school district. It shall be the responsibility of the tabulation committee to canvass the election ballots and to certify the results of the election to the governing board of the school district at the next regular meeting of the governing board of the school district following the completion of the tabulation of the election ballots by the committee. No representative of the school district shall make any marks upon the ballot envelope or ballot of any employee, except that the tabulation committee may adopt a system of uniformly stamping in a consistent manner and in the same location on all ballots received or all ballots counted, or both of those, to help ensure an accurate count.(F) Notwithstanding any other law, the governing board of the school district shall not be required to provide release time for classified personnel to vote in an election conducted pursuant to this paragraph. The governing board of the school district shall not conduct an election under this paragraph more than once in any two-year period.(G) Members of the classified service shall be provided an adequate and ample opportunity to be informed of the arguments in favor of and in opposition to the termination of the merit (civil service) system before the conducting of an election called pursuant to this paragraph. That opportunity shall include an open forum during which proponents of, and opponents to, the termination of the merit (civil service) system shall be permitted to debate the issue.(b) If the school district communicates with classified employees in favor of terminating the merit (civil service) system, it shall provide at least equal time and equal access to any exclusive representative of classified employees within the school district to communicate against terminating that system. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as limiting the rights of an exclusive representative under the Educational Employment Relations Act (Chapter 10.7 (commencing with Section 3540) of Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code) for access to communicate its position on terminating the system.(c) (1) It shall be unlawful for a public school employer and the exclusive representative of the classified employees of a school district to include the subject of the termination of the merit (classified service) system within the scope of representation.(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) or any other law, all election procedures not specified above for an election pursuant to this section shall be within the scope of representation of an exclusive representative under Section 3543.2 of the Government Code, including the rules for campaigning, the election date, time, and place, translation of the ballot, electioneering near the polls, and balloting methods.SEC. 3. Section 88051 of the Education Code is amended to read:88051. (a) (1) On or after November 8, 1967, the classified employees of a community college district whose full-time equivalent student is 3,000 or greater, in accordance with this article, may petition the governing board of the community college district to make Article 3 (commencing with Section 88060) applicable to the community college district. That petition shall read substantially as follows:We, the undersigned classified employees of the _____ (name of community college district), constituting 15 percent or more of the classified personnel entitled to vote, request the governing board to submit to election the question of whether or not the merit (civil service) system shall become applicable to this district.NAME POSITION CLASSIFICATION (2) Classified employee, as used in this section, shall be construed to include all personnel who are a part of the classified service, as defined in Section 88003.(b) Within 120 days after receipt of the petition the governing board of the community college district shall do all of the following:(1) Obtain the services of competent and qualified persons to present the pros and cons of the issue. Notwithstanding this paragraph, the classified employees who submitted the petition may select the person or persons to present the proponent position on the issue.(2) Provide adequate and ample opportunity for all of its classified personnel to attend one or more meetings at which the issue is presented.(3) (A) Having complied with paragraphs (1) and (2), conduct an election by secret ballot of its classified personnel to determine whether or not they desire to make the merit system applicable to the community college district. The ballot shall read:Shall the merit (civil service) system for classified employees be applicable in the ____________ (name of community college district)? Yes No(B) Although the ballot shall not require the employees signatures or other personal identifying requirements, the governing board of the community college district shall devise an identification system to ensure against fraud in the balloting process while also ensuring ballot secrecy.(c) (1) The governing board of the community college district shall appoint a three- or five-person tabulation committee, at least one member of which shall be a member of the governing board of the community college district and at least one member of which shall be a classified employee designated by the largest exclusive representative of classified employees within the community college district, to canvass the ballots and present the results to the governing board of the community college district. No representative of the community college district shall make any marks upon the ballot envelope or ballot of any employee, except that the tabulation committee may adopt a system of uniformly stamping in a consistent manner and in the same location on all ballots received or all ballots counted, or both of those, to help ensure an accurate count. If a simple majority votes in favor of the merit system, that system shall become applicable in the community college district.(2) The tabulation committee shall certify the results of the election to the governing board of the community college district at the next regular or special meeting of the governing board of the community college district following the date the committee completes tabulation of the votes. If the tabulation committee completes the tabulation on the same day that the governing board of the community college district meets in regular or special session, the committee shall certify the results of the election to the governing board of the community college district at that meeting.(d) If the community college district communicates with classified employees in opposition to adopting the merit (civil service) system, it shall provide at least equal time and equal access to any exclusive representative of classified employees within the community college district to communicate in favor of that system. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as limiting the rights of an exclusive representative under the Educational Employment Relations Act (Chapter 10.7 (commencing with Section 3540) of Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code) for access to communicate its position on adopting the system.(e) All election procedures not specified above for an election pursuant to this section shall be within the scope of representation of an exclusive representative under Section 3543.2 of the Government Code, including the rules for campaigning, the election date, time, and place, translation of the ballot, electioneering near the polls, and balloting methods.SEC. 4. Section 88138 of the Education Code is amended to read:88138. (a) A merit (civil service) system within a community college district may be terminated by one of the following methods:(1) (A) If the governing board of a community college district receives a written petition of qualified electors not less in number than 10 percent of the number voting in the last election for a member of the governing board of the community college district calling for the termination of the merit (civil service) system and the system has been in operation for not less than five years, the governing board of the community college district shall order the county superintendent of schools to place the question of termination of the system on the ballot at the next regular governing board member election, or the next primary or general election in a general election year, whichever is the earlier after receipt by the county superintendent of schools.(B) The statement of purpose of the election shall read:Shall the merit (civil service) system for school employees not employed as faculty or educational administrators, as provided for in Article 3 (commencing with Section 88060) of Chapter 4 of Part 51 of Division 7 of Title 3 of the Education Code of the State of California, and which has been in operation for at least five years, be terminated by the _____ Community College District of ____ County (or counties, where appropriate) on _____ (date to be specified by board)?(C) The petition calling for the election, to be valid, shall contain the statement of purpose for the election as contained in this section.(2) (A) If the governing board of a community college district receives a written petition from 40 percent of the classified employees entitled to vote calling for the termination of the merit (civil service) system and the system has been in operation for not less than five years or has been imposed pursuant to the terms of Section 45119 or 45120, the governing board of the community college district shall conduct an election by secret ballot of its classified personnel to determine whether or not they desire to have the merit system terminated within the community college district. The ballot shall read: Shall the merit (civil service) system for classified employees be terminated in the ____ (name of community college district) as of ____ (termination date)?(B) As used in this subdivision, classified employees means all personnel who are a part of the classified service who are appointed in accordance with Section 88091.(C) In order to be valid, the petition calling for the termination of the merit (civil service) system shall be submitted to the governing board of a community college district within 90 days after the date that the notice for the circulation of the petition was filed with the governing board of the community college district. The election shall be held during the regular academic year and shall be held no earlier than 45 days and no later than 180 days after the date that the petition was submitted to the governing board of the community college district.(D) If the merit system was adopted pursuant to Section 88057, classified employees entitled to vote in an election pursuant to this paragraph shall be limited to those classified employees who reside in the district.(E) The governing board of a community college district shall devise an identification system designed to protect against fraud in the balloting process while also ensuring the secrecy of the ballot. In addition, the governing board of the community college district shall appoint a three-member tabulation committee consisting of one member of the governing board, one member of the personnel commission of the community college district, and one member who shall be a classified employee of the community college district designated by the largest exclusive representative of classified employees within the community college district. It shall be the responsibility of the tabulation committee to canvass the election ballots and to certify the results of the election to the governing board of the community college district at the next regular meeting of the governing board of the community college district following the completion of the tabulation of the election results by the committee. No representative of the community college district shall make any marks upon the ballot envelope or ballot of any employee, except that the tabulation committee may adopt a system of uniformly stamping in a consistent manner and in the same location on all ballots received or all ballots counted, or both of those, to help ensure an accurate count.(F) Notwithstanding any other law, the governing board of a community college district shall not be required to provide release time for classified personnel to vote in an election conducted pursuant to this paragraph. The governing board of the community college district shall not conduct an election under this paragraph more than once in any two-year period.(G) Members of the classified service shall be provided an adequate and ample opportunity to be informed of the arguments in favor of and in opposition to the termination of the merit (classified service) system before the conducting of an election called pursuant to this paragraph. That opportunity shall include an open forum during which proponents of, and opponents to, the termination of the merit (civil service) system shall be permitted to debate the issue.(b) If the community college district communicates with classified employees in favor of terminating the merit (civil service) system, it shall provide at least equal time and equal access to any exclusive representative of classified employees within the community college district to communicate against terminating that system. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as limiting the rights of an exclusive representative under the Educational Employment Relations Act (Chapter 10.7 (commencing with Section 3540) of Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code) for access to communicate its position on terminating the system.(c) (1) It shall be unlawful for a public school employer and the exclusive representative of the classified employees of a community college district to include the subject of the termination of the merit (classified service) system within the scope of representation.(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) or any other law, all election procedures not specified above for an election pursuant to this section shall be within the scope of representation of an exclusive representative under Section 3543.2 of the Government Code, including the rules for campaigning, the election date, time, and place, translation of the ballot, electioneering near the polls, and balloting methods.SEC. 5. The provisions of this act shall be deemed to establish minimum working conditions for the purposes of Section 3543.8 of the Government Code. This section does not constitute a change in, but is declaratory of, existing law.SEC. 6. If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
1+Enrolled July 06, 2021 Passed IN Senate July 05, 2021 Passed IN Assembly May 13, 2021 Amended IN Assembly March 04, 2021 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20212022 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 289Introduced by Assembly Member CalderonJanuary 21, 2021 An act to amend Sections 45221, 45319, 88051, and 88138 of the Education Code, relating to school employees. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 289, Calderon. Classified school employees: merit system: adoption and termination.Existing law authorizes both the adoption and termination of a merit system in a school district or community college district by a majority vote of its classified employees or by a majority of the voting electors of the school district or community college district, as provided. Upon the filing of a petition for the adoption or for the termination of the merit system for classified employees of a school district or community college district, existing law requires the governing board of the district to perform specified activities in response, including, among others, devising an identification system to ensure against fraud in the balloting process and forming a tabulation committee.This bill would require the devised identification system to also ensure ballot secrecy and would prohibit a representative of the district from making any marks upon the ballot envelope or ballot of any employee, except the bill would allow the tabulation committee to adopt a system of uniformly stamping in a consistent manner and in the same location on all ballots received or all ballots counted, or both of those, to help ensure an accurate count. The bill would require at least one member of the tabulation committee to be a classified employee designated by the largest exclusive representative of classified employees within the district. If a district communicates with classified employees in opposition to adopting the merit system or in favor of terminating that system, the bill would require the district to provide at least equal time and equal access to any exclusive representative of classified employees within the district to communicate its position on adopting or terminating that system, as applicable. The bill would require all election procedures not specified for an election to adopt or terminate a merit system for a district pursuant to those provisions to be within the scope of representation for purposes of the Educational Employment Relations Act, including the rules for campaigning, the election date, time, and place, translation of the ballot, electioneering near the polls, and balloting methods. To the extent the bill would impose additional duties on local educational entities, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YES Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 45221 of the Education Code is amended to read:45221. (a) (1) The classified employees of a school district whose average daily attendance is 3,000 or greater, may, in accordance with this article, petition the governing board of the school district to make the provisions of Article 6 (commencing with Section 45240) applicable to the school district. That petition shall read substantially as follows:We, the undersigned classified employees of the _______________ (name of school district), constituting 15 percent or more of the classified personnel entitled to vote, request the governing board to submit to election the question of whether or not the merit (civil service) system shall become applicable to this district.NAMEPOSITION CLASSIFICATION(2) Classified employee, as used in this section, shall be construed to include all personnel who are a part of the classified service, as defined in Section 45103.(b) Within 120 days after receipt of the petition the governing board of the school district shall do all of the following:(1) Obtain the services of competent and qualified persons to present the pros and cons of the issue. Notwithstanding this paragraph, the classified employees who submitted the petition may select the person or persons to present the proponent position on the issue.(2) Provide adequate and ample opportunity for all of its classified personnel to attend one or more meetings at which the issue is presented.(3) (A) Having complied with paragraphs (1) and (2), conduct an election by secret ballot of its classified personnel to determine whether or not they desire to make the merit system applicable to the school district. The ballot shall read:Shall the merit (civil service) system for classified employees be applicable in the ____________ (name of school district)? Yes No(B) Although the ballot shall not require the employees signatures or other personal identifying requirements, the governing board of the school district shall devise an identification system to ensure against fraud in the balloting process while also ensuring ballot secrecy.(c) (1) The governing board of the school district shall appoint a three- or five-person tabulation committee, at least one member of which shall be a member of the governing board of the school district and at least one member of which shall be a classified employee designated by the largest exclusive representative of classified employees within the school district, to canvass the ballots and present the results to the governing board of the school district. No representative of the school district shall make any marks upon the ballot envelope or ballot of any employee, except that the tabulation committee may adopt a system of uniformly stamping in a consistent manner and in the same location on all ballots received or all ballots counted, or both of those, to help ensure an accurate count. If a simple majority votes in favor of the merit system, that system shall become applicable in the school district.(2) The tabulation committee shall certify the results of the election to the governing board of the school district at the next regular or special meeting of the governing board of the school district following the date the committee completes tabulation of the votes. If the tabulation committee completes the tabulation on the same day that the governing board of the school district meets in regular or special session, the committee shall certify the results of the election to the governing board of the school district at that meeting.(d) If the school district communicates with classified employees in opposition to adopting the merit (civil service) system, it shall provide at least equal time and equal access to any exclusive representative of classified employees within the school district to communicate in favor of that system. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as limiting the rights of an exclusive representative under the Educational Employment Relations Act (Chapter 10.7 (commencing with Section 3540) of Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code) for access to communicate its position on adopting the system.(e) All election procedures not specified above for an election pursuant to this section shall be within the scope of representation of an exclusive representative under Section 3543.2 of the Government Code, including the rules for campaigning, the election date, time, and place, translation of the ballot, electioneering near the polls, and balloting methods.SEC. 2. Section 45319 of the Education Code is amended to read:45319. (a) A merit (civil service) system within a school district may be terminated by one of the following methods:(1) (A) If the governing board of a school district, or a county board of education, receives a written petition of qualified electors not less in number than 10 percent of the number voting in the last election for a member of the board calling for the termination of the merit (civil service) system and the system has been in operation for not less than five years or has been imposed pursuant to the terms of Section 45119 or 45120, the board shall order the county superintendent of schools to place the question of termination of the system on the ballot at the next regular governing board member election, or county board of education member election, or the next primary or general election in a general election year, whichever is the earlier after receipt by the county superintendent of schools.(B) The statement of purpose of the election shall read:Shall the merit (civil service) system for school employees not requiring certification qualifications, as provided for in Article 6 (commencing with Section 45240) of Chapter 5 of Part 25 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Education Code of the State of California, and which has been in operation for at least five years, be terminated by the ____ School District of ____ County (or counties, where appropriate), or by the County Office of Education of ____ County on ____ (date to be specified by board)?(C) The petition calling for the election, to be valid, shall contain the statement of purpose for the election as contained in this section.(2) (A) If the governing board of a school district, or the county board of education, receives a written petition from 40 percent of the classified employees entitled to vote calling for the termination of the merit (civil service) system and the system has been in operation for not less than five years or has been imposed pursuant to the terms of Section 45119 or 45120, the governing board of the school district shall conduct an election by secret ballot of its classified personnel to determine whether or not they desire to have the merit system terminated within the school district. The ballot shall read: Shall the merit (civil service) system for classified employees be terminated in the ____ (name of school district, or county office of education) as of ____ (termination date)?(B) As used in this subdivision, classified employees means all personnel who are a part of the classified service who are appointed in accordance with Section 45272.(C) In order to be valid, the petition calling for the termination of the merit (civil service) system shall be submitted to the governing board of the school district within 90 days after the date that the notice for the circulation of the petition was filed with the governing board of the school district. The election shall be held during the regular school year and shall be held no earlier than 45 days and no later than 180 days after the date that the petition was submitted to the governing board of the school district.