11:45am | Gov. Jerry Brown has signed AB 334, a bill authored by Assemblywoman Bonnie Lowenthal, D-Long Beach, that allows California community college trustees to take an extended absence in case of illness or urgent necessity.
The bill was proposed by Long Beach City College Trustee Doug Otto, who was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. The local attorney elected to receive treatment at a Houston facility, where he was required to remain for an extended stay.
LBCC announced the bill’s singing on Wednesday.
“We are proud of Trustee Otto and his work on this bill,” said LBCC President Eloy Oakley in a statement. “We are thankful that Assembly member Lowenthal championed this important legislation and that the governor has signed it.”
Otto decided to sponsor the bill after learning that California law limited the number of days a community college trustee could remain out of state before having to forfeit his or her seat at 60, though boards of trustees can approve an additional 30-day absence for medical and other urgent needs.
The new law does not feature a specific number of days and, instead, allows boards of trustees at community colleges to approve extended leaves of absence for medical reasons and other urgent needs at their discretion.
Proponents of the bill argued that telecommunications technology is sufficient to allow for such extended absences. Otto, though never out of the state for more than 60 days, did on certain occasions attend LBCC Board of Trustees meetings via teleconference during his stays in Houston.
“I am proud to have authored a bill that gives our community college trustees the same protections that are offered to state legislators and city council members,” said Lowenthal in a statement. “I also want to thank Doug Otto, whose successful fight against cancer inspired this legislation.”
At right, LBCC Trustee Doug Otto is seen in this Long Beach Post file photo from May 2009.