NEWS

Nominations are Closing Soon! This may be your last chance to join the leadership of ACSS!

Nominating yourself for a Chapter Position or as a Delegate is a great way to collaborate with fellow excluded employees and become a part of positive change.

Thank you to those who have already submitted nominations! We are coming down to the final days of the Open Nomination period. This may be your last opportunity to become an ACSS leader!

There are many opportunities still open for the following Chapter Officer positions:

• Chapter Vice President – The Vice President has the important task of assuming the responsibilities of the President when the President is unable to do so. The Vice President helps manage the business affairs of the Chapters alongside the President and assists the President with Chapter duties.
  
  
• Chapter Secretary/Treasurer – The Secretary/Treasurer keeps meeting minutes, membership records and other important Chapter documents. The Secretary/Treasurer also maintains correspondence of the Chapter and maintains the Chapter Bylaws.

The time requirement for these positions above and beyond your current employment is minimal and ACSS will train you along the way to ensure success.

There are many opportunities still open in the following California Counties:

• Chapter 507 – Monterey, San Benito, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz
• Chapter 509 – Fresno, Kern, King, Madera, Tulare
• Chapter 512 – San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura

If you reside in one of the counties listed above, we urge you to step up and help represent your area! Nominate yourself as a Chapter officer or Delegate NOW!

Attendance at the Delegate Assembly event in Sacramento is mandatory. Please stay tuned for updated dates of Delegate Assembly in Fall 2021*.

Your vote and your voice matters. Getting involved with ACSS Leadership can help you develop leadership skills, allows a safe place for ideas to be heard and lets you experience valuable networking opportunities. Once you have familiarized yourself with the process of ACSS Leadership, many opportunities for advancement can open up for you!

Nominate yourself TODAY!

Open Nominations Close on February 1st!

Not sure which Chapter you belong to? Click here to find your Chapter.
Click here to learn more about the ACSS Elections Process.
Click here to view photos of the most recent Delegate Assembly in 2018.
Questions? Contact acss@ACSS.org or your Chapter President.

*Due to Covid-19, Delegate Assembly (originally planned for July 16 – 18 of 2021) has been rescheduled to Fall 2021. Actual dates have not been secured yet. ACSS will announce the new dates for Delegate Assembly soon.

2021-22 Proposed State Budget: Governor Suggests a Possible End to the Personal Leave Program Effective July 1, 2021

On January 8, 2021, Governor Gavin Newsom released his proposed 2021-2022 State Budget that will fund the government for the 12-month period starting July 1, 2021. This kicks off the nearly six-month process for the Legislature and Governor to negotiate and adopt a state budget.

The state spending proposal for next fiscal year would total just over $227 billion, with $164.5 billion in general fund expenditures. Regarding state employee compensation, the Governor’s budget proposal summary states:

“Although fiscal risk remains high, the revenue picture has improved. Given the updated revenue projections and the scope of the Budget, employee compensation reductions may not be necessary during the 2021-22 fiscal year.”

Director of Finance Keely Bosler stated the Administration hopes to be able to restore state employee salaries and will look at the budget picture again with the May Revision to the proposed state budget and make a determination at that time. With an improved state budget outlook and the Governor’s proposal, ACSS will advocate for the end of the PLP 2020 program for excluded employees effective July 1, 2021.

If adopted in the final state budget and implemented by CalHR, the end of the PLP 2020 program would mean that beginning July 1, 2021, excluded employees would no longer have a salary reduction of 9.23% and would no longer receive the 16 hours of “PLP 2020” leave credits. The Governor’s budget summary states that CalHR anticipates collective bargaining with rank-and-file organizations to modify the PLP 2020 program for rank-and-file employees.

In addition to the possible end of the PLP 2020, here is a quick rundown on a few items of interest to ACSS members:

• $42.1 million in new funding for higher health care and dental costs for active state employees
• An additional $616 million in one-time funding to prefund retiree healthcare (this makes up for the employee contribution being suspended for the current fiscal year and keeps the target date to eliminate retiree health care liabilities at 2046)
• In addition to the $5.5 billion state employer contribution to CalPERS for state pension costs, an additional $1.5 billion supplemental pay down of retirement liabilities at CalPERS (with an additional $4.1 billion of supplemental payments proposed over the next three years to total an additional $5.6 billion)
• $15.6 billion in the Rainy Day Fund and $2.9 billion in operating reserves
• A permanent 5% reduction in state operating efficiencies (including reduced office and lease space)

As the proposed state budget progresses, ACSS will continue to meet with CalHR to advocate for supervisory and managerial employees. As we delve into more of the proposed budget details, we will report on any new positions and increased funding proposals for departments outlined in the full budget or if there are other proposals that impact ACSS and its members.

