Items Resolved in 1999

1. Relief from Duplicate Reporting Requirements (GASB, FASB, CASB, OMB) (1997) Persons responsible: Mike O'Neill, John Plotts. Plotts gave the AGRR an update on GASB. He mentioned that GASB issues regulations that all accountants have to follow, including the regulations for public universities. The GASB Board is comprised of State and local government representatives. The GASB financial reporting project started four years ago, and will change the way public entities report their finances. During the process, UC has responded to drafts and has testified about the process. However, while attempting to make needed changes, the government has moved higher education toward different accounting standards more commonly used by state agencies and local governments. During the process UC has been merged into a new process that does not entirely meets its needs. For the present, UC must comply with the existing process. Director Plotts distributed material on GASB changes #s 33, 34 and 35. The update was posted to the AGRR website. Item completed.

2. California Digital Library (1998). Person responsible: Martha Winnacker. The California Digital Library is now in operation. Item completed.

3. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) proposed changes to Part 35, medical use of by-product material (1998). Persons responsible: Dave Belk, Jim Tripodes. Dave Belk submitted extensive comments on the rule to the NRC on 11/98. The letter is available on the AGRR website. Item completed.

4. Taxpayer Relief Act (1998). Person responsible: Nancy Coolidge. Coolidge reported on the gap between parent's expectations for savings, unworkable administrative issues, and the cost for UC to implement the Act ($2 million). UC is recommending amendments to the Act. The update is posted on the AGRR website. Item completed.

5. Sinclair Paint Decisions (1999). Person responsible: Steven Rosen, Gail Riley. Sinclair Paint Company v. State Board of Equalization, et. al. (1997) 15 Cal,.4th 866. The California Supreme Court held that fees paid under the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Act of 1991 were valid regulatory fees and not improper special taxes that had failed to comply with Prop 13. Pat Schlesinger provided a summary. The article is available on the AGRR website. Item completed.

6. AB50 (Clean Water Enforcement), AB 140 (Biosafety and an Advanced Notice of Proposed Regulation (ANPR) on Mixed Waste (1999) Because this bill is already being monitored by UC, it was suggested this item be removed. Item completed.

7. Employee System Task Force (ESTF) (1998). Persons Responsible: John Plotts/Mike O'Neill/ Martha Winnacker. President Atkinson has allocated funds for the task force. Information Resources and Communications (IR&C) has the lead. RFPs went out for streamlining and modernizing the payroll and benefits system. Employee self-service applications are now on-line, and employees can make name changes and are able to look up their pay history. Streamlining of the personnel systems are underway. Recommended for the "watch" list. Item completed.