(D) If the merit system was adopted pursuant to Section 45224.5, classified employees entitled to vote in an election pursuant to this paragraph shall be limited to those classified employees who reside in the school district.(E) The governing board of the school district shall devise an identification system designed to protect against fraud in the balloting process while also ensuring ballot secrecy. In addition, the governing board of the school district shall appoint a three-member tabulation committee consisting of one member of the governing board of the school district, one member of the personnel commission of the school district, and one member who shall be a classified employee of the school district designated by the largest exclusive representative of classified employees within the school district. It shall be the responsibility of the tabulation committee to canvass the election ballots and to certify the results of the election to the governing board of the school district at the next regular meeting of the governing board of the school district following the completion of the tabulation of the election ballots by the committee. No representative of the school district shall make any marks upon the ballot envelope or ballot of any employee, except that the tabulation committee may adopt a system of uniformly stamping in a consistent manner and in the same location on all ballots received or all ballots counted, or both of those, to help ensure an accurate count.(F) Notwithstanding any other law, the governing board of the school district shall not be required to provide release time for classified personnel to vote in an election conducted pursuant to this paragraph. The governing board of the school district shall not conduct an election under this paragraph more than once in any two-year period.(G) Members of the classified service shall be provided an adequate and ample opportunity to be informed of the arguments in favor of and in opposition to the termination of the merit (civil service) system before the conducting of an election called pursuant to this paragraph. That opportunity shall include an open forum during which proponents of, and opponents to, the termination of the merit (civil service) system shall be permitted to debate the issue.(b) If the school district communicates with classified employees in favor of terminating the merit (civil service) system, it shall provide at least equal time and equal access to any exclusive representative of classified employees within the school district to communicate against terminating that system. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as limiting the rights of an exclusive representative under the Educational Employment Relations Act (Chapter 10.7 (commencing with Section 3540) of Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code) for access to communicate its position on terminating the system.(c) (1) It shall be unlawful for a public school employer and the exclusive representative of the classified employees of a school district to include the subject of the termination of the merit (classified service) system within the scope of representation.(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) or any other law, all election procedures not specified above for an election pursuant to this section shall be within the scope of representation of an exclusive representative under Section 3543.2 of the Government Code, including the rules for campaigning, the election date, time, and place, translation of the ballot, electioneering near the polls, and balloting methods.SEC. 3. Section 88051 of the Education Code is amended to read:88051. (a) (1) On or after November 8, 1967, the classified employees of a community college district whose full-time equivalent student is 3,000 or greater, in accordance with this article, may petition the governing board of the community college district to make Article 3 (commencing with Section 88060) applicable to the community college district. That petition shall read substantially as follows:We, the undersigned classified employees of the _____ (name of community college district), constituting 15 percent or more of the classified personnel entitled to vote, request the governing board to submit to election the question of whether or not the merit (civil service) system shall become applicable to this district.NAME POSITION CLASSIFICATION (2) Classified employee, as used in this section, shall be construed to include all personnel who are a part of the classified service, as defined in Section 88003.(b) Within 120 days after receipt of the petition the governing board of the community college district shall do all of the following:(1) Obtain the services of competent and qualified persons to present the pros and cons of the issue. Notwithstanding this paragraph, the classified employees who submitted the petition may select the person or persons to present the proponent position on the issue.(2) Provide adequate and ample opportunity for all of its classified personnel to attend one or more meetings at which the issue is presented.(3) (A) Having complied with paragraphs (1) and (2), conduct an election by secret ballot of its classified personnel to determine whether or not they desire to make the merit system applicable to the community college district. The ballot shall read:Shall the merit (civil service) system for classified employees be applicable in the ____________ (name of community college district)? Yes No(B) Although the ballot shall not require the employees signatures or other personal identifying requirements, the governing board of the community college district shall devise an identification system to ensure against fraud in the balloting process while also ensuring ballot secrecy.(c) (1) The governing board of the community college district shall appoint a three- or five-person tabulation committee, at least one member of which shall be a member of the governing board of the community college district and at least one member of which shall be a classified employee designated by the largest exclusive representative of classified employees within the community college district, to canvass the ballots and present the results to the governing board of the community college district. No representative of the community college district shall make any marks upon the ballot envelope or ballot of any employee, except that the tabulation committee may adopt a system of uniformly stamping in a consistent manner and in the same location on all ballots received or all ballots counted, or both of those, to help ensure an accurate count. If a simple majority votes in favor of the merit system, that system shall become applicable in the community college district.(2) The tabulation committee shall certify the results of the election to the governing board of the community college district at the next regular or special meeting of the governing board of the community college district following the date the committee completes tabulation of the votes. If the tabulation committee completes the tabulation on the same day that the governing board of the community college district meets in regular or special session, the committee shall certify the results of the election to the governing board of the community college district at that meeting.(d) If the community college district communicates with classified employees in opposition to adopting the merit (civil service) system, it shall provide at least equal time and equal access to any exclusive representative of classified employees within the community college district to communicate in favor of that system. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as limiting the rights of an exclusive representative under the Educational Employment Relations Act (Chapter 10.7 (commencing with Section 3540) of Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code) for access to communicate its position on adopting the system.(e) All election procedures not specified above for an election pursuant to this section shall be within the scope of representation of an exclusive representative under Section 3543.2 of the Government Code, including the rules for campaigning, the election date, time, and place, translation of the ballot, electioneering near the polls, and balloting methods.SEC. 4. Section 88138 of the Education Code is amended to read:88138. (a) A merit (civil service) system within a community college district may be terminated by one of the following methods:(1) (A) If the governing board of a community college district receives a written petition of qualified electors not less in number than 10 percent of the number voting in the last election for a member of the governing board of the community college district calling for the termination of the merit (civil service) system and the system has been in operation for not less than five years, the governing board of the community college district shall order the county superintendent of schools to place the question of termination of the system on the ballot at the next regular governing board member election, or the next primary or general election in a general election year, whichever is the earlier after receipt by the county superintendent of schools.(B) The statement of purpose of the election shall read:Shall the merit (civil service) system for school employees not employed as faculty or educational administrators, as provided for in Article 3 (commencing with Section 88060) of Chapter 4 of Part 51 of Division 7 of Title 3 of the Education Code of the State of California, and which has been in operation for at least five years, be terminated by the _____ Community College District of ____ County (or counties, where appropriate) on _____ (date to be specified by board)?(C) The petition calling for the election, to be valid, shall contain the statement of purpose for the election as contained in this section.(2) (A) If the governing board of a community college district receives a written petition from 40 percent of the classified employees entitled to vote calling for the termination of the merit (civil service) system and the system has been in operation for not less than five years or has been imposed pursuant to the terms of Section 45119 or 45120, the governing board of the community college district shall conduct an election by secret ballot of its classified personnel to determine whether or not they desire to have the merit system terminated within the community college district. The ballot shall read: Shall the merit (civil service) system for classified employees be terminated in the ____ (name of community college district) as of ____ (termination date)?(B) As used in this subdivision, classified employees means all personnel who are a part of the classified service who are appointed in accordance with Section 88091.(C) In order to be valid, the petition calling for the termination of the merit (civil service) system shall be submitted to the governing board of a community college district within 90 days after the date that the notice for the circulation of the petition was filed with the governing board of the community college district. The election shall be held during the regular academic year and shall be held no earlier than 45 days and no later than 180 days after the date that the petition was submitted to the governing board of the community college district.(D) If the merit system was adopted pursuant to Section 88057, classified employees entitled to vote in an election pursuant to this paragraph shall be limited to those classified employees who reside in the district.(E) The governing board of a community college district shall devise an identification system designed to protect against fraud in the balloting process while also ensuring the secrecy of the ballot. In addition, the governing board of the community college district shall appoint a three-member tabulation committee consisting of one member of the governing board, one member of the personnel commission of the community college district, and one member who shall be a classified employee of the community college district designated by the largest exclusive representative of classified employees within the community college district. It shall be the responsibility of the tabulation committee to canvass the election ballots and to certify the results of the election to the governing board of the community college district at the next regular meeting of the governing board of the community college district following the completion of the tabulation of the election results by the committee. No representative of the community college district shall make any marks upon the ballot envelope or ballot of any employee, except that the tabulation committee may adopt a system of uniformly stamping in a consistent manner and in the same location on all ballots received or all ballots counted, or both of those, to help ensure an accurate count.(F) Notwithstanding any other law, the governing board of a community college district shall not be required to provide release time for classified personnel to vote in an election conducted pursuant to this paragraph. The governing board of the community college district shall not conduct an election under this paragraph more than once in any two-year period.(G) Members of the classified service shall be provided an adequate and ample opportunity to be informed of the arguments in favor of and in opposition to the termination of the merit (classified service) system before the conducting of an election called pursuant to this paragraph. That opportunity shall include an open forum during which proponents of, and opponents to, the termination of the merit (civil service) system shall be permitted to debate the issue.(b) If the community college district communicates with classified employees in favor of terminating the merit (civil service) system, it shall provide at least equal time and equal access to any exclusive representative of classified employees within the community college district to communicate against terminating that system. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as limiting the rights of an exclusive representative under the Educational Employment Relations Act (Chapter 10.7 (commencing with Section 3540) of Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code) for access to communicate its position on terminating the system.(c) (1) It shall be unlawful for a public school employer and the exclusive representative of the classified employees of a community college district to include the subject of the termination of the merit (classified service) system within the scope of representation.(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) or any other law, all election procedures not specified above for an election pursuant to this section shall be within the scope of representation of an exclusive representative under Section 3543.2 of the Government Code, including the rules for campaigning, the election date, time, and place, translation of the ballot, electioneering near the polls, and balloting methods.SEC. 5. The provisions of this act shall be deemed to establish minimum working conditions for the purposes of Section 3543.8 of the Government Code. This section does not constitute a change in, but is declaratory of, existing law.SEC. 6. If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
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3- Assembly Bill No. 289 CHAPTER 88 An act to amend Sections 45221, 45319, 88051, and 88138 of the Education Code, relating to school employees. [ Approved by Governor July 16, 2021. Filed with Secretary of State July 16, 2021. ] LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 289, Calderon. Classified school employees: merit system: adoption and termination.Existing law authorizes both the adoption and termination of a merit system in a school district or community college district by a majority vote of its classified employees or by a majority of the voting electors of the school district or community college district, as provided. Upon the filing of a petition for the adoption or for the termination of the merit system for classified employees of a school district or community college district, existing law requires the governing board of the district to perform specified activities in response, including, among others, devising an identification system to ensure against fraud in the balloting process and forming a tabulation committee.This bill would require the devised identification system to also ensure ballot secrecy and would prohibit a representative of the district from making any marks upon the ballot envelope or ballot of any employee, except the bill would allow the tabulation committee to adopt a system of uniformly stamping in a consistent manner and in the same location on all ballots received or all ballots counted, or both of those, to help ensure an accurate count. The bill would require at least one member of the tabulation committee to be a classified employee designated by the largest exclusive representative of classified employees within the district. If a district communicates with classified employees in opposition to adopting the merit system or in favor of terminating that system, the bill would require the district to provide at least equal time and equal access to any exclusive representative of classified employees within the district to communicate its position on adopting or terminating that system, as applicable. The bill would require all election procedures not specified for an election to adopt or terminate a merit system for a district pursuant to those provisions to be within the scope of representation for purposes of the Educational Employment Relations Act, including the rules for campaigning, the election date, time, and place, translation of the ballot, electioneering near the polls, and balloting methods. To the extent the bill would impose additional duties on local educational entities, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YES
3+ Enrolled July 06, 2021 Passed IN Senate July 05, 2021 Passed IN Assembly May 13, 2021 Amended IN Assembly March 04, 2021 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20212022 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 289Introduced by Assembly Member CalderonJanuary 21, 2021 An act to amend Sections 45221, 45319, 88051, and 88138 of the Education Code, relating to school employees. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 289, Calderon. Classified school employees: merit system: adoption and termination.Existing law authorizes both the adoption and termination of a merit system in a school district or community college district by a majority vote of its classified employees or by a majority of the voting electors of the school district or community college district, as provided. Upon the filing of a petition for the adoption or for the termination of the merit system for classified employees of a school district or community college district, existing law requires the governing board of the district to perform specified activities in response, including, among others, devising an identification system to ensure against fraud in the balloting process and forming a tabulation committee.This bill would require the devised identification system to also ensure ballot secrecy and would prohibit a representative of the district from making any marks upon the ballot envelope or ballot of any employee, except the bill would allow the tabulation committee to adopt a system of uniformly stamping in a consistent manner and in the same location on all ballots received or all ballots counted, or both of those, to help ensure an accurate count. The bill would require at least one member of the tabulation committee to be a classified employee designated by the largest exclusive representative of classified employees within the district. If a district communicates with classified employees in opposition to adopting the merit system or in favor of terminating that system, the bill would require the district to provide at least equal time and equal access to any exclusive representative of classified employees within the district to communicate its position on adopting or terminating that system, as applicable. The bill would require all election procedures not specified for an election to adopt or terminate a merit system for a district pursuant to those provisions to be within the scope of representation for purposes of the Educational Employment Relations Act, including the rules for campaigning, the election date, time, and place, translation of the ballot, electioneering near the polls, and balloting methods. To the extent the bill would impose additional duties on local educational entities, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YES
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5- Assembly Bill No. 289 CHAPTER 88
5+ Enrolled July 06, 2021 Passed IN Senate July 05, 2021 Passed IN Assembly May 13, 2021 Amended IN Assembly March 04, 2021
66
7- Assembly Bill No. 289
7+Enrolled July 06, 2021
8+Passed IN Senate July 05, 2021
9+Passed IN Assembly May 13, 2021
10+Amended IN Assembly March 04, 2021
811
9- CHAPTER 88
12+ CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20212022 REGULAR SESSION
13+
14+ Assembly Bill
15+
16+No. 289
17+
18+Introduced by Assembly Member CalderonJanuary 21, 2021
19+
20+Introduced by Assembly Member Calderon
21+January 21, 2021
1022
1123 An act to amend Sections 45221, 45319, 88051, and 88138 of the Education Code, relating to school employees.
12-
13- [ Approved by Governor July 16, 2021. Filed with Secretary of State July 16, 2021. ]
1424
1525 LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
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1727 ## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
1828
1929 AB 289, Calderon. Classified school employees: merit system: adoption and termination.
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2131 Existing law authorizes both the adoption and termination of a merit system in a school district or community college district by a majority vote of its classified employees or by a majority of the voting electors of the school district or community college district, as provided. Upon the filing of a petition for the adoption or for the termination of the merit system for classified employees of a school district or community college district, existing law requires the governing board of the district to perform specified activities in response, including, among others, devising an identification system to ensure against fraud in the balloting process and forming a tabulation committee.This bill would require the devised identification system to also ensure ballot secrecy and would prohibit a representative of the district from making any marks upon the ballot envelope or ballot of any employee, except the bill would allow the tabulation committee to adopt a system of uniformly stamping in a consistent manner and in the same location on all ballots received or all ballots counted, or both of those, to help ensure an accurate count. The bill would require at least one member of the tabulation committee to be a classified employee designated by the largest exclusive representative of classified employees within the district. If a district communicates with classified employees in opposition to adopting the merit system or in favor of terminating that system, the bill would require the district to provide at least equal time and equal access to any exclusive representative of classified employees within the district to communicate its position on adopting or terminating that system, as applicable. The bill would require all election procedures not specified for an election to adopt or terminate a merit system for a district pursuant to those provisions to be within the scope of representation for purposes of the Educational Employment Relations Act, including the rules for campaigning, the election date, time, and place, translation of the ballot, electioneering near the polls, and balloting methods. To the extent the bill would impose additional duties on local educational entities, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
2232
2333 Existing law authorizes both the adoption and termination of a merit system in a school district or community college district by a majority vote of its classified employees or by a majority of the voting electors of the school district or community college district, as provided. Upon the filing of a petition for the adoption or for the termination of the merit system for classified employees of a school district or community college district, existing law requires the governing board of the district to perform specified activities in response, including, among others, devising an identification system to ensure against fraud in the balloting process and forming a tabulation committee.
