NEWS

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.

CalHR Announces the State will Continue to Collect Payroll Taxes

CalHR Director Eraina Ortega has announced the Administration will not implement a deferral of the withholding and payment of the employee's portion of the Social Security payroll taxes. This means payroll taxes will continue to be withheld from all state employee paychecks.

The federal policy allows the deferral of payroll taxes from September 1 through December 31, 2020, but the employee taxes are still owed and would be recovered from employees by April 30, 2021. To avoid a double withholding for state employees in 2021 to recover the taxes due, the Administration has declined to participate in the deferral program.

Director Ortega's September 2, 2020 message states:

"On August 8, 2020, President Trump issued a Presidential Memorandum directing the IRS to allow the deferral of withholding, deposit, and payment of payroll tax obligations for certain employees effective September 1, 2020. IRS guidance provided on August 28, 2020, clarifies employers can, but are not required to, participate in this program. After evaluation and consideration of the IRS guidance, the Administration is concerned that while the employer withholding obligation would be deferred in 2020, employees would experience a double withholding in 2021 to recover the taxes due. Further, if an employee separates from state service before the deferred tax was collected, the state may be required to pay the tax from state funds. For these reasons, the Administration has determined the program will not be implemented for State of California employees."

Please contact your ACSS Labor Relations Representative with any issues or concerns regarding this matter.

Excessive Heat Warning Prompts State Offices to Close Early – Aug 17 - 19

CalHR Director Eraina Ortega has issued office closures in the afternoon hours for the next few days due to excessive heat and to conserve energy resources.

In a message on Sunday August 16th, she states:

“Due to multiple Excessive Heat Warnings issued throughout the state and the need to reduce energy demand during peak hours, state departments are directed to close at 3pm starting on Monday August 17 through Wednesday August 19 (“heat period”). Departments providing critical public safety and health care functions during the heat period are exempt from the closure and should reduce energy consumption as much as safely possible.

Building managers should work to reduce energy consumption throughout the day by, for example, turning off all unnecessary lights and equipment and closing blinds and other window coverings. After 3pm, please ensure air conditioning and other large equipment use is reduced as much as possible while maintaining health and safety.

Employees currently scheduled to telework during this period of excessive heat should continue to do so. Employees on telework are encouraged to reduce energy consumption, especially during peak hours.

An employee who is paid on an hourly basis and who is scheduled to telework, but is unable to perform any work due to a blackout during this heat period shall notify management and be provided Administrative Time Off (ATO) for that day for those unworked hours.

All employees working on site will end their workday at 3pm. Employees who are paid on an hourly basis will be provided ATO for the balance of their work hours. Please remind employees to reduce energy consumption at home, more information about how to save energy can be found here.

If a state office loses power at any point during business hours during this heat period, the office should close and ATO shall be provided to hourly-paid employees who cannot telework.

In administering any time off or office closures due to this heat period, state departments should refer to existing laws and rules, policies, and applicable labor agreements.

Please contact CalHR’s Personnel Services Branch at PSB@calhr.ca.gov for any questions about ATO.”

Please contact your ACSS Labor Relations Representative for any issues or concerns regarding this matter.

ACSS Board of Directors Cancels All In-Person Meetings Through 2020

The ACSS Board met via conference call on August 1, 2020. The primary issue discussed by the Board was the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on ACSS members, including those effects in the workplace and by the adoption of PLP days and the State Budget.

The number one issue of importance was the health, safety and welfare of ACSS members. The Board also discussed how best ACSS can continue it’s hard work in advocating for our members and providing member service.

As a result of these discussions, the ACSS Board of directors has unanimously determined that it is in the best interest of our members, and our organization as a whole, that all in-person meetings of ACSS members be cancelled through the end of the year. This includes all chapter and board meetings. ACSS is actively investigating technological alternatives to in-person meetings to ensure communication and networking opportunities continue in a safe manner the future.

During this time, ACSS remains fully operational in advocating for the interests of our members and in representing those members in the workplace and statewide.

Paychecks and a California Supreme Court Pension Ruling

Pay Warrants

Not all of the July 1, 2020 adjustments and increases have made it into state employee pay warrants. Excluded employees related to the SEIU bargaining units (1, 3, 4, 11, 14, 15, 17, 20 and 21) will see the $260 health affordability payment in a separate pay warrant, which appears to be on track to issue within approximately two weeks.

