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Jan 15, 2015

Q1 2015 Newsletter is now online!

Posted: 1/15/2015

The Q1 2015 Newsletter is now online! Download it here. This issue features ACSS' Representation Program and how we can help YOU! Also included in this issue is a review of the six-year term of ACSS' President, Arlene Espinoza. Check it out now!

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Jan 14, 2015

Register for Lobby Day 2015 Now!

Posted: 1/14/2015

Join us at the Capitol Building on March 11, 2015!
Training/Dinner March 10, 2015

At Lobby Day the goal is for you to unite with other ACSS members and educate your legislators about the issues that affect your careers. We need to turnout in greater numbers than ever before to show lawmakers, the media, and the general public that we want our careers to stay productive and protected!

  • Make sure you register for the event online by February 20th.
  • At the Training/Dinner, you will be informed about the process of Lobby Day and we will guide you on what messages to stress when speaking to the legislators. In addition, some inspiring guest speakers will appear at the training dinner.
  • On Lobby Day, march with your fellow members into the Capitol Building to talk with legislators and discuss important issues. Lunch will be provided.
  • Stick around afterwards for the Ice Cream Social in the Capitol Building to candidly mingle with legislators and ACSS members.

This event is what ACSS is all about! Stand up with fellow excluded employees and let your voices be heard! Together, we can make a difference.

REGISTER NOW!

Travel, lodging, and meal expenses for members attending Lobby Day are covered by ACSS.

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Jan 13, 2015

Notable Points From The Governor's State Budget Report

Posted: 1/13/2015

On Friday 1/9/15, Governor Brown released his proposed 2015-2016 State Budget. Brown claims that the budget still remains “precariously balanced” and urges “financial restraint and prudence” in order to avoid another recession in the future. Here are the proposals that affect ACSS and ACSS members:

>> Read More...

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Jan 6, 2015

In Inaugural Speech, Governor Brown Proposes Pension Pre-funding

Posted: 1/6/2015

As has been much reported, the Governor will propose that state employees begin pre-funding of state retiree healthcare in his budget to be released on Friday at 10 a.m. In his inaugural State of the State speech on January 5, 2015, he makes only a vague reference to the issue. The Governor mentions in his speech, “For the next effort, I intend to ask our state employees to help start pre-funding our retiree health obligations which are rising rapidly.” More details will be available on Friday, but we are told the issue will be subject to collective bargaining. Unfortunately this puts supervisors in a difficult position and potentially affects supervisors by having more money taken from paychecks to fund pensions. ACSS will be intervening on this process on behalf of its members.

ACSS will continue to inform you on progress with this issue and bring to light the news that is important to you as managers, supervisors and confidential state employees.

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Jan 5, 2015

Take Notice of New Laws Affecting CalPERS Members in 2015

Posted: 1/5/2015

Several Assembly and Senate Bills that could impact CalPERS members made their way through the California Legislature in 2014. One of the most important bills signed into law may affect your retirement benefit decisions, while others will work to protect benefits and strengthen the pension system and health benefits program.

AB 2472 (Committee on PERS) allows members, when they are newly retired, to change their survivor benefit option election if CalPERS receives their request within 30 days of the issuance of their first retirement payment, rather than before the receipt of the first check.

AB 1163 (Levine) reflect the Board’s ongoing commitment that its Board members possess the education and training necessary to ensure the sustainability of our retirement, health, and other benefit plans. These education requirements match the education and training policy that the Board has been working on for several years.

SB 1182 (Leno) and SB 1340 (Hernandez) will improve CalPERS’ access to health care cost information, so that health care purchasers can better identify cost drivers and possibly negotiate lower health benefit rates, therefore improving health plan transparency.

SB 1251 (Huff) provides a narrow exemption to the Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) for the Cities of Brea and Fullerton in Orange County. The bill allows these cities to form a new joint powers authority (JPA) and provide the retirement benefit formulas currently provided by the cities, rather than reduced PEPRA formulas. Without this exemption, the cities argue that they could not transfer existing city employees to the new JPA.

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Jan 4, 2015

Open to the Public! Come to the ACSS Board Meeting.

Posted: 1/4/2014

The ACSS Board of Directors will meet on Saturday January 17th from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm at the Hilton San Diego Mission Valley at 901 Camino Del Rio South in San Diego. This meeting is open to the public. You are invited to come and participate in the meeting. For more details, view the ACSS Events Calendar.

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Dec 31, 2014

For the New Year, make a resolution to take advantage of these great insurance benefits!

Posted: 12/31/2014

In addition to representation and political action, members are also eligible for a wide range of low-cost group-rate insurance benefits. For the new year, make it a resolution to reassess your insurance situation and make sure you and your family (an even your pets) are covered in case something happens. ACSS provides the following insurance plans at discounted group rates:

  • Accident Protection
  • Group Life Insurance
  • Emergency Assistance
  • Disability
  • Long Term Care
  • Pet Insurance
  • Discount Prescription Card
  • Hearing Care Plan
  • Final Expenses

Visit ACSS's Member Benefits to learn more about these fantastic insurance plans available to you. In 2015, make sure you and your loved ones are covered. 

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Dec 19, 2014

ACSS Holiday Hours

Posted: 12/19/2014

ACSS' holiday hours for this week and next week are as follows:

Wednesday 12/24/14 -- 8am - 1pm
Thursday 12/25/14 -- ACSS CLOSED
Friday 12/26/14 -- ACSS CLOSED

Thursday 1/1/15 -- ACSS CLOSED
Friday 1/2/15 -- ACSS CLOSED

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Dec 17, 2014

CalPERS Urges Prefunding of Retiree Healthcare

Posted: 12/17/2014

CalPERS has joined State Controller John Chiang in supporting prefunded healthcare plans for California retirees to supplement future health care needs. Chiang, who is also a member of the CalPERS Board of Administration, issued a press release on 12/16/14 noting a $71.8 billion unfunded retiree healthcare liability for California.

Prefunding retiree healthcare is a fiscally prudent move to help close the unfunded liability gap in health care for the State’s retirees. CalPERS optional California Employers' Retiree Benefit Trust (CERBT) Fund is helping employers at all levels take a proactive step to ensure the long-term sustainability and security of health benefits for their retirees.

The fund has 439 participating employers, including the State of California, which contributes for (three) employee bargaining units that took the proactive step of agreeing to prefund health coverage for their members. The CERBT fund is currently valued at more than $4 billion and is currently the largest Other Post-Employment Benefits fund in the California.

View the CalPERS Press Release here with additional information links.

View the State Controller Chaing's Press Release.

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Dec 12, 2014

Come to ACSS' First Worksite Meeting in Southern California!

Posted: 12/12/2014

Have lunch and learn with ACSS' new Member Outreach Organizer in Southern California, Maureen Douglas. On Thursday, December 18th, she will be visitin CalVet in Los Angeles in Fourth Floor Dining Room of Building D at 11500 Nimitz Avenue from 11:00am – 1:00pm. Come and learn more about ACSS, your rights as an excluded employee and hear about the issues ACSS is working on that matter to you.

Lunch will be provided to current and potential members. Please RSVP so we can ensure we have an adequate amount of food. Come by on your break or lunch!

RSVP NOW! before Wednesday December 17th.

Click here for more details about this event.

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