2434
2535 This bill would require the devised identification system to also ensure ballot secrecy and would prohibit a representative of the district from making any marks upon the ballot envelope or ballot of any employee, except the bill would allow the tabulation committee to adopt a system of uniformly stamping in a consistent manner and in the same location on all ballots received or all ballots counted, or both of those, to help ensure an accurate count. The bill would require at least one member of the tabulation committee to be a classified employee designated by the largest exclusive representative of classified employees within the district. If a district communicates with classified employees in opposition to adopting the merit system or in favor of terminating that system, the bill would require the district to provide at least equal time and equal access to any exclusive representative of classified employees within the district to communicate its position on adopting or terminating that system, as applicable. The bill would require all election procedures not specified for an election to adopt or terminate a merit system for a district pursuant to those provisions to be within the scope of representation for purposes of the Educational Employment Relations Act, including the rules for campaigning, the election date, time, and place, translation of the ballot, electioneering near the polls, and balloting methods. To the extent the bill would impose additional duties on local educational entities, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
2636
2737 The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
2838
2939 This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
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3141 ## Digest Key
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3343 ## Bill Text
3444
3545 The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 45221 of the Education Code is amended to read:45221. (a) (1) The classified employees of a school district whose average daily attendance is 3,000 or greater, may, in accordance with this article, petition the governing board of the school district to make the provisions of Article 6 (commencing with Section 45240) applicable to the school district. That petition shall read substantially as follows:We, the undersigned classified employees of the _______________ (name of school district), constituting 15 percent or more of the classified personnel entitled to vote, request the governing board to submit to election the question of whether or not the merit (civil service) system shall become applicable to this district.NAMEPOSITION CLASSIFICATION(2) Classified employee, as used in this section, shall be construed to include all personnel who are a part of the classified service, as defined in Section 45103.(b) Within 120 days after receipt of the petition the governing board of the school district shall do all of the following:(1) Obtain the services of competent and qualified persons to present the pros and cons of the issue. Notwithstanding this paragraph, the classified employees who submitted the petition may select the person or persons to present the proponent position on the issue.(2) Provide adequate and ample opportunity for all of its classified personnel to attend one or more meetings at which the issue is presented.(3) (A) Having complied with paragraphs (1) and (2), conduct an election by secret ballot of its classified personnel to determine whether or not they desire to make the merit system applicable to the school district. The ballot shall read:Shall the merit (civil service) system for classified employees be applicable in the ____________ (name of school district)? Yes No(B) Although the ballot shall not require the employees signatures or other personal identifying requirements, the governing board of the school district shall devise an identification system to ensure against fraud in the balloting process while also ensuring ballot secrecy.(c) (1) The governing board of the school district shall appoint a three- or five-person tabulation committee, at least one member of which shall be a member of the governing board of the school district and at least one member of which shall be a classified employee designated by the largest exclusive representative of classified employees within the school district, to canvass the ballots and present the results to the governing board of the school district. No representative of the school district shall make any marks upon the ballot envelope or ballot of any employee, except that the tabulation committee may adopt a system of uniformly stamping in a consistent manner and in the same location on all ballots received or all ballots counted, or both of those, to help ensure an accurate count. If a simple majority votes in favor of the merit system, that system shall become applicable in the school district.(2) The tabulation committee shall certify the results of the election to the governing board of the school district at the next regular or special meeting of the governing board of the school district following the date the committee completes tabulation of the votes. If the tabulation committee completes the tabulation on the same day that the governing board of the school district meets in regular or special session, the committee shall certify the results of the election to the governing board of the school district at that meeting.(d) If the school district communicates with classified employees in opposition to adopting the merit (civil service) system, it shall provide at least equal time and equal access to any exclusive representative of classified employees within the school district to communicate in favor of that system. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as limiting the rights of an exclusive representative under the Educational Employment Relations Act (Chapter 10.7 (commencing with Section 3540) of Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code) for access to communicate its position on adopting the system.(e) All election procedures not specified above for an election pursuant to this section shall be within the scope of representation of an exclusive representative under Section 3543.2 of the Government Code, including the rules for campaigning, the election date, time, and place, translation of the ballot, electioneering near the polls, and balloting methods.SEC. 2. Section 45319 of the Education Code is amended to read:45319. (a) A merit (civil service) system within a school district may be terminated by one of the following methods:(1) (A) If the governing board of a school district, or a county board of education, receives a written petition of qualified electors not less in number than 10 percent of the number voting in the last election for a member of the board calling for the termination of the merit (civil service) system and the system has been in operation for not less than five years or has been imposed pursuant to the terms of Section 45119 or 45120, the board shall order the county superintendent of schools to place the question of termination of the system on the ballot at the next regular governing board member election, or county board of education member election, or the next primary or general election in a general election year, whichever is the earlier after receipt by the county superintendent of schools.(B) The statement of purpose of the election shall read:Shall the merit (civil service) system for school employees not requiring certification qualifications, as provided for in Article 6 (commencing with Section 45240) of Chapter 5 of Part 25 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Education Code of the State of California, and which has been in operation for at least five years, be terminated by the ____ School District of ____ County (or counties, where appropriate), or by the County Office of Education of ____ County on ____ (date to be specified by board)?(C) The petition calling for the election, to be valid, shall contain the statement of purpose for the election as contained in this section.(2) (A) If the governing board of a school district, or the county board of education, receives a written petition from 40 percent of the classified employees entitled to vote calling for the termination of the merit (civil service) system and the system has been in operation for not less than five years or has been imposed pursuant to the terms of Section 45119 or 45120, the governing board of the school district shall conduct an election by secret ballot of its classified personnel to determine whether or not they desire to have the merit system terminated within the school district. The ballot shall read: Shall the merit (civil service) system for classified employees be terminated in the ____ (name of school district, or county office of education) as of ____ (termination date)?(B) As used in this subdivision, classified employees means all personnel who are a part of the classified service who are appointed in accordance with Section 45272.(C) In order to be valid, the petition calling for the termination of the merit (civil service) system shall be submitted to the governing board of the school district within 90 days after the date that the notice for the circulation of the petition was filed with the governing board of the school district. The election shall be held during the regular school year and shall be held no earlier than 45 days and no later than 180 days after the date that the petition was submitted to the governing board of the school district.(D) If the merit system was adopted pursuant to Section 45224.5, classified employees entitled to vote in an election pursuant to this paragraph shall be limited to those classified employees who reside in the school district.(E) The governing board of the school district shall devise an identification system designed to protect against fraud in the balloting process while also ensuring ballot secrecy. In addition, the governing board of the school district shall appoint a three-member tabulation committee consisting of one member of the governing board of the school district, one member of the personnel commission of the school district, and one member who shall be a classified employee of the school district designated by the largest exclusive representative of classified employees within the school district. It shall be the responsibility of the tabulation committee to canvass the election ballots and to certify the results of the election to the governing board of the school district at the next regular meeting of the governing board of the school district following the completion of the tabulation of the election ballots by the committee. No representative of the school district shall make any marks upon the ballot envelope or ballot of any employee, except that the tabulation committee may adopt a system of uniformly stamping in a consistent manner and in the same location on all ballots received or all ballots counted, or both of those, to help ensure an accurate count.(F) Notwithstanding any other law, the governing board of the school district shall not be required to provide release time for classified personnel to vote in an election conducted pursuant to this paragraph. The governing board of the school district shall not conduct an election under this paragraph more than once in any two-year period.(G) Members of the classified service shall be provided an adequate and ample opportunity to be informed of the arguments in favor of and in opposition to the termination of the merit (civil service) system before the conducting of an election called pursuant to this paragraph. That opportunity shall include an open forum during which proponents of, and opponents to, the termination of the merit (civil service) system shall be permitted to debate the issue.(b) If the school district communicates with classified employees in favor of terminating the merit (civil service) system, it shall provide at least equal time and equal access to any exclusive representative of classified employees within the school district to communicate against terminating that system. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as limiting the rights of an exclusive representative under the Educational Employment Relations Act (Chapter 10.7 (commencing with Section 3540) of Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code) for access to communicate its position on terminating the system.(c) (1) It shall be unlawful for a public school employer and the exclusive representative of the classified employees of a school district to include the subject of the termination of the merit (classified service) system within the scope of representation.(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) or any other law, all election procedures not specified above for an election pursuant to this section shall be within the scope of representation of an exclusive representative under Section 3543.2 of the Government Code, including the rules for campaigning, the election date, time, and place, translation of the ballot, electioneering near the polls, and balloting methods.SEC. 3. Section 88051 of the Education Code is amended to read:88051. (a) (1) On or after November 8, 1967, the classified employees of a community college district whose full-time equivalent student is 3,000 or greater, in accordance with this article, may petition the governing board of the community college district to make Article 3 (commencing with Section 88060) applicable to the community college district. That petition shall read substantially as follows:We, the undersigned classified employees of the _____ (name of community college district), constituting 15 percent or more of the classified personnel entitled to vote, request the governing board to submit to election the question of whether or not the merit (civil service) system shall become applicable to this district.NAME POSITION CLASSIFICATION (2) Classified employee, as used in this section, shall be construed to include all personnel who are a part of the classified service, as defined in Section 88003.(b) Within 120 days after receipt of the petition the governing board of the community college district shall do all of the following:(1) Obtain the services of competent and qualified persons to present the pros and cons of the issue. Notwithstanding this paragraph, the classified employees who submitted the petition may select the person or persons to present the proponent position on the issue.(2) Provide adequate and ample opportunity for all of its classified personnel to attend one or more meetings at which the issue is presented.(3) (A) Having complied with paragraphs (1) and (2), conduct an election by secret ballot of its classified personnel to determine whether or not they desire to make the merit system applicable to the community college district. The ballot shall read:Shall the merit (civil service) system for classified employees be applicable in the ____________ (name of community college district)? Yes No(B) Although the ballot shall not require the employees signatures or other personal identifying requirements, the governing board of the community college district shall devise an identification system to ensure against fraud in the balloting process while also ensuring ballot secrecy.(c) (1) The governing board of the community college district shall appoint a three- or five-person tabulation committee, at least one member of which shall be a member of the governing board of the community college district and at least one member of which shall be a classified employee designated by the largest exclusive representative of classified employees within the community college district, to canvass the ballots and present the results to the governing board of the community college district. No representative of the community college district shall make any marks upon the ballot envelope or ballot of any employee, except that the tabulation committee may adopt a system of uniformly stamping in a consistent manner and in the same location on all ballots received or all ballots counted, or both of those, to help ensure an accurate count. If a simple majority votes in favor of the merit system, that system shall become applicable in the community college district.(2) The tabulation committee shall certify the results of the election to the governing board of the community college district at the next regular or special meeting of the governing board of the community college district following the date the committee completes tabulation of the votes. If the tabulation committee completes the tabulation on the same day that the governing board of the community college district meets in regular or special session, the committee shall certify the results of the election to the governing board of the community college district at that meeting.(d) If the community college district communicates with classified employees in opposition to adopting the merit (civil service) system, it shall provide at least equal time and equal access to any exclusive representative of classified employees within the community college district to communicate in favor of that system. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as limiting the rights of an exclusive representative under the Educational Employment Relations Act (Chapter 10.7 (commencing with Section 3540) of Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code) for access to communicate its position on adopting the system.(e) All election procedures not specified above for an election pursuant to this section shall be within the scope of representation of an exclusive representative under Section 3543.2 of the Government Code, including the rules for campaigning, the election date, time, and place, translation of the ballot, electioneering near the polls, and balloting methods.SEC. 4. Section 88138 of the Education Code is amended to read:88138. (a) A merit (civil service) system within a community college district may be terminated by one of the following methods:(1) (A) If the governing board of a community college district receives a written petition of qualified electors not less in number than 10 percent of the number voting in the last election for a member of the governing board of the community college district calling for the termination of the merit (civil service) system and the system has been in operation for not less than five years, the governing board of the community college district shall order the county superintendent of schools to place the question of termination of the system on the ballot at the next regular governing board member election, or the next primary or general election in a general election year, whichever is the earlier after receipt by the county superintendent of schools.(B) The statement of purpose of the election shall read:Shall the merit (civil service) system for school employees not employed as faculty or educational administrators, as provided for in Article 3 (commencing with Section 88060) of Chapter 4 of Part 51 of Division 7 of Title 3 of the Education Code of the State of California, and which has been in operation for at least five years, be terminated by the _____ Community College District of ____ County (or counties, where appropriate) on _____ (date to be specified by board)?(C) The petition calling for the election, to be valid, shall contain the statement of purpose for the election as contained in this section.(2) (A) If the governing board of a community college district receives a written petition from 40 percent of the classified employees entitled to vote calling for the termination of the merit (civil service) system and the system has been in operation for not less than five years or has been imposed pursuant to the terms of Section 45119 or 45120, the governing board of the community college district shall conduct an election by secret ballot of its classified personnel to determine whether or not they desire to have the merit system terminated within the community college district. The ballot shall read: Shall the merit (civil service) system for classified employees be terminated in the ____ (name of community college district) as of ____ (termination date)?(B) As used in this subdivision, classified employees means all personnel who are a part of the classified service who are appointed in accordance with Section 88091.(C) In order to be valid, the petition calling for the termination of the merit (civil service) system shall be submitted to the governing board of a community college district within 90 days after the date that the notice for the circulation of the petition was filed with the governing board of the community college district. The election shall be held during the regular academic year and shall be held no earlier than 45 days and no later than 180 days after the date that the petition was submitted to the governing board of the community college district.(D) If the merit system was adopted pursuant to Section 88057, classified employees entitled to vote in an election pursuant to this paragraph shall be limited to those classified employees who reside in the district.(E) The governing board of a community college district shall devise an identification system designed to protect against fraud in the balloting process while also ensuring the secrecy of the ballot. In addition, the governing board of the community college district shall appoint a three-member tabulation committee consisting of one member of the governing board, one member of the personnel commission of the community college district, and one member who shall be a classified employee of the community college district designated by the largest exclusive representative of classified employees within the community college district. It shall be the responsibility of the tabulation committee to canvass the election ballots and to certify the results of the election to the governing board of the community college district at the next regular meeting of the governing board of the community college district following the completion of the tabulation of the election results by the committee. No representative of the community college district shall make any marks upon the ballot envelope or ballot of any employee, except that the tabulation committee may adopt a system of uniformly stamping in a consistent manner and in the same location on all ballots received or all ballots counted, or both of those, to help ensure an accurate count.(F) Notwithstanding any other law, the governing board of a community college district shall not be required to provide release time for classified personnel to vote in an election conducted pursuant to this paragraph. The governing board of the community college district shall not conduct an election under this paragraph more than once in any two-year period.(G) Members of the classified service shall be provided an adequate and ample opportunity to be informed of the arguments in favor of and in opposition to the termination of the merit (classified service) system before the conducting of an election called pursuant to this paragraph. That opportunity shall include an open forum during which proponents of, and opponents to, the termination of the merit (civil service) system shall be permitted to debate the issue.(b) If the community college district communicates with classified employees in favor of terminating the merit (civil service) system, it shall provide at least equal time and equal access to any exclusive representative of classified employees within the community college district to communicate against terminating that system. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as limiting the rights of an exclusive representative under the Educational Employment Relations Act (Chapter 10.7 (commencing with Section 3540) of Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code) for access to communicate its position on terminating the system.(c) (1) It shall be unlawful for a public school employer and the exclusive representative of the classified employees of a community college district to include the subject of the termination of the merit (classified service) system within the scope of representation.(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) or any other law, all election procedures not specified above for an election pursuant to this section shall be within the scope of representation of an exclusive representative under Section 3543.2 of the Government Code, including the rules for campaigning, the election date, time, and place, translation of the ballot, electioneering near the polls, and balloting methods.SEC. 5. The provisions of this act shall be deemed to establish minimum working conditions for the purposes of Section 3543.8 of the Government Code. This section does not constitute a change in, but is declaratory of, existing law.SEC. 6. If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