As expected, the pay warrants of excluded employees related to IUOE units 12 and 13 contain the “OPEB/CERBT” deduction for prefunding retiree healthcare. We await the pay letter and differential providing pay to offset this deduction. ACSS also expects implementation of a special salary adjustment for employees in the criminalist series and an adjustment to longevity pay for some S07 and M07 excluded employees.

An error at the State Controller’s Office resulted in too little being withheld from July paychecks for the employee portion of the required contribution toward retirement. The amount of the error varies based on salary, but is estimated to be near $100 for the highest earners and less for other employees. Next month’s paychecks will have the correct amount deducted for retirement. Next month will also include an additional one time employee deduction labeled as “*PERS ADJ” to collect the rest of the July employee retirement contribution. This means that state employees will not likely see the “correct” amount of their take home pay checks until the September pay period.

There are a very small number of ACSS members who were excluded by CalHR from expected special salary adjustments. ACSS will continue to work with CalHR to address these exclusions and other issues arising in connection with salary adjustments.

Pension Ruling Preserves the Core of the “California Rule”

The California Supreme Court issued a unanimous ruling on July 30, 2020 in Alameda County Deputy Sheriff's Association v. Alameda County Employees’ Retirement Association. This significant pension case concerned pension cuts for local public employees following the Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) where overtime, callback and vacation pay were eliminated from pension calculations.

Although it is a local pension case, the legal issues concerned the long standing “California Rule.” Since 1955, the courts have held under the California Rule that once pension benefits are granted to a public employee, they are vested and cannot be modified for the duration of an employee’s career.

ACSS joined in the requests for the high court to hear this pension case to preserve the long-standing California Rule to protect from the possibility of your pension being changed by future legislation or through an initiative measure. With this California Supreme Court ruling, that goal was largely accomplished.

Although the court allowed the pension modifications challenged by the local unions, it did so by finding the changes closed loopholes to eliminate pension spiking. This narrow approach rejected the arguments to rescind or modify the California Rule and broadly allow changes to vested pension rights.

The ruling may present an opportunity for narrow pension modifications, but any modifications still have to meet stringent constitutional standards protected by the contracts clause. In short, the core defined benefit formulas and provisions governing state employee pensions and retirement calculations remain protected and unaffected by this decision.

CalHR Issues Pay Letters and Pay Differentials Adjusting Pay

This week CalHR issued a series of Pay Letters and Pay Differentials adjusting pay for excluded employees. CalHR confirmed to ACSS that the expectation remains that the State Controller’s Office will implement the major changes with the July pay period. This means the next paychecks are expected to include the following:

Personal Leave Program 2020 – a reduction in pay of 9.23% (equivalent to two days’ pay) and accrual of 16 hours of personal leave credit, to be used in the same manner as vacation/annual leave and before any other paid leave (except sick leave).

Suspension of “OPEB/CERBT” Employee Contribution – excluded employees will not pay the contribution to prefund retiree healthcare. The contributions range generally from 2 percent to 4.6 percent of salary. Excluded employees related to bargaining units 12 and 13 will continue to see the deduction, but will receive a pay differential in an equivalent amount. (This pay differential has not yet issued, but is expected to be retroactive to July 1, 2020 if not implemented with the July pay warrant.)

Although General Salary Increases effective July 1, 2020 were suspended or deferred, Merit Salary Adjustments for employees not at the top step of their classifications are unaffected and will continue.

Exempt and Excluded Employees Associated with SEIU Bargaining Units (1, 3, 4, 11, 14, 15, 17, 20, and 21)

• $260 per month taxable cash benefit to improve access and affordability of healthcare
• Geographic Pay of $250 per month for employees working in Orange, Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties
• Special Salary Adjustments (generally 5%) for employees in nearly 100 classifications

>>Click here to review the Pay Letter listing the excluded employee classifications receiving the SSA increases.

Exempt and Excluded Employees Associated with Unit 18

• A General Salary Increase of 2.75% retroactive to January 1, 2020
• A Special Salary Adjustment at the top step of 2.5%, effective July 1, 2020 (S18 and M18 employees at the top step of the class for 12 months or more will receive the increase immediately; others will receive the increase through Merit Salary Adjustments when eligible)

As of today, ACSS awaits a Pay Letter implementing expected salary adjustments for S07 and M07 excluded employees related to the Criminalist series and changes to longevity pay, and a change to a pay differentials for DSH Police Officers and S16 and M16 employees for Continuing Medical Education expenses.

ACSS’ initial review has identified a few anomalies in the Special Salary Adjustments. We will pursue clarification and possible corrections or potential amendments to the Pay Letters with CalHR.