Read the complete ACSS State Budget Report from Legislative Advocate Ted Toppin at Blanning and Baker, Updated 1/15/2021

ACSS Needs You! Nominate Yourself as a Delegate or Chapter Officer.

Now is the time to act and become a more important part of ACSS leadership! Nominating yourself for a Chapter Position or as a Delegate is a great way to get involved and become a part of positive change.

ACSS needs nominations to fill the following positions:

If you have never been involved with the leadership of an association, a great place to start is to become a Delegate. Delegates have the unique experience to attend and participate in all the events and opportunities at Delegate Assembly.

Your vote and your voice matters! Many Delegates go on to become even more involved with the organization and with their own Chapter Leadership. Once you have familiarized yourself with the process of ACSS Leadership, many opportunities for advancement can open up for you!

Nominate yourself TODAY!
Open Nominations Close on February 1st!

Not sure which Chapter you belong to? Click here to find your Chapter.
Click here to learn more about the ACSS Elections Process.
Click here to view photos of the most recent Delegate Assembly in 2018.
Questions? Contact acss@ACSS.org or your Chapter President.

CalHR Issues Guidance to State Agencies in Implementing New CalOSHA COVID-19 Prevention and Response Standards

The Division of Occupational Safety & Health (CalOSHA) recently adopted new emergency temporary standards for COVID-19 prevention and response in workplaces. On December 18, 2020 California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) Director Eraina Ortega provided guidance to state departments to ensure the temporary CalOSHA standards are part of each department’s written plan to prevent and respond to COVID-19.

The CalOSHA emergency regulations require most California employers to adopt COVID-19 prevention programs and policies to ensure safe distancing, require face coverings, and adhere to new testing and reporting requirements.

State departments have already implemented many of the new standards. CalHR’s direction highlights potential changes as follows:

• to ensure confidentiality of employees, departments should not identify the specific number of cases if fewer than 11 are reported
• face coverings are required in open cubicles and can only be removed when alone in a room
• departments must provide testing to all employees in an “exposed workplace” defined as three or more COVID-19 cases in a 14-day period (an exposed workplace is not the whole building or department, but the area where cases were present)
• testing must be on state work time with no out-of-pocket employee costs with testing continuing until the workplace outbreak is over
• major outbreaks (20 or more cases in 30-days) require additional testing
• employee screening processes are required for all departments (self-screening is allowed)
• employees with a “COVID-19 exposure” (within six feet from an infected person for a total of 15 minutes in 24 hours) are excluded from the workplace and provided telework or ATO

Director Ortega’s direction to departments contains links to relevant guidance, CalOSHA standards, FAQs, etc. The CalHR direction can be viewed here.

If you have questions about the guidance or impact of the CalOSHA regulations, please contact your ACSS Labor Relations Representative.

CalHR Orders Most State Offices Closed in Response to the New Stay at Home Order

On December 3, 2020 California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) Director Eraina Ortega notified state department leadership that effective Monday, December 7, with some exceptions, state offices will close in response to the California Department of Public Health’s new Stay at Home Order. Offices will remain closed for at least three weeks.

Departments must immediately review their Continuity of Operations/Continuity of Government plans and determine which critical functions require staff to continue to report to the workplace. The CalHR direction provides that “all staff not performing critical functions at the workplace should remain at home teleworking, or if no telework is available, provided Administrative Time Off (ATO).”

The “critical functions” of essential government services has not changed and includes:

• Government Leadership
• Emergency Management
• Social Services/Education
• Information Technology/ Communication
• Public Safety/Regulatory Enforcement
• Medical/Health
• Critical Infrastructure
• Food Supply
• Environmental Protection
• Public Information
• Unemployment Insurance Claims Processing
• 24/7 Institutions (prisons, state hospitals, veterans homes, etc.)
• Essential Government Services

The CalHR instruction includes prioritizing telework for at risk employees (age 65 or older and those with chronic health conditions) and providing telework for all employees eligible for telework. ATO is only provided as a “last resort.” When ATO is approved, it is approved regardless of an employee’s available leave balance.

If you have questions about the new Stay at Home Order and CalHR direction, please contact your ACSS Labor Relations Representative.

Get Involved! - ACSS Elections Web Portal and Open Nominations

Make your voice heard and get involved! Nominations are now OPEN!

• Are you a natural leader?
• Are you passionate about ensuring your fellow excluded employees' voices are heard?
• Do you want to stand up for the rights of all excluded employees?
• Do you want to help make ACSS a better organization?

Now is the time to act and become a more important part of ACSS! Nominating yourself for a Chapter Position or as a Delegate is a great way to get involved and become a part of positive change.

Why should I become a Chapter Officer or Delegate?