3646
3747 The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
3848
3949 ## The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
4050
4151 SECTION 1. Section 45221 of the Education Code is amended to read:45221. (a) (1) The classified employees of a school district whose average daily attendance is 3,000 or greater, may, in accordance with this article, petition the governing board of the school district to make the provisions of Article 6 (commencing with Section 45240) applicable to the school district. That petition shall read substantially as follows:We, the undersigned classified employees of the _______________ (name of school district), constituting 15 percent or more of the classified personnel entitled to vote, request the governing board to submit to election the question of whether or not the merit (civil service) system shall become applicable to this district.NAMEPOSITION CLASSIFICATION(2) Classified employee, as used in this section, shall be construed to include all personnel who are a part of the classified service, as defined in Section 45103.(b) Within 120 days after receipt of the petition the governing board of the school district shall do all of the following:(1) Obtain the services of competent and qualified persons to present the pros and cons of the issue. Notwithstanding this paragraph, the classified employees who submitted the petition may select the person or persons to present the proponent position on the issue.(2) Provide adequate and ample opportunity for all of its classified personnel to attend one or more meetings at which the issue is presented.(3) (A) Having complied with paragraphs (1) and (2), conduct an election by secret ballot of its classified personnel to determine whether or not they desire to make the merit system applicable to the school district. The ballot shall read:Shall the merit (civil service) system for classified employees be applicable in the ____________ (name of school district)? Yes No(B) Although the ballot shall not require the employees signatures or other personal identifying requirements, the governing board of the school district shall devise an identification system to ensure against fraud in the balloting process while also ensuring ballot secrecy.(c) (1) The governing board of the school district shall appoint a three- or five-person tabulation committee, at least one member of which shall be a member of the governing board of the school district and at least one member of which shall be a classified employee designated by the largest exclusive representative of classified employees within the school district, to canvass the ballots and present the results to the governing board of the school district. No representative of the school district shall make any marks upon the ballot envelope or ballot of any employee, except that the tabulation committee may adopt a system of uniformly stamping in a consistent manner and in the same location on all ballots received or all ballots counted, or both of those, to help ensure an accurate count. If a simple majority votes in favor of the merit system, that system shall become applicable in the school district.(2) The tabulation committee shall certify the results of the election to the governing board of the school district at the next regular or special meeting of the governing board of the school district following the date the committee completes tabulation of the votes. If the tabulation committee completes the tabulation on the same day that the governing board of the school district meets in regular or special session, the committee shall certify the results of the election to the governing board of the school district at that meeting.(d) If the school district communicates with classified employees in opposition to adopting the merit (civil service) system, it shall provide at least equal time and equal access to any exclusive representative of classified employees within the school district to communicate in favor of that system. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as limiting the rights of an exclusive representative under the Educational Employment Relations Act (Chapter 10.7 (commencing with Section 3540) of Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code) for access to communicate its position on adopting the system.(e) All election procedures not specified above for an election pursuant to this section shall be within the scope of representation of an exclusive representative under Section 3543.2 of the Government Code, including the rules for campaigning, the election date, time, and place, translation of the ballot, electioneering near the polls, and balloting methods.
4252
4353 SECTION 1. Section 45221 of the Education Code is amended to read:
4454
4555 ### SECTION 1.
4656
4757 45221. (a) (1) The classified employees of a school district whose average daily attendance is 3,000 or greater, may, in accordance with this article, petition the governing board of the school district to make the provisions of Article 6 (commencing with Section 45240) applicable to the school district. That petition shall read substantially as follows:We, the undersigned classified employees of the _______________ (name of school district), constituting 15 percent or more of the classified personnel entitled to vote, request the governing board to submit to election the question of whether or not the merit (civil service) system shall become applicable to this district.NAMEPOSITION CLASSIFICATION(2) Classified employee, as used in this section, shall be construed to include all personnel who are a part of the classified service, as defined in Section 45103.(b) Within 120 days after receipt of the petition the governing board of the school district shall do all of the following:(1) Obtain the services of competent and qualified persons to present the pros and cons of the issue. Notwithstanding this paragraph, the classified employees who submitted the petition may select the person or persons to present the proponent position on the issue.(2) Provide adequate and ample opportunity for all of its classified personnel to attend one or more meetings at which the issue is presented.(3) (A) Having complied with paragraphs (1) and (2), conduct an election by secret ballot of its classified personnel to determine whether or not they desire to make the merit system applicable to the school district. The ballot shall read:Shall the merit (civil service) system for classified employees be applicable in the ____________ (name of school district)? Yes No(B) Although the ballot shall not require the employees signatures or other personal identifying requirements, the governing board of the school district shall devise an identification system to ensure against fraud in the balloting process while also ensuring ballot secrecy.(c) (1) The governing board of the school district shall appoint a three- or five-person tabulation committee, at least one member of which shall be a member of the governing board of the school district and at least one member of which shall be a classified employee designated by the largest exclusive representative of classified employees within the school district, to canvass the ballots and present the results to the governing board of the school district. No representative of the school district shall make any marks upon the ballot envelope or ballot of any employee, except that the tabulation committee may adopt a system of uniformly stamping in a consistent manner and in the same location on all ballots received or all ballots counted, or both of those, to help ensure an accurate count. If a simple majority votes in favor of the merit system, that system shall become applicable in the school district.(2) The tabulation committee shall certify the results of the election to the governing board of the school district at the next regular or special meeting of the governing board of the school district following the date the committee completes tabulation of the votes. If the tabulation committee completes the tabulation on the same day that the governing board of the school district meets in regular or special session, the committee shall certify the results of the election to the governing board of the school district at that meeting.(d) If the school district communicates with classified employees in opposition to adopting the merit (civil service) system, it shall provide at least equal time and equal access to any exclusive representative of classified employees within the school district to communicate in favor of that system. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as limiting the rights of an exclusive representative under the Educational Employment Relations Act (Chapter 10.7 (commencing with Section 3540) of Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code) for access to communicate its position on adopting the system.(e) All election procedures not specified above for an election pursuant to this section shall be within the scope of representation of an exclusive representative under Section 3543.2 of the Government Code, including the rules for campaigning, the election date, time, and place, translation of the ballot, electioneering near the polls, and balloting methods.
4858
4959 45221. (a) (1) The classified employees of a school district whose average daily attendance is 3,000 or greater, may, in accordance with this article, petition the governing board of the school district to make the provisions of Article 6 (commencing with Section 45240) applicable to the school district. That petition shall read substantially as follows:We, the undersigned classified employees of the _______________ (name of school district), constituting 15 percent or more of the classified personnel entitled to vote, request the governing board to submit to election the question of whether or not the merit (civil service) system shall become applicable to this district.NAMEPOSITION CLASSIFICATION(2) Classified employee, as used in this section, shall be construed to include all personnel who are a part of the classified service, as defined in Section 45103.(b) Within 120 days after receipt of the petition the governing board of the school district shall do all of the following:(1) Obtain the services of competent and qualified persons to present the pros and cons of the issue. Notwithstanding this paragraph, the classified employees who submitted the petition may select the person or persons to present the proponent position on the issue.(2) Provide adequate and ample opportunity for all of its classified personnel to attend one or more meetings at which the issue is presented.(3) (A) Having complied with paragraphs (1) and (2), conduct an election by secret ballot of its classified personnel to determine whether or not they desire to make the merit system applicable to the school district. The ballot shall read:Shall the merit (civil service) system for classified employees be applicable in the ____________ (name of school district)? Yes No(B) Although the ballot shall not require the employees signatures or other personal identifying requirements, the governing board of the school district shall devise an identification system to ensure against fraud in the balloting process while also ensuring ballot secrecy.(c) (1) The governing board of the school district shall appoint a three- or five-person tabulation committee, at least one member of which shall be a member of the governing board of the school district and at least one member of which shall be a classified employee designated by the largest exclusive representative of classified employees within the school district, to canvass the ballots and present the results to the governing board of the school district. No representative of the school district shall make any marks upon the ballot envelope or ballot of any employee, except that the tabulation committee may adopt a system of uniformly stamping in a consistent manner and in the same location on all ballots received or all ballots counted, or both of those, to help ensure an accurate count. If a simple majority votes in favor of the merit system, that system shall become applicable in the school district.(2) The tabulation committee shall certify the results of the election to the governing board of the school district at the next regular or special meeting of the governing board of the school district following the date the committee completes tabulation of the votes. If the tabulation committee completes the tabulation on the same day that the governing board of the school district meets in regular or special session, the committee shall certify the results of the election to the governing board of the school district at that meeting.(d) If the school district communicates with classified employees in opposition to adopting the merit (civil service) system, it shall provide at least equal time and equal access to any exclusive representative of classified employees within the school district to communicate in favor of that system. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as limiting the rights of an exclusive representative under the Educational Employment Relations Act (Chapter 10.7 (commencing with Section 3540) of Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code) for access to communicate its position on adopting the system.(e) All election procedures not specified above for an election pursuant to this section shall be within the scope of representation of an exclusive representative under Section 3543.2 of the Government Code, including the rules for campaigning, the election date, time, and place, translation of the ballot, electioneering near the polls, and balloting methods.
5060
5161 45221. (a) (1) The classified employees of a school district whose average daily attendance is 3,000 or greater, may, in accordance with this article, petition the governing board of the school district to make the provisions of Article 6 (commencing with Section 45240) applicable to the school district. That petition shall read substantially as follows:We, the undersigned classified employees of the _______________ (name of school district), constituting 15 percent or more of the classified personnel entitled to vote, request the governing board to submit to election the question of whether or not the merit (civil service) system shall become applicable to this district.NAMEPOSITION CLASSIFICATION(2) Classified employee, as used in this section, shall be construed to include all personnel who are a part of the classified service, as defined in Section 45103.(b) Within 120 days after receipt of the petition the governing board of the school district shall do all of the following:(1) Obtain the services of competent and qualified persons to present the pros and cons of the issue. Notwithstanding this paragraph, the classified employees who submitted the petition may select the person or persons to present the proponent position on the issue.(2) Provide adequate and ample opportunity for all of its classified personnel to attend one or more meetings at which the issue is presented.(3) (A) Having complied with paragraphs (1) and (2), conduct an election by secret ballot of its classified personnel to determine whether or not they desire to make the merit system applicable to the school district. The ballot shall read:Shall the merit (civil service) system for classified employees be applicable in the ____________ (name of school district)? Yes No(B) Although the ballot shall not require the employees signatures or other personal identifying requirements, the governing board of the school district shall devise an identification system to ensure against fraud in the balloting process while also ensuring ballot secrecy.(c) (1) The governing board of the school district shall appoint a three- or five-person tabulation committee, at least one member of which shall be a member of the governing board of the school district and at least one member of which shall be a classified employee designated by the largest exclusive representative of classified employees within the school district, to canvass the ballots and present the results to the governing board of the school district. No representative of the school district shall make any marks upon the ballot envelope or ballot of any employee, except that the tabulation committee may adopt a system of uniformly stamping in a consistent manner and in the same location on all ballots received or all ballots counted, or both of those, to help ensure an accurate count. If a simple majority votes in favor of the merit system, that system shall become applicable in the school district.(2) The tabulation committee shall certify the results of the election to the governing board of the school district at the next regular or special meeting of the governing board of the school district following the date the committee completes tabulation of the votes. If the tabulation committee completes the tabulation on the same day that the governing board of the school district meets in regular or special session, the committee shall certify the results of the election to the governing board of the school district at that meeting.(d) If the school district communicates with classified employees in opposition to adopting the merit (civil service) system, it shall provide at least equal time and equal access to any exclusive representative of classified employees within the school district to communicate in favor of that system. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as limiting the rights of an exclusive representative under the Educational Employment Relations Act (Chapter 10.7 (commencing with Section 3540) of Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code) for access to communicate its position on adopting the system.(e) All election procedures not specified above for an election pursuant to this section shall be within the scope of representation of an exclusive representative under Section 3543.2 of the Government Code, including the rules for campaigning, the election date, time, and place, translation of the ballot, electioneering near the polls, and balloting methods.
5262
5363
5464
5565 45221. (a) (1) The classified employees of a school district whose average daily attendance is 3,000 or greater, may, in accordance with this article, petition the governing board of the school district to make the provisions of Article 6 (commencing with Section 45240) applicable to the school district. That petition shall read substantially as follows:
5666
5767 We, the undersigned classified employees of the _______________ (name of school district), constituting 15 percent or more of the classified personnel entitled to vote, request the governing board to submit to election the question of whether or not the merit (civil service) system shall become applicable to this district.
5868 NAME POSITION CLASSIFICATION
5969
6070 We, the undersigned classified employees of the _______________ (name of school district), constituting 15 percent or more of the classified personnel entitled to vote, request the governing board to submit to election the question of whether or not the merit (civil service) system shall become applicable to this district.
6171
6272 NAME
6373
6474 POSITION CLASSIFICATION
6575
6676 (2) Classified employee, as used in this section, shall be construed to include all personnel who are a part of the classified service, as defined in Section 45103.
6777
6878 (b) Within 120 days after receipt of the petition the governing board of the school district shall do all of the following:
6979
7080 (1) Obtain the services of competent and qualified persons to present the pros and cons of the issue. Notwithstanding this paragraph, the classified employees who submitted the petition may select the person or persons to present the proponent position on the issue.
7181
7282 (2) Provide adequate and ample opportunity for all of its classified personnel to attend one or more meetings at which the issue is presented.
7383
7484 (3) (A) Having complied with paragraphs (1) and (2), conduct an election by secret ballot of its classified personnel to determine whether or not they desire to make the merit system applicable to the school district. The ballot shall read:
7585
7686 Shall the merit (civil service) system for classified employees be applicable in the ____________ (name of school district)? Yes No
7787
7888 Shall the merit (civil service) system for classified employees be applicable in the ____________ (name of school district)?
