Florez ties Title IX compliance to state aid
Amid renewed Fresno State discrimination charges, leaders told to take responsibility

SACRAMENTO – Amid reports of renewed gender discrimination charges against the athletic department at Fresno State, Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez (D-Shafter) has introduced legislation to help hold public educational institutions responsible for upholding the principles of Title IX, federal legislation to ensure gender equity in education.

Fresno State has had to pay more than $16 million over charges of discrimination since 2007 alone.  The latest charges are being made by assistant track and field coach Ramona Pagel, a former Olympian who believes she was passed over for promotion due to her complaints of gender discrimination and advocacy for Title IX.

Florez led multiple hearings into past discrimination charges against Fresno State as chair of the Senate Select Committee on Gender Discrimination and Title IX Implementation.  He has now drawn from those discussions to introduce Senate Bill 195.

Senate Bill 195, which amends the “Equity in Higher Education Act,” would require a responsible official from any of the California Community College, California State University and the University of California campuses to provide assurance they are incompliance with federal discrimination law before receiving state financial assistance.  Any official who provides an assurance he or she knows to be false would be subject to civil penalty.

“One of the most frustrating aspects of our investigation was the inability to hold the leadership of Fresno State – which allowed this culture of discrimination to fester – personally responsible for their failure to protect the rights of their employees,” Florez said.  “This measure is a strong reminder to those in power that leadership comes with responsibility, and that passing the buck will not be acceptable going forward.”

The full text of Senate Bill 195 can be found at the following link: http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/sen/sb_0151-0200/sb_195_bill_20090223_introduced.html.

For Immediate Release                            Jennifer Hanson
March 5, 2009                                         916-651-4016
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