MEMORANDUM

To:          CALSAGA members

From:      Jeff Flint, Association Manager                                                                       William Hodges, Deputy Association Manager

Re:         Legislative recap

Date:      October 1, 2010

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As anticipated, the final hours of Governor Schwarzenegger’s September 30 deadline to either sign or veto legislation produced a flurry of activity that directly impacted CALSAGA.  As reported yesterday, we received good news that the Governor had vetoed AB 2626 by Assemblyman Dave Jones (D-Sacramento).  In case you missed the recap article on AB 2626, click here. 

Late yesterday afternoon, we received word that the Governor had vetoed our sponsored bill, AB 2128 by Assemblyman Ted Gaines (R-Roseville).  CALSAGA’s lobbying team had worked tirelessly the last few weeks – meeting with the Governor’s legislative staff and the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) – to try and convince them to support the bill.  CALSAGA members also sent the Governor letters urging him to sign the bill.  In the end, DCAs opposition to the AB 2128 was too much to overcome – but the veto was certainly not for a lack of effort.  

Click here to read the Governor’s veto message on AB 2128.

On the flipside, we were very pleased to learn late last night that the Governor had signed CALSAGA supported AB 569 by Senator Bill Emmerson (R-Palm Desert).  AB 569 will provide greater legal clarity to employers, for those employees covered under a valid collective bargaining agreement, regarding “on-duty” meal periods.  This will help prevent trial attorneys from filing frivolous lawsuits and help employers invest the money they normally would spend fighting or settling these lawsuits on hiring and retaining employees.

Obviously, CALSAGA would prefer a comprehensive on-duty meal period fix that covers all employers, but given current political realities, we believe AB 569 was a good partial victory.  We view it as a first step in achieving the more comprehensive reform that will benefit all California employers.  To that extent, CALSAGA is still committed to the larger meal period fix for all employers, and will remain vigilant in advocating for it.

In summary, winning 2 of 3 on the legislative front should be viewed as a major victory for CALSAGA – especially when you consider that at one point earlier this month we thought we might go 0 for 3.  All three of the bills required enormous amounts of lobbying, PR and grassroots efforts.  To be able to say in the end we got 2 of 3 on our legislative wish list is a tribute to the hard work from all involved, including all our members that called, wrote or emailed.

If you have any questions, please let me know.  The Legislative Committee will be meeting later this fall to discuss our legislative agenda for 2011. 

Congratulations to all on a great year!