7989
8090 Yes
8191
8292 No
8393
8494 (B) Although the ballot shall not require the employees signatures or other personal identifying requirements, the governing board of the school district shall devise an identification system to ensure against fraud in the balloting process while also ensuring ballot secrecy.
8595
8696 (c) (1) The governing board of the school district shall appoint a three- or five-person tabulation committee, at least one member of which shall be a member of the governing board of the school district and at least one member of which shall be a classified employee designated by the largest exclusive representative of classified employees within the school district, to canvass the ballots and present the results to the governing board of the school district. No representative of the school district shall make any marks upon the ballot envelope or ballot of any employee, except that the tabulation committee may adopt a system of uniformly stamping in a consistent manner and in the same location on all ballots received or all ballots counted, or both of those, to help ensure an accurate count. If a simple majority votes in favor of the merit system, that system shall become applicable in the school district.
8797
8898 (2) The tabulation committee shall certify the results of the election to the governing board of the school district at the next regular or special meeting of the governing board of the school district following the date the committee completes tabulation of the votes. If the tabulation committee completes the tabulation on the same day that the governing board of the school district meets in regular or special session, the committee shall certify the results of the election to the governing board of the school district at that meeting.
8999
90100 (d) If the school district communicates with classified employees in opposition to adopting the merit (civil service) system, it shall provide at least equal time and equal access to any exclusive representative of classified employees within the school district to communicate in favor of that system. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as limiting the rights of an exclusive representative under the Educational Employment Relations Act (Chapter 10.7 (commencing with Section 3540) of Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code) for access to communicate its position on adopting the system.
91101
92102 (e) All election procedures not specified above for an election pursuant to this section shall be within the scope of representation of an exclusive representative under Section 3543.2 of the Government Code, including the rules for campaigning, the election date, time, and place, translation of the ballot, electioneering near the polls, and balloting methods.
93103
94104 SEC. 2. Section 45319 of the Education Code is amended to read:45319. (a) A merit (civil service) system within a school district may be terminated by one of the following methods:(1) (A) If the governing board of a school district, or a county board of education, receives a written petition of qualified electors not less in number than 10 percent of the number voting in the last election for a member of the board calling for the termination of the merit (civil service) system and the system has been in operation for not less than five years or has been imposed pursuant to the terms of Section 45119 or 45120, the board shall order the county superintendent of schools to place the question of termination of the system on the ballot at the next regular governing board member election, or county board of education member election, or the next primary or general election in a general election year, whichever is the earlier after receipt by the county superintendent of schools.(B) The statement of purpose of the election shall read:Shall the merit (civil service) system for school employees not requiring certification qualifications, as provided for in Article 6 (commencing with Section 45240) of Chapter 5 of Part 25 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Education Code of the State of California, and which has been in operation for at least five years, be terminated by the ____ School District of ____ County (or counties, where appropriate), or by the County Office of Education of ____ County on ____ (date to be specified by board)?(C) The petition calling for the election, to be valid, shall contain the statement of purpose for the election as contained in this section.(2) (A) If the governing board of a school district, or the county board of education, receives a written petition from 40 percent of the classified employees entitled to vote calling for the termination of the merit (civil service) system and the system has been in operation for not less than five years or has been imposed pursuant to the terms of Section 45119 or 45120, the governing board of the school district shall conduct an election by secret ballot of its classified personnel to determine whether or not they desire to have the merit system terminated within the school district. The ballot shall read: Shall the merit (civil service) system for classified employees be terminated in the ____ (name of school district, or county office of education) as of ____ (termination date)?(B) As used in this subdivision, classified employees means all personnel who are a part of the classified service who are appointed in accordance with Section 45272.(C) In order to be valid, the petition calling for the termination of the merit (civil service) system shall be submitted to the governing board of the school district within 90 days after the date that the notice for the circulation of the petition was filed with the governing board of the school district. The election shall be held during the regular school year and shall be held no earlier than 45 days and no later than 180 days after the date that the petition was submitted to the governing board of the school district.(D) If the merit system was adopted pursuant to Section 45224.5, classified employees entitled to vote in an election pursuant to this paragraph shall be limited to those classified employees who reside in the school district.(E) The governing board of the school district shall devise an identification system designed to protect against fraud in the balloting process while also ensuring ballot secrecy. In addition, the governing board of the school district shall appoint a three-member tabulation committee consisting of one member of the governing board of the school district, one member of the personnel commission of the school district, and one member who shall be a classified employee of the school district designated by the largest exclusive representative of classified employees within the school district. It shall be the responsibility of the tabulation committee to canvass the election ballots and to certify the results of the election to the governing board of the school district at the next regular meeting of the governing board of the school district following the completion of the tabulation of the election ballots by the committee. No representative of the school district shall make any marks upon the ballot envelope or ballot of any employee, except that the tabulation committee may adopt a system of uniformly stamping in a consistent manner and in the same location on all ballots received or all ballots counted, or both of those, to help ensure an accurate count.(F) Notwithstanding any other law, the governing board of the school district shall not be required to provide release time for classified personnel to vote in an election conducted pursuant to this paragraph. The governing board of the school district shall not conduct an election under this paragraph more than once in any two-year period.(G) Members of the classified service shall be provided an adequate and ample opportunity to be informed of the arguments in favor of and in opposition to the termination of the merit (civil service) system before the conducting of an election called pursuant to this paragraph. That opportunity shall include an open forum during which proponents of, and opponents to, the termination of the merit (civil service) system shall be permitted to debate the issue.(b) If the school district communicates with classified employees in favor of terminating the merit (civil service) system, it shall provide at least equal time and equal access to any exclusive representative of classified employees within the school district to communicate against terminating that system. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as limiting the rights of an exclusive representative under the Educational Employment Relations Act (Chapter 10.7 (commencing with Section 3540) of Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code) for access to communicate its position on terminating the system.(c) (1) It shall be unlawful for a public school employer and the exclusive representative of the classified employees of a school district to include the subject of the termination of the merit (classified service) system within the scope of representation.(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) or any other law, all election procedures not specified above for an election pursuant to this section shall be within the scope of representation of an exclusive representative under Section 3543.2 of the Government Code, including the rules for campaigning, the election date, time, and place, translation of the ballot, electioneering near the polls, and balloting methods.
95105
96106 SEC. 2. Section 45319 of the Education Code is amended to read:
97107
98108 ### SEC. 2.
99109
100110 45319. (a) A merit (civil service) system within a school district may be terminated by one of the following methods:(1) (A) If the governing board of a school district, or a county board of education, receives a written petition of qualified electors not less in number than 10 percent of the number voting in the last election for a member of the board calling for the termination of the merit (civil service) system and the system has been in operation for not less than five years or has been imposed pursuant to the terms of Section 45119 or 45120, the board shall order the county superintendent of schools to place the question of termination of the system on the ballot at the next regular governing board member election, or county board of education member election, or the next primary or general election in a general election year, whichever is the earlier after receipt by the county superintendent of schools.(B) The statement of purpose of the election shall read:Shall the merit (civil service) system for school employees not requiring certification qualifications, as provided for in Article 6 (commencing with Section 45240) of Chapter 5 of Part 25 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Education Code of the State of California, and which has been in operation for at least five years, be terminated by the ____ School District of ____ County (or counties, where appropriate), or by the County Office of Education of ____ County on ____ (date to be specified by board)?(C) The petition calling for the election, to be valid, shall contain the statement of purpose for the election as contained in this section.(2) (A) If the governing board of a school district, or the county board of education, receives a written petition from 40 percent of the classified employees entitled to vote calling for the termination of the merit (civil service) system and the system has been in operation for not less than five years or has been imposed pursuant to the terms of Section 45119 or 45120, the governing board of the school district shall conduct an election by secret ballot of its classified personnel to determine whether or not they desire to have the merit system terminated within the school district. The ballot shall read: Shall the merit (civil service) system for classified employees be terminated in the ____ (name of school district, or county office of education) as of ____ (termination date)?(B) As used in this subdivision, classified employees means all personnel who are a part of the classified service who are appointed in accordance with Section 45272.(C) In order to be valid, the petition calling for the termination of the merit (civil service) system shall be submitted to the governing board of the school district within 90 days after the date that the notice for the circulation of the petition was filed with the governing board of the school district. The election shall be held during the regular school year and shall be held no earlier than 45 days and no later than 180 days after the date that the petition was submitted to the governing board of the school district.(D) If the merit system was adopted pursuant to Section 45224.5, classified employees entitled to vote in an election pursuant to this paragraph shall be limited to those classified employees who reside in the school district.(E) The governing board of the school district shall devise an identification system designed to protect against fraud in the balloting process while also ensuring ballot secrecy. In addition, the governing board of the school district shall appoint a three-member tabulation committee consisting of one member of the governing board of the school district, one member of the personnel commission of the school district, and one member who shall be a classified employee of the school district designated by the largest exclusive representative of classified employees within the school district. It shall be the responsibility of the tabulation committee to canvass the election ballots and to certify the results of the election to the governing board of the school district at the next regular meeting of the governing board of the school district following the completion of the tabulation of the election ballots by the committee. No representative of the school district shall make any marks upon the ballot envelope or ballot of any employee, except that the tabulation committee may adopt a system of uniformly stamping in a consistent manner and in the same location on all ballots received or all ballots counted, or both of those, to help ensure an accurate count.(F) Notwithstanding any other law, the governing board of the school district shall not be required to provide release time for classified personnel to vote in an election conducted pursuant to this paragraph. The governing board of the school district shall not conduct an election under this paragraph more than once in any two-year period.(G) Members of the classified service shall be provided an adequate and ample opportunity to be informed of the arguments in favor of and in opposition to the termination of the merit (civil service) system before the conducting of an election called pursuant to this paragraph. That opportunity shall include an open forum during which proponents of, and opponents to, the termination of the merit (civil service) system shall be permitted to debate the issue.(b) If the school district communicates with classified employees in favor of terminating the merit (civil service) system, it shall provide at least equal time and equal access to any exclusive representative of classified employees within the school district to communicate against terminating that system. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as limiting the rights of an exclusive representative under the Educational Employment Relations Act (Chapter 10.7 (commencing with Section 3540) of Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code) for access to communicate its position on terminating the system.(c) (1) It shall be unlawful for a public school employer and the exclusive representative of the classified employees of a school district to include the subject of the termination of the merit (classified service) system within the scope of representation.(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) or any other law, all election procedures not specified above for an election pursuant to this section shall be within the scope of representation of an exclusive representative under Section 3543.2 of the Government Code, including the rules for campaigning, the election date, time, and place, translation of the ballot, electioneering near the polls, and balloting methods.
101111
102112 45319. (a) A merit (civil service) system within a school district may be terminated by one of the following methods:(1) (A) If the governing board of a school district, or a county board of education, receives a written petition of qualified electors not less in number than 10 percent of the number voting in the last election for a member of the board calling for the termination of the merit (civil service) system and the system has been in operation for not less than five years or has been imposed pursuant to the terms of Section 45119 or 45120, the board shall order the county superintendent of schools to place the question of termination of the system on the ballot at the next regular governing board member election, or county board of education member election, or the next primary or general election in a general election year, whichever is the earlier after receipt by the county superintendent of schools.(B) The statement of purpose of the election shall read:Shall the merit (civil service) system for school employees not requiring certification qualifications, as provided for in Article 6 (commencing with Section 45240) of Chapter 5 of Part 25 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Education Code of the State of California, and which has been in operation for at least five years, be terminated by the ____ School District of ____ County (or counties, where appropriate), or by the County Office of Education of ____ County on ____ (date to be specified by board)?(C) The petition calling for the election, to be valid, shall contain the statement of purpose for the election as contained in this section.(2) (A) If the governing board of a school district, or the county board of education, receives a written petition from 40 percent of the classified employees entitled to vote calling for the termination of the merit (civil service) system and the system has been in operation for not less than five years or has been imposed pursuant to the terms of Section 45119 or 45120, the governing board of the school district shall conduct an election by secret ballot of its classified personnel to determine whether or not they desire to have the merit system terminated within the school district. The ballot shall read: Shall the merit (civil service) system for classified employees be terminated in the ____ (name of school district, or county office of education) as of ____ (termination date)?(B) As used in this subdivision, classified employees means all personnel who are a part of the classified service who are appointed in accordance with Section 45272.(C) In order to be valid, the petition calling for the termination of the merit (civil service) system shall be submitted to the governing board of the school district within 90 days after the date that the notice for the circulation of the petition was filed with the governing board of the school district. The election shall be held during the regular school year and shall be held no earlier than 45 days and no later than 180 days after the date that the petition was submitted to the governing board of the school district.(D) If the merit system was adopted pursuant to Section 45224.5, classified employees entitled to vote in an election pursuant to this paragraph shall be limited to those classified employees who reside in the school district.(E) The governing board of the school district shall devise an identification system designed to protect against fraud in the balloting process while also ensuring ballot secrecy. In addition, the governing board of the school district shall appoint a three-member tabulation committee consisting of one member of the governing board of the school district, one member of the personnel commission of the school district, and one member who shall be a classified employee of the school district designated by the largest exclusive representative of classified employees within the school district. It shall be the responsibility of the tabulation committee to canvass the election ballots and to certify the results of the election to the governing board of the school district at the next regular meeting of the governing board of the school district following the completion of the tabulation of the election ballots by the committee. No representative of the school district shall make any marks upon the ballot envelope or ballot of any employee, except that the tabulation committee may adopt a system of uniformly stamping in a consistent manner and in the same location on all ballots received or all ballots counted, or both of those, to help ensure an accurate count.(F) Notwithstanding any other law, the governing board of the school district shall not be required to provide release time for classified personnel to vote in an election conducted pursuant to this paragraph. The governing board of the school district shall not conduct an election under this paragraph more than once in any two-year period.(G) Members of the classified service shall be provided an adequate and ample opportunity to be informed of the arguments in favor of and in opposition to the termination of the merit (civil service) system before the conducting of an election called pursuant to this paragraph. That opportunity shall include an open forum during which proponents of, and opponents to, the termination of the merit (civil service) system shall be permitted to debate the issue.(b) If the school district communicates with classified employees in favor of terminating the merit (civil service) system, it shall provide at least equal time and equal access to any exclusive representative of classified employees within the school district to communicate against terminating that system. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as limiting the rights of an exclusive representative under the Educational Employment Relations Act (Chapter 10.7 (commencing with Section 3540) of Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code) for access to communicate its position on terminating the system.(c) (1) It shall be unlawful for a public school employer and the exclusive representative of the classified employees of a school district to include the subject of the termination of the merit (classified service) system within the scope of representation.(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) or any other law, all election procedures not specified above for an election pursuant to this section shall be within the scope of representation of an exclusive representative under Section 3543.2 of the Government Code, including the rules for campaigning, the election date, time, and place, translation of the ballot, electioneering near the polls, and balloting methods.
