The 2021-22 Budget: Creating a New Department of Better Jobs and Higher Wages

Feb 10, 2021 - Legislature Rejected the Same Proposal Last Year. The Governor first proposed to create the Department of Better Jobs and Higher Wages last year as part of the 2020 ‑ 21 b udget process. At that time, Legislative budget subcommittee hearings were consolidated due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID ‑1 9) p andemic.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4361

The 2020-21 Spending Plan: Pensions [Publication Details]

Oct 12, 2020 - The 2020-21 budget package includes actions related to the state’s two largest pension systems—CalPERS and CalSTRS—that result in immediate savings for the state and school employers, while forgoing significant longer-term savings.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/4279

The 2020-21 Spending Plan: Pensions

Oct 12, 2020 - Pension Payments on Behalf of School and Community College Districts 2019 ‑20 Budget Act Gave Districts Short- and Long-Term Relief. The 2019 ‑20 Budget Act included $850  million in supplanting payments to help school and community college districts pay their required contributions to CalSTRS and the CalPERS School Pool in 2019 ‑20 and 2020 ‑21.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4279

The 2020-21 Spending Plan: Labor and Employment Issues

Oct 5, 2020 - Penalties and settlement awards from PAGA lawsuits are distributed 75  percent to the LWDF and 25  percent to the plaintiffs. In recent years, PAGA proceeds flowing into the LWDF have exceeded expenditures from the fund.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4274

The 2020-21 Budget: Labor Agreements to Achieve Budgetary Savings

Sep 9, 2020 - The agreement suspends the $920 per year allowance that Unit 5 members receive as a uniform allowance as well as the $25 per month uniform maintenance allowance employees receive. In addition, the side letter establishes a joint labor/management committee to study, discuss, identify, and recommend an alternative uniform for highway patrol officers that does not require regular dry cleaning services.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4267

Labor Agreements: Bargaining Units 1, 3, 4, 6, 9, 11, 14, 15, 17, 20, AND 21

Jun 25, 2020 - Labor Agreements: Bargaining Units 1, 3, 4, 6, 9, 11, 14, 15, 17, 20, AND 21 June 25, 2020 Labor Agreements: Bargaining Units 1, 3, 4, 6, 9, 11, 14, 15, 17, 20, and 21 The compromise budget package will be considered by the California State Senate on June 25, 2020 and by the California State Assembly on June 26, 2020.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4257

Federal Paid Leave for Workers Impacted by COVID-19

Mar 27, 2020 - The law will be in effect until the end of the calendar year. Businesses Would Receive Federal Tax Credits to Cover Paid Sick Leave Costs. Employers that provide paid sick leave under H.R. 6201 would receive refundable tax credits each quarter that reduce their federal Social Security payroll taxes by the amount of paid sick leave provided.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4212

COVID-19: Unemployment Insurance for Workers Impacted by COVID-19

Mar 23, 2020 - (In particular, the recent H.R. 1319 extended the benefit duration by 25 weeks.) The federal government, instead o f California employers via payroll taxes, would pay the full cost of these extra weeks of benefits.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4208

Collective Bargaining: Assessing Proposed Employee Compensation Increases

Mar 20, 2020 - Our office has ten calendar days after receiving the MOU to issue a fiscal analysis to the Legislature. Pursuant to Section 19829.5 of the Government Code, the MOU shall not be subject to legislative determination until either our office has released its analysis or ten calendar days have elapsed.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4206

The 2020-21 Budget: Improving the State's Unpaid Wage Claim Process

Feb 19, 2020 - Second, only a small portion of affected workers statewide file wage claims each year, meaning the vast majority of unpaid wages go uncontested. Addressing these ongoing challenges would require close legislative involvement over several years and, potentially, significant new resources at the Labor Commissioner ’s Office.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4165