California Assembly Approves Bill to Require More Disclosure From University Foundations

The California Assembly approved a bill on Monday that would make foundations linked to public universities subject to the state’s open-records law, the Associated Press reported. The bill, SB 330, specifically rejects a 2001 appellate court ruling, in a case involving Fresno State University, that the law could not be applied to auxiliary associations at the universities. The foundation at California State University-Stanislaus cited that ruling this year when it refused to disclose details of a speaking contract with Sarah Palin. The bill’s author, State Sen. Leland Yee, has accused the universities of evading public scrutiny by shifting some responsibilities to their foundations. The bill returns to the State Senate for a procedural vote before heading to the governor’s desk.