103113
104114 45319. (a) A merit (civil service) system within a school district may be terminated by one of the following methods:(1) (A) If the governing board of a school district, or a county board of education, receives a written petition of qualified electors not less in number than 10 percent of the number voting in the last election for a member of the board calling for the termination of the merit (civil service) system and the system has been in operation for not less than five years or has been imposed pursuant to the terms of Section 45119 or 45120, the board shall order the county superintendent of schools to place the question of termination of the system on the ballot at the next regular governing board member election, or county board of education member election, or the next primary or general election in a general election year, whichever is the earlier after receipt by the county superintendent of schools.(B) The statement of purpose of the election shall read:Shall the merit (civil service) system for school employees not requiring certification qualifications, as provided for in Article 6 (commencing with Section 45240) of Chapter 5 of Part 25 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Education Code of the State of California, and which has been in operation for at least five years, be terminated by the ____ School District of ____ County (or counties, where appropriate), or by the County Office of Education of ____ County on ____ (date to be specified by board)?(C) The petition calling for the election, to be valid, shall contain the statement of purpose for the election as contained in this section.(2) (A) If the governing board of a school district, or the county board of education, receives a written petition from 40 percent of the classified employees entitled to vote calling for the termination of the merit (civil service) system and the system has been in operation for not less than five years or has been imposed pursuant to the terms of Section 45119 or 45120, the governing board of the school district shall conduct an election by secret ballot of its classified personnel to determine whether or not they desire to have the merit system terminated within the school district. The ballot shall read: Shall the merit (civil service) system for classified employees be terminated in the ____ (name of school district, or county office of education) as of ____ (termination date)?(B) As used in this subdivision, classified employees means all personnel who are a part of the classified service who are appointed in accordance with Section 45272.(C) In order to be valid, the petition calling for the termination of the merit (civil service) system shall be submitted to the governing board of the school district within 90 days after the date that the notice for the circulation of the petition was filed with the governing board of the school district. The election shall be held during the regular school year and shall be held no earlier than 45 days and no later than 180 days after the date that the petition was submitted to the governing board of the school district.(D) If the merit system was adopted pursuant to Section 45224.5, classified employees entitled to vote in an election pursuant to this paragraph shall be limited to those classified employees who reside in the school district.(E) The governing board of the school district shall devise an identification system designed to protect against fraud in the balloting process while also ensuring ballot secrecy. In addition, the governing board of the school district shall appoint a three-member tabulation committee consisting of one member of the governing board of the school district, one member of the personnel commission of the school district, and one member who shall be a classified employee of the school district designated by the largest exclusive representative of classified employees within the school district. It shall be the responsibility of the tabulation committee to canvass the election ballots and to certify the results of the election to the governing board of the school district at the next regular meeting of the governing board of the school district following the completion of the tabulation of the election ballots by the committee. No representative of the school district shall make any marks upon the ballot envelope or ballot of any employee, except that the tabulation committee may adopt a system of uniformly stamping in a consistent manner and in the same location on all ballots received or all ballots counted, or both of those, to help ensure an accurate count.(F) Notwithstanding any other law, the governing board of the school district shall not be required to provide release time for classified personnel to vote in an election conducted pursuant to this paragraph. The governing board of the school district shall not conduct an election under this paragraph more than once in any two-year period.(G) Members of the classified service shall be provided an adequate and ample opportunity to be informed of the arguments in favor of and in opposition to the termination of the merit (civil service) system before the conducting of an election called pursuant to this paragraph. That opportunity shall include an open forum during which proponents of, and opponents to, the termination of the merit (civil service) system shall be permitted to debate the issue.(b) If the school district communicates with classified employees in favor of terminating the merit (civil service) system, it shall provide at least equal time and equal access to any exclusive representative of classified employees within the school district to communicate against terminating that system. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as limiting the rights of an exclusive representative under the Educational Employment Relations Act (Chapter 10.7 (commencing with Section 3540) of Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code) for access to communicate its position on terminating the system.(c) (1) It shall be unlawful for a public school employer and the exclusive representative of the classified employees of a school district to include the subject of the termination of the merit (classified service) system within the scope of representation.(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) or any other law, all election procedures not specified above for an election pursuant to this section shall be within the scope of representation of an exclusive representative under Section 3543.2 of the Government Code, including the rules for campaigning, the election date, time, and place, translation of the ballot, electioneering near the polls, and balloting methods.
105115
106116
107117
108118 45319. (a) A merit (civil service) system within a school district may be terminated by one of the following methods:
109119
110120 (1) (A) If the governing board of a school district, or a county board of education, receives a written petition of qualified electors not less in number than 10 percent of the number voting in the last election for a member of the board calling for the termination of the merit (civil service) system and the system has been in operation for not less than five years or has been imposed pursuant to the terms of Section 45119 or 45120, the board shall order the county superintendent of schools to place the question of termination of the system on the ballot at the next regular governing board member election, or county board of education member election, or the next primary or general election in a general election year, whichever is the earlier after receipt by the county superintendent of schools.
111121
112122 (B) The statement of purpose of the election shall read:
113123
114124 Shall the merit (civil service) system for school employees not requiring certification qualifications, as provided for in Article 6 (commencing with Section 45240) of Chapter 5 of Part 25 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Education Code of the State of California, and which has been in operation for at least five years, be terminated by the ____ School District of ____ County (or counties, where appropriate), or by the County Office of Education of ____ County on ____ (date to be specified by board)?
115125
116126 (C) The petition calling for the election, to be valid, shall contain the statement of purpose for the election as contained in this section.
117127
118128 (2) (A) If the governing board of a school district, or the county board of education, receives a written petition from 40 percent of the classified employees entitled to vote calling for the termination of the merit (civil service) system and the system has been in operation for not less than five years or has been imposed pursuant to the terms of Section 45119 or 45120, the governing board of the school district shall conduct an election by secret ballot of its classified personnel to determine whether or not they desire to have the merit system terminated within the school district. The ballot shall read: Shall the merit (civil service) system for classified employees be terminated in the ____ (name of school district, or county office of education) as of ____ (termination date)?
119129
120130 (B) As used in this subdivision, classified employees means all personnel who are a part of the classified service who are appointed in accordance with Section 45272.
121131
122132 (C) In order to be valid, the petition calling for the termination of the merit (civil service) system shall be submitted to the governing board of the school district within 90 days after the date that the notice for the circulation of the petition was filed with the governing board of the school district. The election shall be held during the regular school year and shall be held no earlier than 45 days and no later than 180 days after the date that the petition was submitted to the governing board of the school district.
123133
124134 (D) If the merit system was adopted pursuant to Section 45224.5, classified employees entitled to vote in an election pursuant to this paragraph shall be limited to those classified employees who reside in the school district.
125135
126136 (E) The governing board of the school district shall devise an identification system designed to protect against fraud in the balloting process while also ensuring ballot secrecy. In addition, the governing board of the school district shall appoint a three-member tabulation committee consisting of one member of the governing board of the school district, one member of the personnel commission of the school district, and one member who shall be a classified employee of the school district designated by the largest exclusive representative of classified employees within the school district. It shall be the responsibility of the tabulation committee to canvass the election ballots and to certify the results of the election to the governing board of the school district at the next regular meeting of the governing board of the school district following the completion of the tabulation of the election ballots by the committee. No representative of the school district shall make any marks upon the ballot envelope or ballot of any employee, except that the tabulation committee may adopt a system of uniformly stamping in a consistent manner and in the same location on all ballots received or all ballots counted, or both of those, to help ensure an accurate count.
127137
128138 (F) Notwithstanding any other law, the governing board of the school district shall not be required to provide release time for classified personnel to vote in an election conducted pursuant to this paragraph. The governing board of the school district shall not conduct an election under this paragraph more than once in any two-year period.
129139
130140 (G) Members of the classified service shall be provided an adequate and ample opportunity to be informed of the arguments in favor of and in opposition to the termination of the merit (civil service) system before the conducting of an election called pursuant to this paragraph. That opportunity shall include an open forum during which proponents of, and opponents to, the termination of the merit (civil service) system shall be permitted to debate the issue.
131141
132142 (b) If the school district communicates with classified employees in favor of terminating the merit (civil service) system, it shall provide at least equal time and equal access to any exclusive representative of classified employees within the school district to communicate against terminating that system. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as limiting the rights of an exclusive representative under the Educational Employment Relations Act (Chapter 10.7 (commencing with Section 3540) of Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code) for access to communicate its position on terminating the system.
133143
134144 (c) (1) It shall be unlawful for a public school employer and the exclusive representative of the classified employees of a school district to include the subject of the termination of the merit (classified service) system within the scope of representation.
135145
136146 (2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) or any other law, all election procedures not specified above for an election pursuant to this section shall be within the scope of representation of an exclusive representative under Section 3543.2 of the Government Code, including the rules for campaigning, the election date, time, and place, translation of the ballot, electioneering near the polls, and balloting methods.
137147
138148 SEC. 3. Section 88051 of the Education Code is amended to read:88051. (a) (1) On or after November 8, 1967, the classified employees of a community college district whose full-time equivalent student is 3,000 or greater, in accordance with this article, may petition the governing board of the community college district to make Article 3 (commencing with Section 88060) applicable to the community college district. That petition shall read substantially as follows:We, the undersigned classified employees of the _____ (name of community college district), constituting 15 percent or more of the classified personnel entitled to vote, request the governing board to submit to election the question of whether or not the merit (civil service) system shall become applicable to this district.NAME POSITION CLASSIFICATION (2) Classified employee, as used in this section, shall be construed to include all personnel who are a part of the classified service, as defined in Section 88003.(b) Within 120 days after receipt of the petition the governing board of the community college district shall do all of the following:(1) Obtain the services of competent and qualified persons to present the pros and cons of the issue. Notwithstanding this paragraph, the classified employees who submitted the petition may select the person or persons to present the proponent position on the issue.(2) Provide adequate and ample opportunity for all of its classified personnel to attend one or more meetings at which the issue is presented.(3) (A) Having complied with paragraphs (1) and (2), conduct an election by secret ballot of its classified personnel to determine whether or not they desire to make the merit system applicable to the community college district. The ballot shall read:Shall the merit (civil service) system for classified employees be applicable in the ____________ (name of community college district)? Yes No(B) Although the ballot shall not require the employees signatures or other personal identifying requirements, the governing board of the community college district shall devise an identification system to ensure against fraud in the balloting process while also ensuring ballot secrecy.(c) (1) The governing board of the community college district shall appoint a three- or five-person tabulation committee, at least one member of which shall be a member of the governing board of the community college district and at least one member of which shall be a classified employee designated by the largest exclusive representative of classified employees within the community college district, to canvass the ballots and present the results to the governing board of the community college district. No representative of the community college district shall make any marks upon the ballot envelope or ballot of any employee, except that the tabulation committee may adopt a system of uniformly stamping in a consistent manner and in the same location on all ballots received or all ballots counted, or both of those, to help ensure an accurate count. If a simple majority votes in favor of the merit system, that system shall become applicable in the community college district.(2) The tabulation committee shall certify the results of the election to the governing board of the community college district at the next regular or special meeting of the governing board of the community college district following the date the committee completes tabulation of the votes. If the tabulation committee completes the tabulation on the same day that the governing board of the community college district meets in regular or special session, the committee shall certify the results of the election to the governing board of the community college district at that meeting.(d) If the community college district communicates with classified employees in opposition to adopting the merit (civil service) system, it shall provide at least equal time and equal access to any exclusive representative of classified employees within the community college district to communicate in favor of that system. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as limiting the rights of an exclusive representative under the Educational Employment Relations Act (Chapter 10.7 (commencing with Section 3540) of Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code) for access to communicate its position on adopting the system.(e) All election procedures not specified above for an election pursuant to this section shall be within the scope of representation of an exclusive representative under Section 3543.2 of the Government Code, including the rules for campaigning, the election date, time, and place, translation of the ballot, electioneering near the polls, and balloting methods.
139149
140150 SEC. 3. Section 88051 of the Education Code is amended to read:
141151
142152 ### SEC. 3.
143153
144154 88051. (a) (1) On or after November 8, 1967, the classified employees of a community college district whose full-time equivalent student is 3,000 or greater, in accordance with this article, may petition the governing board of the community college district to make Article 3 (commencing with Section 88060) applicable to the community college district. That petition shall read substantially as follows:We, the undersigned classified employees of the _____ (name of community college district), constituting 15 percent or more of the classified personnel entitled to vote, request the governing board to submit to election the question of whether or not the merit (civil service) system shall become applicable to this district.NAME POSITION CLASSIFICATION (2) Classified employee, as used in this section, shall be construed to include all personnel who are a part of the classified service, as defined in Section 88003.(b) Within 120 days after receipt of the petition the governing board of the community college district shall do all of the following:(1) Obtain the services of competent and qualified persons to present the pros and cons of the issue. Notwithstanding this paragraph, the classified employees who submitted the petition may select the person or persons to present the proponent position on the issue.(2) Provide adequate and ample opportunity for all of its classified personnel to attend one or more meetings at which the issue is presented.(3) (A) Having complied with paragraphs (1) and (2), conduct an election by secret ballot of its classified personnel to determine whether or not they desire to make the merit system applicable to the community college district. The ballot shall read:Shall the merit (civil service) system for classified employees be applicable in the ____________ (name of community college district)? Yes No(B) Although the ballot shall not require the employees signatures or other personal identifying requirements, the governing board of the community college district shall devise an identification system to ensure against fraud in the balloting process while also ensuring ballot secrecy.(c) (1) The governing board of the community college district shall appoint a three- or five-person tabulation committee, at least one member of which shall be a member of the governing board of the community college district and at least one member of which shall be a classified employee designated by the largest exclusive representative of classified employees within the community college district, to canvass the ballots and present the results to the governing board of the community college district. No representative of the community college district shall make any marks upon the ballot envelope or ballot of any employee, except that the tabulation committee may adopt a system of uniformly stamping in a consistent manner and in the same location on all ballots received or all ballots counted, or both of those, to help ensure an accurate count. If a simple majority votes in favor of the merit system, that system shall become applicable in the community college district.(2) The tabulation committee shall certify the results of the election to the governing board of the community college district at the next regular or special meeting of the governing board of the community college district following the date the committee completes tabulation of the votes. If the tabulation committee completes the tabulation on the same day that the governing board of the community college district meets in regular or special session, the committee shall certify the results of the election to the governing board of the community college district at that meeting.(d) If the community college district communicates with classified employees in opposition to adopting the merit (civil service) system, it shall provide at least equal time and equal access to any exclusive representative of classified employees within the community college district to communicate in favor of that system. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as limiting the rights of an exclusive representative under the Educational Employment Relations Act (Chapter 10.7 (commencing with Section 3540) of Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code) for access to communicate its position on adopting the system.(e) All election procedures not specified above for an election pursuant to this section shall be within the scope of representation of an exclusive representative under Section 3543.2 of the Government Code, including the rules for campaigning, the election date, time, and place, translation of the ballot, electioneering near the polls, and balloting methods.
