Senate Rules Committee advances Mark Krause to Public Employment Relations Board after hearing

The Senate Rules Committee on June 25 heard from Mark Krause, Governor Gavin Newsom's appointee to the Public Employment Relations Board, and voted to advance his confirmation to the full Senate.

Krause told the committee he was “honored to have been appointed by Governor Newsom to the Public Employment Relations Board,” and thanked committee staff and the governor’s appointments office for their vetting. He described nearly nine months serving at PERB and praised the agency’s staff for bringing “expertise and uniformity to the delicate task of stabilizing labor relations.”

The committee questioned Krause about how he approaches decisions that affect both labor and employers. Senator Grove asked how Krause reaches “balanced” decisions and how he communicates his approach to other board members. Krause said he and other board members “look at the case, each case uniquely” and apply the law to the facts, and that his experience working with — though not for — unions informs a measured perspective.

Committee members also pressed Krause about PERB’s handling of caseloads and emerging issues. Senator Caballero asked whether the board had eliminated a backlog; Krause said the board-level appeals are resolved promptly and that PERB has an e-filing program that reduced delays, adding that roughly 600 complaints arrive in an average year and that litigation tactics by parties can slow overall timelines.

Krause declined to comment on pending litigation but said PERB’s work on “social issues” has so far focused on applying law rather than making policy determinations. When Leader Jones asked about PERB’s response to governor-issued return-to-office orders, Krause said he must be cautious on pending cases but noted PERB had told employees it expected a four-day workweek return starting July 1, subject to change.

Several labor and employer groups spoke in support. Megan Soopers of the California Professional Firefighters said the union endorsed Krause’s appointment. Tim Carmichael of the California Council for Environmental and Economic Balance described longtime voluntary service and said Krause works well with both employers and unions. Al Fortier of IBEW Local 1245 said Krause showed a “fair-minded approach to the application of the rule of law.”

Senators posed and discussed questions after public comment. A motion to advance Krause’s confirmation was made by Senator Laird. After the committee’s roll calls and a later procedural lift of the call, the committee recorded a final roll call confirming the advancement of Krause’s nomination to the full Senate by a 5-0 vote.

Krause’s confirmation will next be considered by the full Senate. The committee record shows his appearance, three minutes of opening remarks, questions from multiple senators, several public supporters, and the committee’s final 5-0 vote to advance the nomination.