• Helps you develop leadership skills
• Allows a safe space for your opinions and ideas to be shared
• Lets you experience networking opportunities and camaraderie with fellow excluded employees in your local Chapter
• Involves you with positive changes that can help excluded employees in the workplace

Are you interested, but not sure where to start? If you have never been involved with the leadership of an association, a great place to start is to become a Delegate. Delegates have the unique experience to attend and participate in all the events and opportunities at Delegate Assembly. Your vote and your voice matters. Many Delegates go on to become even more involved with the organization and with their own Chapter Leadership. Once you have familiarized yourself with the process of ACSS Leadership, many opportunities for advancement can open up for you!

Visit the new ACSS Elections Web Portal and Nominate yourself TODAY!

Nominations are open from December 1, 2020 through February 1, 2021.

ACSS Members - Update your information!

In 2020, have you made any changes to your contact info? If so, use the easy Update My Info form on our website to update your information!  With this form, you can update your:

• Name
• Address
• Phone number
• Email address
• Work contact info
• Work department or work location
• Classification

Make sure we have your most current contact information so that we can provide up-to-date news and information to you. 

CalHR Suspends Employee Leave Reduction Policies

ACSS Call with CalHR and Finance - No Federal Funds to Reverse Employee Compensation Cuts

On October 14, ACSS joined CalHR Director Eraina Ortega and Chief Deputy Paul Starkey on a call with labor unions and employee organizations providing an update from Director of Finance Keely Bosler on the efforts to secure additional federal funding.

Triggers to Restore Employee Compensation Not Met

The 2020-2021 State Budget Act (AB 89) includes trigger language that would restore 18 categories of budget cuts if additional federal funds are available by October 15, 2020.

In a surprise to no one, Finance Director Bosler reported that no additional federal money was received by the deadline and therefore none of the Budget Act cuts will be restored.

Under Section 8.28 of the Budget Act, if $14 billion were received, the restored funding for employee compensation would add up to $1.89 billion which would end the PLP 2020 program (Section 3.90) and potentially restore the suspended general salary increases for state employees (Section 3.91). With receipt of federal funds by October 15 of more than $2 billion, but less than $14 billion, the restoration among the 18 budget categories would be proportional.

Although this means the PLP 2020 program will likely remain in place at least through the end of the budget year in June 2021, no additional state employee compensation cuts have been authorized by the Legislature.

Deficits Remain and Expenditures Up, but Budget Outlook Not as Dire as Projected in April 2020

Finance Director Bosler noted the Administration is continuing the effort to obtain needed federal funds as deficits are projected for the next few years. With any funds received after the October 15 Budget Act deadline, it is likely the Administration would work with the Legislature again to allocate those funds.

The Finance April 2020 economic forecast was bad, but thankfully was wrong with several months of revenue coming in higher than anticipated. At the same time expenditures related to wildfires have been higher than expected. While deficits will continue to be projected as the Governor’s 2021-2022 proposed budget is put together, they will be smaller deficits than originally projected.

There is no hard state hiring freeze as they want to continue to have flexibility to hire where needed. State departments will be getting instructions through a Finance budget letter to plan to reduce operating expenses by 5 percent for FY 21-22.

Open Enrollment for Health, Dental and Vision Begins September 21, 2020

Open Enrollment for health, dental and vision coverage starts September 21 and ends October 16. This is your opportunity to evaluate your health care selections and make any changes to your health, dental or vision plans and add or drop dependents effective January 1, 2021.

Dental and vision premiums remain unchanged, but health premiums are increasing. Basic Health Maintenance Organization health plans will increase by an average of 4.44% while Basic Preferred Provider Organization plans will see an average increase of 8.54%.

The 2021 Consolidated Benefits (CoBen) allowance to be used for health, dental and vision benefits effective January 1, 2021 will decrease slightly to $693 (Single)/$1340 (2-Party)/$1723 (Family). The employer contribution is calculated based on the weighted average premium of the four largest enrolled health plans. Even though health premiums are increasing, because one of the lower cost plans moved into the top four enrolled plans, this results in a slightly lower employer contribution for 2021. The new 2021 CoBen amount for supervisors, managers, and confidential employees is $52 per month higher than the state employer contribution for most rank-and-file employees.

If you would like to explore different health plan options, CalPERS has a tool that allows you to search plan availability and premium rates based on your zip code. Visit the CalPERS website.

CalHR is expected to update the “Benefits Calculator” portion of the CalHR website for comparison of plan costs and calculating your exact out of pocket costs, or your CoBen cash back if your selections are lower than the CoBen Allowance. Visit the CalHR Benefits calculator and select “2021” and “Excluded Employee” before entering your options.

Be on the lookout for Open Enrollment forms from your department. If you are not making changes, no action is needed.