145155
146156 88051. (a) (1) On or after November 8, 1967, the classified employees of a community college district whose full-time equivalent student is 3,000 or greater, in accordance with this article, may petition the governing board of the community college district to make Article 3 (commencing with Section 88060) applicable to the community college district. That petition shall read substantially as follows:We, the undersigned classified employees of the _____ (name of community college district), constituting 15 percent or more of the classified personnel entitled to vote, request the governing board to submit to election the question of whether or not the merit (civil service) system shall become applicable to this district.NAME POSITION CLASSIFICATION (2) Classified employee, as used in this section, shall be construed to include all personnel who are a part of the classified service, as defined in Section 88003.(b) Within 120 days after receipt of the petition the governing board of the community college district shall do all of the following:(1) Obtain the services of competent and qualified persons to present the pros and cons of the issue. Notwithstanding this paragraph, the classified employees who submitted the petition may select the person or persons to present the proponent position on the issue.(2) Provide adequate and ample opportunity for all of its classified personnel to attend one or more meetings at which the issue is presented.(3) (A) Having complied with paragraphs (1) and (2), conduct an election by secret ballot of its classified personnel to determine whether or not they desire to make the merit system applicable to the community college district. The ballot shall read:Shall the merit (civil service) system for classified employees be applicable in the ____________ (name of community college district)? Yes No(B) Although the ballot shall not require the employees signatures or other personal identifying requirements, the governing board of the community college district shall devise an identification system to ensure against fraud in the balloting process while also ensuring ballot secrecy.(c) (1) The governing board of the community college district shall appoint a three- or five-person tabulation committee, at least one member of which shall be a member of the governing board of the community college district and at least one member of which shall be a classified employee designated by the largest exclusive representative of classified employees within the community college district, to canvass the ballots and present the results to the governing board of the community college district. No representative of the community college district shall make any marks upon the ballot envelope or ballot of any employee, except that the tabulation committee may adopt a system of uniformly stamping in a consistent manner and in the same location on all ballots received or all ballots counted, or both of those, to help ensure an accurate count. If a simple majority votes in favor of the merit system, that system shall become applicable in the community college district.(2) The tabulation committee shall certify the results of the election to the governing board of the community college district at the next regular or special meeting of the governing board of the community college district following the date the committee completes tabulation of the votes. If the tabulation committee completes the tabulation on the same day that the governing board of the community college district meets in regular or special session, the committee shall certify the results of the election to the governing board of the community college district at that meeting.(d) If the community college district communicates with classified employees in opposition to adopting the merit (civil service) system, it shall provide at least equal time and equal access to any exclusive representative of classified employees within the community college district to communicate in favor of that system. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as limiting the rights of an exclusive representative under the Educational Employment Relations Act (Chapter 10.7 (commencing with Section 3540) of Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code) for access to communicate its position on adopting the system.(e) All election procedures not specified above for an election pursuant to this section shall be within the scope of representation of an exclusive representative under Section 3543.2 of the Government Code, including the rules for campaigning, the election date, time, and place, translation of the ballot, electioneering near the polls, and balloting methods.
147157
148158 88051. (a) (1) On or after November 8, 1967, the classified employees of a community college district whose full-time equivalent student is 3,000 or greater, in accordance with this article, may petition the governing board of the community college district to make Article 3 (commencing with Section 88060) applicable to the community college district. That petition shall read substantially as follows:We, the undersigned classified employees of the _____ (name of community college district), constituting 15 percent or more of the classified personnel entitled to vote, request the governing board to submit to election the question of whether or not the merit (civil service) system shall become applicable to this district.NAME POSITION CLASSIFICATION (2) Classified employee, as used in this section, shall be construed to include all personnel who are a part of the classified service, as defined in Section 88003.(b) Within 120 days after receipt of the petition the governing board of the community college district shall do all of the following:(1) Obtain the services of competent and qualified persons to present the pros and cons of the issue. Notwithstanding this paragraph, the classified employees who submitted the petition may select the person or persons to present the proponent position on the issue.(2) Provide adequate and ample opportunity for all of its classified personnel to attend one or more meetings at which the issue is presented.(3) (A) Having complied with paragraphs (1) and (2), conduct an election by secret ballot of its classified personnel to determine whether or not they desire to make the merit system applicable to the community college district. The ballot shall read:Shall the merit (civil service) system for classified employees be applicable in the ____________ (name of community college district)? Yes No(B) Although the ballot shall not require the employees signatures or other personal identifying requirements, the governing board of the community college district shall devise an identification system to ensure against fraud in the balloting process while also ensuring ballot secrecy.(c) (1) The governing board of the community college district shall appoint a three- or five-person tabulation committee, at least one member of which shall be a member of the governing board of the community college district and at least one member of which shall be a classified employee designated by the largest exclusive representative of classified employees within the community college district, to canvass the ballots and present the results to the governing board of the community college district. No representative of the community college district shall make any marks upon the ballot envelope or ballot of any employee, except that the tabulation committee may adopt a system of uniformly stamping in a consistent manner and in the same location on all ballots received or all ballots counted, or both of those, to help ensure an accurate count. If a simple majority votes in favor of the merit system, that system shall become applicable in the community college district.(2) The tabulation committee shall certify the results of the election to the governing board of the community college district at the next regular or special meeting of the governing board of the community college district following the date the committee completes tabulation of the votes. If the tabulation committee completes the tabulation on the same day that the governing board of the community college district meets in regular or special session, the committee shall certify the results of the election to the governing board of the community college district at that meeting.(d) If the community college district communicates with classified employees in opposition to adopting the merit (civil service) system, it shall provide at least equal time and equal access to any exclusive representative of classified employees within the community college district to communicate in favor of that system. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as limiting the rights of an exclusive representative under the Educational Employment Relations Act (Chapter 10.7 (commencing with Section 3540) of Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code) for access to communicate its position on adopting the system.(e) All election procedures not specified above for an election pursuant to this section shall be within the scope of representation of an exclusive representative under Section 3543.2 of the Government Code, including the rules for campaigning, the election date, time, and place, translation of the ballot, electioneering near the polls, and balloting methods.
149159
150160
151161
152162 88051. (a) (1) On or after November 8, 1967, the classified employees of a community college district whose full-time equivalent student is 3,000 or greater, in accordance with this article, may petition the governing board of the community college district to make Article 3 (commencing with Section 88060) applicable to the community college district. That petition shall read substantially as follows:
153163
154164
155165
156166 We, the undersigned classified employees of the _____ (name of community college district), constituting 15 percent or more of the classified personnel entitled to vote, request the governing board to submit to election the question of whether or not the merit (civil service) system shall become applicable to this district.
157167
158168 NAME
159169 POSITION CLASSIFICATION
160170
161171 NAME
162172
163173 POSITION CLASSIFICATION
164174
165175 (2) Classified employee, as used in this section, shall be construed to include all personnel who are a part of the classified service, as defined in Section 88003.
166176
167177 (b) Within 120 days after receipt of the petition the governing board of the community college district shall do all of the following:
168178
169179 (1) Obtain the services of competent and qualified persons to present the pros and cons of the issue. Notwithstanding this paragraph, the classified employees who submitted the petition may select the person or persons to present the proponent position on the issue.
170180
171181 (2) Provide adequate and ample opportunity for all of its classified personnel to attend one or more meetings at which the issue is presented.
172182
173183 (3) (A) Having complied with paragraphs (1) and (2), conduct an election by secret ballot of its classified personnel to determine whether or not they desire to make the merit system applicable to the community college district. The ballot shall read:
174184
175185 Shall the merit (civil service) system for classified employees be applicable in the ____________ (name of community college district)? Yes No
176186
177187 Shall the merit (civil service) system for classified employees be applicable in the ____________ (name of community college district)?
178188
179189 Yes
180190
181191 No
182192
183193 (B) Although the ballot shall not require the employees signatures or other personal identifying requirements, the governing board of the community college district shall devise an identification system to ensure against fraud in the balloting process while also ensuring ballot secrecy.
184194
185195 (c) (1) The governing board of the community college district shall appoint a three- or five-person tabulation committee, at least one member of which shall be a member of the governing board of the community college district and at least one member of which shall be a classified employee designated by the largest exclusive representative of classified employees within the community college district, to canvass the ballots and present the results to the governing board of the community college district. No representative of the community college district shall make any marks upon the ballot envelope or ballot of any employee, except that the tabulation committee may adopt a system of uniformly stamping in a consistent manner and in the same location on all ballots received or all ballots counted, or both of those, to help ensure an accurate count. If a simple majority votes in favor of the merit system, that system shall become applicable in the community college district.
186196
187197 (2) The tabulation committee shall certify the results of the election to the governing board of the community college district at the next regular or special meeting of the governing board of the community college district following the date the committee completes tabulation of the votes. If the tabulation committee completes the tabulation on the same day that the governing board of the community college district meets in regular or special session, the committee shall certify the results of the election to the governing board of the community college district at that meeting.
188198
189199 (d) If the community college district communicates with classified employees in opposition to adopting the merit (civil service) system, it shall provide at least equal time and equal access to any exclusive representative of classified employees within the community college district to communicate in favor of that system. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as limiting the rights of an exclusive representative under the Educational Employment Relations Act (Chapter 10.7 (commencing with Section 3540) of Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code) for access to communicate its position on adopting the system.
190200
191201 (e) All election procedures not specified above for an election pursuant to this section shall be within the scope of representation of an exclusive representative under Section 3543.2 of the Government Code, including the rules for campaigning, the election date, time, and place, translation of the ballot, electioneering near the polls, and balloting methods.
192202
193203 SEC. 4. Section 88138 of the Education Code is amended to read:88138. (a) A merit (civil service) system within a community college district may be terminated by one of the following methods:(1) (A) If the governing board of a community college district receives a written petition of qualified electors not less in number than 10 percent of the number voting in the last election for a member of the governing board of the community college district calling for the termination of the merit (civil service) system and the system has been in operation for not less than five years, the governing board of the community college district shall order the county superintendent of schools to place the question of termination of the system on the ballot at the next regular governing board member election, or the next primary or general election in a general election year, whichever is the earlier after receipt by the county superintendent of schools.(B) The statement of purpose of the election shall read:Shall the merit (civil service) system for school employees not employed as faculty or educational administrators, as provided for in Article 3 (commencing with Section 88060) of Chapter 4 of Part 51 of Division 7 of Title 3 of the Education Code of the State of California, and which has been in operation for at least five years, be terminated by the _____ Community College District of ____ County (or counties, where appropriate) on _____ (date to be specified by board)?(C) The petition calling for the election, to be valid, shall contain the statement of purpose for the election as contained in this section.(2) (A) If the governing board of a community college district receives a written petition from 40 percent of the classified employees entitled to vote calling for the termination of the merit (civil service) system and the system has been in operation for not less than five years or has been imposed pursuant to the terms of Section 45119 or 45120, the governing board of the community college district shall conduct an election by secret ballot of its classified personnel to determine whether or not they desire to have the merit system terminated within the community college district. The ballot shall read: Shall the merit (civil service) system for classified employees be terminated in the ____ (name of community college district) as of ____ (termination date)?(B) As used in this subdivision, classified employees means all personnel who are a part of the classified service who are appointed in accordance with Section 88091.(C) In order to be valid, the petition calling for the termination of the merit (civil service) system shall be submitted to the governing board of a community college district within 90 days after the date that the notice for the circulation of the petition was filed with the governing board of the community college district. The election shall be held during the regular academic year and shall be held no earlier than 45 days and no later than 180 days after the date that the petition was submitted to the governing board of the community college district.(D) If the merit system was adopted pursuant to Section 88057, classified employees entitled to vote in an election pursuant to this paragraph shall be limited to those classified employees who reside in the district.(E) The governing board of a community college district shall devise an identification system designed to protect against fraud in the balloting process while also ensuring the secrecy of the ballot. In addition, the governing board of the community college district shall appoint a three-member tabulation committee consisting of one member of the governing board, one member of the personnel commission of the community college district, and one member who shall be a classified employee of the community college district designated by the largest exclusive representative of classified employees within the community college district. It shall be the responsibility of the tabulation committee to canvass the election ballots and to certify the results of the election to the governing board of the community college district at the next regular meeting of the governing board of the community college district following the completion of the tabulation of the election results by the committee. No representative of the community college district shall make any marks upon the ballot envelope or ballot of any employee, except that the tabulation committee may adopt a system of uniformly stamping in a consistent manner and in the same location on all ballots received or all ballots counted, or both of those, to help ensure an accurate count.(F) Notwithstanding any other law, the governing board of a community college district shall not be required to provide release time for classified personnel to vote in an election conducted pursuant to this paragraph. The governing board of the community college district shall not conduct an election under this paragraph more than once in any two-year period.(G) Members of the classified service shall be provided an adequate and ample opportunity to be informed of the arguments in favor of and in opposition to the termination of the merit (classified service) system before the conducting of an election called pursuant to this paragraph. That opportunity shall include an open forum during which proponents of, and opponents to, the termination of the merit (civil service) system shall be permitted to debate the issue.(b) If the community college district communicates with classified employees in favor of terminating the merit (civil service) system, it shall provide at least equal time and equal access to any exclusive representative of classified employees within the community college district to communicate against terminating that system. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as limiting the rights of an exclusive representative under the Educational Employment Relations Act (Chapter 10.7 (commencing with Section 3540) of Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code) for access to communicate its position on terminating the system.(c) (1) It shall be unlawful for a public school employer and the exclusive representative of the classified employees of a community college district to include the subject of the termination of the merit (classified service) system within the scope of representation.(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) or any other law, all election procedures not specified above for an election pursuant to this section shall be within the scope of representation of an exclusive representative under Section 3543.2 of the Government Code, including the rules for campaigning, the election date, time, and place, translation of the ballot, electioneering near the polls, and balloting methods.
194204
195205 SEC. 4. Section 88138 of the Education Code is amended to read:
196206
197207 ### SEC. 4.
198208
199209 88138. (a) A merit (civil service) system within a community college district may be terminated by one of the following methods:(1) (A) If the governing board of a community college district receives a written petition of qualified electors not less in number than 10 percent of the number voting in the last election for a member of the governing board of the community college district calling for the termination of the merit (civil service) system and the system has been in operation for not less than five years, the governing board of the community college district shall order the county superintendent of schools to place the question of termination of the system on the ballot at the next regular governing board member election, or the next primary or general election in a general election year, whichever is the earlier after receipt by the county superintendent of schools.(B) The statement of purpose of the election shall read:Shall the merit (civil service) system for school employees not employed as faculty or educational administrators, as provided for in Article 3 (commencing with Section 88060) of Chapter 4 of Part 51 of Division 7 of Title 3 of the Education Code of the State of California, and which has been in operation for at least five years, be terminated by the _____ Community College District of ____ County (or counties, where appropriate) on _____ (date to be specified by board)?(C) The petition calling for the election, to be valid, shall contain the statement of purpose for the election as contained in this section.(2) (A) If the governing board of a community college district receives a written petition from 40 percent of the classified employees entitled to vote calling for the termination of the merit (civil service) system and the system has been in operation for not less than five years or has been imposed pursuant to the terms of Section 45119 or 45120, the governing board of the community college district shall conduct an election by secret ballot of its classified personnel to determine whether or not they desire to have the merit system terminated within the community college district. The ballot shall read: Shall the merit (civil service) system for classified employees be terminated in the ____ (name of community college district) as of ____ (termination date)?(B) As used in this subdivision, classified employees means all personnel who are a part of the classified service who are appointed in accordance with Section 88091.(C) In order to be valid, the petition calling for the termination of the merit (civil service) system shall be submitted to the governing board of a community college district within 90 days after the date that the notice for the circulation of the petition was filed with the governing board of the community college district. The election shall be held during the regular academic year and shall be held no earlier than 45 days and no later than 180 days after the date that the petition was submitted to the governing board of the community college district.(D) If the merit system was adopted pursuant to Section 88057, classified employees entitled to vote in an election pursuant to this paragraph shall be limited to those classified employees who reside in the district.(E) The governing board of a community college district shall devise an identification system designed to protect against fraud in the balloting process while also ensuring the secrecy of the ballot. In addition, the governing board of the community college district shall appoint a three-member tabulation committee consisting of one member of the governing board, one member of the personnel commission of the community college district, and one member who shall be a classified employee of the community college district designated by the largest exclusive representative of classified employees within the community college district. It shall be the responsibility of the tabulation committee to canvass the election ballots and to certify the results of the election to the governing board of the community college district at the next regular meeting of the governing board of the community college district following the completion of the tabulation of the election results by the committee. No representative of the community college district shall make any marks upon the ballot envelope or ballot of any employee, except that the tabulation committee may adopt a system of uniformly stamping in a consistent manner and in the same location on all ballots received or all ballots counted, or both of those, to help ensure an accurate count.(F) Notwithstanding any other law, the governing board of a community college district shall not be required to provide release time for classified personnel to vote in an election conducted pursuant to this paragraph. The governing board of the community college district shall not conduct an election under this paragraph more than once in any two-year period.(G) Members of the classified service shall be provided an adequate and ample opportunity to be informed of the arguments in favor of and in opposition to the termination of the merit (classified service) system before the conducting of an election called pursuant to this paragraph. That opportunity shall include an open forum during which proponents of, and opponents to, the termination of the merit (civil service) system shall be permitted to debate the issue.(b) If the community college district communicates with classified employees in favor of terminating the merit (civil service) system, it shall provide at least equal time and equal access to any exclusive representative of classified employees within the community college district to communicate against terminating that system. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as limiting the rights of an exclusive representative under the Educational Employment Relations Act (Chapter 10.7 (commencing with Section 3540) of Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code) for access to communicate its position on terminating the system.(c) (1) It shall be unlawful for a public school employer and the exclusive representative of the classified employees of a community college district to include the subject of the termination of the merit (classified service) system within the scope of representation.(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) or any other law, all election procedures not specified above for an election pursuant to this section shall be within the scope of representation of an exclusive representative under Section 3543.2 of the Government Code, including the rules for campaigning, the election date, time, and place, translation of the ballot, electioneering near the polls, and balloting methods.
