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Committee advances SB 493 to revise fairground manager title and compensation authority
Summary
SB 493 would standardize the title for fair managers to "secretary manager," direct CDFA to survey and establish a compensation range, and remove CalHR from final salary approval for those positions; the committee voted to send the bill to Appropriations.
Senator Josh Becker introduced SB 493 to revise how compensation is determined for secretary managers of District Agricultural Associations (DAAs), the state entities that operate county fairgrounds. "These secretary managers handle all critical operations behind the scenes," Becker said, listing duties that include staff management, budgeting, marketing, securing sponsorships, event planning, and emergency-response coordination.
Sarah Pelley, secretary manager at the Yellow County Fair and a representative of California Emergency Response Resiliency Venue and Fairgrounds (CERV), testified in support and described fairgrounds as critical emergency infrastructure. "California has 52 DAAs, which are state entities. We are required to respond in times of emergency and our key partners in community resilience," Pelley said, noting that fairgrounds were activated dozens of times last year and contributed many days of emergency response and community service.
Witnesses told the committee that current state rules limit competitive pay and that CalHR—s involvement in salary approval has resulted in denied raises even when boards of directors supported pay adjustments. SB 493 would rename the position in statute, charge CDFA with conducting a salary survey to establish a fair compensation range with updates every three years, and remove CalHR as the final approval authority for these salary actions, shifting that authority to the Secretary of Food and Agriculture.
Supporters said the change would help recruit and retain experienced managers who operate fairgrounds year-round and who now often serve as emergency-response directors, grant writers, construction managers and facility operators. Sarah Pelley told the committee that fairgrounds generate economic activity and are increasingly relied on for emergency response; she urged the committee to recognize the positions as state officers meriting formal salary review.
The committee moved SB 493 as amended to the Appropriations Committee. The motion passed in committee and the measure was placed on call; the transcript shows the committee initially recorded a 3-0 vote and later a 4-0 tally as members completed the roll call. The bill will next go to the Appropriations Committee for further consideration.
Background: Supporters cited rising turnover among CEO/secretary manager roles and described DAAs as locally self-sustaining entities that nevertheless perform public services during emergencies. SB 493 also standardizes statutory terminology to match existing CalHR code names and directs periodic salary reviews by CDFA.
Outlook: SB 493 advances to Appropriations. Any final change in compensation authority or salary ranges would follow further committee action and administrative implementation if enacted.