200210
201211 88138. (a) A merit (civil service) system within a community college district may be terminated by one of the following methods:(1) (A) If the governing board of a community college district receives a written petition of qualified electors not less in number than 10 percent of the number voting in the last election for a member of the governing board of the community college district calling for the termination of the merit (civil service) system and the system has been in operation for not less than five years, the governing board of the community college district shall order the county superintendent of schools to place the question of termination of the system on the ballot at the next regular governing board member election, or the next primary or general election in a general election year, whichever is the earlier after receipt by the county superintendent of schools.(B) The statement of purpose of the election shall read:Shall the merit (civil service) system for school employees not employed as faculty or educational administrators, as provided for in Article 3 (commencing with Section 88060) of Chapter 4 of Part 51 of Division 7 of Title 3 of the Education Code of the State of California, and which has been in operation for at least five years, be terminated by the _____ Community College District of ____ County (or counties, where appropriate) on _____ (date to be specified by board)?(C) The petition calling for the election, to be valid, shall contain the statement of purpose for the election as contained in this section.(2) (A) If the governing board of a community college district receives a written petition from 40 percent of the classified employees entitled to vote calling for the termination of the merit (civil service) system and the system has been in operation for not less than five years or has been imposed pursuant to the terms of Section 45119 or 45120, the governing board of the community college district shall conduct an election by secret ballot of its classified personnel to determine whether or not they desire to have the merit system terminated within the community college district. The ballot shall read: Shall the merit (civil service) system for classified employees be terminated in the ____ (name of community college district) as of ____ (termination date)?(B) As used in this subdivision, classified employees means all personnel who are a part of the classified service who are appointed in accordance with Section 88091.(C) In order to be valid, the petition calling for the termination of the merit (civil service) system shall be submitted to the governing board of a community college district within 90 days after the date that the notice for the circulation of the petition was filed with the governing board of the community college district. The election shall be held during the regular academic year and shall be held no earlier than 45 days and no later than 180 days after the date that the petition was submitted to the governing board of the community college district.(D) If the merit system was adopted pursuant to Section 88057, classified employees entitled to vote in an election pursuant to this paragraph shall be limited to those classified employees who reside in the district.(E) The governing board of a community college district shall devise an identification system designed to protect against fraud in the balloting process while also ensuring the secrecy of the ballot. In addition, the governing board of the community college district shall appoint a three-member tabulation committee consisting of one member of the governing board, one member of the personnel commission of the community college district, and one member who shall be a classified employee of the community college district designated by the largest exclusive representative of classified employees within the community college district. It shall be the responsibility of the tabulation committee to canvass the election ballots and to certify the results of the election to the governing board of the community college district at the next regular meeting of the governing board of the community college district following the completion of the tabulation of the election results by the committee. No representative of the community college district shall make any marks upon the ballot envelope or ballot of any employee, except that the tabulation committee may adopt a system of uniformly stamping in a consistent manner and in the same location on all ballots received or all ballots counted, or both of those, to help ensure an accurate count.(F) Notwithstanding any other law, the governing board of a community college district shall not be required to provide release time for classified personnel to vote in an election conducted pursuant to this paragraph. The governing board of the community college district shall not conduct an election under this paragraph more than once in any two-year period.(G) Members of the classified service shall be provided an adequate and ample opportunity to be informed of the arguments in favor of and in opposition to the termination of the merit (classified service) system before the conducting of an election called pursuant to this paragraph. That opportunity shall include an open forum during which proponents of, and opponents to, the termination of the merit (civil service) system shall be permitted to debate the issue.(b) If the community college district communicates with classified employees in favor of terminating the merit (civil service) system, it shall provide at least equal time and equal access to any exclusive representative of classified employees within the community college district to communicate against terminating that system. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as limiting the rights of an exclusive representative under the Educational Employment Relations Act (Chapter 10.7 (commencing with Section 3540) of Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code) for access to communicate its position on terminating the system.(c) (1) It shall be unlawful for a public school employer and the exclusive representative of the classified employees of a community college district to include the subject of the termination of the merit (classified service) system within the scope of representation.(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) or any other law, all election procedures not specified above for an election pursuant to this section shall be within the scope of representation of an exclusive representative under Section 3543.2 of the Government Code, including the rules for campaigning, the election date, time, and place, translation of the ballot, electioneering near the polls, and balloting methods.
202212
203213 88138. (a) A merit (civil service) system within a community college district may be terminated by one of the following methods:(1) (A) If the governing board of a community college district receives a written petition of qualified electors not less in number than 10 percent of the number voting in the last election for a member of the governing board of the community college district calling for the termination of the merit (civil service) system and the system has been in operation for not less than five years, the governing board of the community college district shall order the county superintendent of schools to place the question of termination of the system on the ballot at the next regular governing board member election, or the next primary or general election in a general election year, whichever is the earlier after receipt by the county superintendent of schools.(B) The statement of purpose of the election shall read:Shall the merit (civil service) system for school employees not employed as faculty or educational administrators, as provided for in Article 3 (commencing with Section 88060) of Chapter 4 of Part 51 of Division 7 of Title 3 of the Education Code of the State of California, and which has been in operation for at least five years, be terminated by the _____ Community College District of ____ County (or counties, where appropriate) on _____ (date to be specified by board)?(C) The petition calling for the election, to be valid, shall contain the statement of purpose for the election as contained in this section.(2) (A) If the governing board of a community college district receives a written petition from 40 percent of the classified employees entitled to vote calling for the termination of the merit (civil service) system and the system has been in operation for not less than five years or has been imposed pursuant to the terms of Section 45119 or 45120, the governing board of the community college district shall conduct an election by secret ballot of its classified personnel to determine whether or not they desire to have the merit system terminated within the community college district. The ballot shall read: Shall the merit (civil service) system for classified employees be terminated in the ____ (name of community college district) as of ____ (termination date)?(B) As used in this subdivision, classified employees means all personnel who are a part of the classified service who are appointed in accordance with Section 88091.(C) In order to be valid, the petition calling for the termination of the merit (civil service) system shall be submitted to the governing board of a community college district within 90 days after the date that the notice for the circulation of the petition was filed with the governing board of the community college district. The election shall be held during the regular academic year and shall be held no earlier than 45 days and no later than 180 days after the date that the petition was submitted to the governing board of the community college district.(D) If the merit system was adopted pursuant to Section 88057, classified employees entitled to vote in an election pursuant to this paragraph shall be limited to those classified employees who reside in the district.(E) The governing board of a community college district shall devise an identification system designed to protect against fraud in the balloting process while also ensuring the secrecy of the ballot. In addition, the governing board of the community college district shall appoint a three-member tabulation committee consisting of one member of the governing board, one member of the personnel commission of the community college district, and one member who shall be a classified employee of the community college district designated by the largest exclusive representative of classified employees within the community college district. It shall be the responsibility of the tabulation committee to canvass the election ballots and to certify the results of the election to the governing board of the community college district at the next regular meeting of the governing board of the community college district following the completion of the tabulation of the election results by the committee. No representative of the community college district shall make any marks upon the ballot envelope or ballot of any employee, except that the tabulation committee may adopt a system of uniformly stamping in a consistent manner and in the same location on all ballots received or all ballots counted, or both of those, to help ensure an accurate count.(F) Notwithstanding any other law, the governing board of a community college district shall not be required to provide release time for classified personnel to vote in an election conducted pursuant to this paragraph. The governing board of the community college district shall not conduct an election under this paragraph more than once in any two-year period.(G) Members of the classified service shall be provided an adequate and ample opportunity to be informed of the arguments in favor of and in opposition to the termination of the merit (classified service) system before the conducting of an election called pursuant to this paragraph. That opportunity shall include an open forum during which proponents of, and opponents to, the termination of the merit (civil service) system shall be permitted to debate the issue.(b) If the community college district communicates with classified employees in favor of terminating the merit (civil service) system, it shall provide at least equal time and equal access to any exclusive representative of classified employees within the community college district to communicate against terminating that system. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as limiting the rights of an exclusive representative under the Educational Employment Relations Act (Chapter 10.7 (commencing with Section 3540) of Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code) for access to communicate its position on terminating the system.(c) (1) It shall be unlawful for a public school employer and the exclusive representative of the classified employees of a community college district to include the subject of the termination of the merit (classified service) system within the scope of representation.(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) or any other law, all election procedures not specified above for an election pursuant to this section shall be within the scope of representation of an exclusive representative under Section 3543.2 of the Government Code, including the rules for campaigning, the election date, time, and place, translation of the ballot, electioneering near the polls, and balloting methods.
204214
205215
206216
207217 88138. (a) A merit (civil service) system within a community college district may be terminated by one of the following methods:
208218
209219 (1) (A) If the governing board of a community college district receives a written petition of qualified electors not less in number than 10 percent of the number voting in the last election for a member of the governing board of the community college district calling for the termination of the merit (civil service) system and the system has been in operation for not less than five years, the governing board of the community college district shall order the county superintendent of schools to place the question of termination of the system on the ballot at the next regular governing board member election, or the next primary or general election in a general election year, whichever is the earlier after receipt by the county superintendent of schools.
210220
211221 (B) The statement of purpose of the election shall read:
212222
213223 Shall the merit (civil service) system for school employees not employed as faculty or educational administrators, as provided for in Article 3 (commencing with Section 88060) of Chapter 4 of Part 51 of Division 7 of Title 3 of the Education Code of the State of California, and which has been in operation for at least five years, be terminated by the _____ Community College District of ____ County (or counties, where appropriate) on _____ (date to be specified by board)?
214224
215225 (C) The petition calling for the election, to be valid, shall contain the statement of purpose for the election as contained in this section.
216226
217227 (2) (A) If the governing board of a community college district receives a written petition from 40 percent of the classified employees entitled to vote calling for the termination of the merit (civil service) system and the system has been in operation for not less than five years or has been imposed pursuant to the terms of Section 45119 or 45120, the governing board of the community college district shall conduct an election by secret ballot of its classified personnel to determine whether or not they desire to have the merit system terminated within the community college district. The ballot shall read: Shall the merit (civil service) system for classified employees be terminated in the ____ (name of community college district) as of ____ (termination date)?
218228
219229 (B) As used in this subdivision, classified employees means all personnel who are a part of the classified service who are appointed in accordance with Section 88091.
220230
221231 (C) In order to be valid, the petition calling for the termination of the merit (civil service) system shall be submitted to the governing board of a community college district within 90 days after the date that the notice for the circulation of the petition was filed with the governing board of the community college district. The election shall be held during the regular academic year and shall be held no earlier than 45 days and no later than 180 days after the date that the petition was submitted to the governing board of the community college district.
222232
223233 (D) If the merit system was adopted pursuant to Section 88057, classified employees entitled to vote in an election pursuant to this paragraph shall be limited to those classified employees who reside in the district.
224234
225235 (E) The governing board of a community college district shall devise an identification system designed to protect against fraud in the balloting process while also ensuring the secrecy of the ballot. In addition, the governing board of the community college district shall appoint a three-member tabulation committee consisting of one member of the governing board, one member of the personnel commission of the community college district, and one member who shall be a classified employee of the community college district designated by the largest exclusive representative of classified employees within the community college district. It shall be the responsibility of the tabulation committee to canvass the election ballots and to certify the results of the election to the governing board of the community college district at the next regular meeting of the governing board of the community college district following the completion of the tabulation of the election results by the committee. No representative of the community college district shall make any marks upon the ballot envelope or ballot of any employee, except that the tabulation committee may adopt a system of uniformly stamping in a consistent manner and in the same location on all ballots received or all ballots counted, or both of those, to help ensure an accurate count.
226236
227237 (F) Notwithstanding any other law, the governing board of a community college district shall not be required to provide release time for classified personnel to vote in an election conducted pursuant to this paragraph. The governing board of the community college district shall not conduct an election under this paragraph more than once in any two-year period.
228238
229239 (G) Members of the classified service shall be provided an adequate and ample opportunity to be informed of the arguments in favor of and in opposition to the termination of the merit (classified service) system before the conducting of an election called pursuant to this paragraph. That opportunity shall include an open forum during which proponents of, and opponents to, the termination of the merit (civil service) system shall be permitted to debate the issue.
230240
231241 (b) If the community college district communicates with classified employees in favor of terminating the merit (civil service) system, it shall provide at least equal time and equal access to any exclusive representative of classified employees within the community college district to communicate against terminating that system. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as limiting the rights of an exclusive representative under the Educational Employment Relations Act (Chapter 10.7 (commencing with Section 3540) of Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code) for access to communicate its position on terminating the system.
232242
233243 (c) (1) It shall be unlawful for a public school employer and the exclusive representative of the classified employees of a community college district to include the subject of the termination of the merit (classified service) system within the scope of representation.
234244
235245 (2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) or any other law, all election procedures not specified above for an election pursuant to this section shall be within the scope of representation of an exclusive representative under Section 3543.2 of the Government Code, including the rules for campaigning, the election date, time, and place, translation of the ballot, electioneering near the polls, and balloting methods.
236246
237247 SEC. 5. The provisions of this act shall be deemed to establish minimum working conditions for the purposes of Section 3543.8 of the Government Code. This section does not constitute a change in, but is declaratory of, existing law.
238248
239249 SEC. 5. The provisions of this act shall be deemed to establish minimum working conditions for the purposes of Section 3543.8 of the Government Code. This section does not constitute a change in, but is declaratory of, existing law.
240250
241251 SEC. 5. The provisions of this act shall be deemed to establish minimum working conditions for the purposes of Section 3543.8 of the Government Code. This section does not constitute a change in, but is declaratory of, existing law.
242252
243253 ### SEC. 5.
244254
245255 SEC. 6. If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
246256
247257 SEC. 6. If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
248258
249259 SEC. 6. If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
250260
251261 ### SEC. 6.