Topic: Legislative Action

Article coronavirus

Worker action extends COVID Paid Sick Leave
Retroactive to January 1, 2022 and sunsets September 30, 2022

CFT and our labor partners have fought hard to reinstate COVID-19 paid sick leave. On February 9, Governor Newsom signed the COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave legislation (Senate Bill 114) into law. This is a huge win that will help keep our workplaces and communities safe. 

Supplemental Paid Sick Leave became available starting February 19 — ten days after the legislation was signed. Here is a summary of what is included in the new law:

  • This leave is retroactively applied to January 1, 2022, and will sunset on September 30, 2022.
Article state budget coronavirus

Education sees another increase in governor’s state budget proposal
Legislative Update

Governor Newsom proposed significant increases for education and a 5.33% Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) in his state budget for 2022-23 released January 8. In his proposal, the governor addressed five concurrent state crises — COVID-19, climate change, inequality, homelessness, and public safety — several of which are reflected in the education budget. This budget is a preliminary proposal subject to negotiations with the Legislature and will be revised in May, with its final passage in June.

Download the Legislative Update

Article state budget coronavirus

LAO predicts $31 billion budget surplus for 2022-23
Research Brief

Each November, the Legislative Analyst’s Office (the non-partisan advisor for the state Legislature) prepares a fiscal outlook in anticipation of the state budget process that kicks off in January with the governor’s budget proposal.

    Overall, revenues are growing at historic rates and the LAO estimates the state will have a $31 billion surplus to allocate in 2022‑23. The Proposition 98 guarantee for schools and community colleges is estimated to be $11.6 billion (12.4% above the 2021-22 enacted budget). LAO estimates $9.5 billion will be available for new commitments and $10.2 billion will be available for one-time spending.

    Article part-time faculty
    California governor's office with the bronze bear statue outside

    Governor’s veto of AB 375 disappointing setback in push for increased workload cap
    Legislative update for part-time faculty

    “Bittersweet” might be the best word to describe CFT’s legislative efforts on behalf of part-time faculty this year, with gains in categorical funding, but a last-minute veto of the union-sponsored bill to raise the teaching cap in a single community college district from 67% to 85% — AB 375.

    Article state budget

    State budget adopted for 2021-22 boasts all-time high for education spending
    Research Brief

    Governor Newsom and the state Legislature came to an agreement on a $263 billion budget that reflects the state’s extraordinary surplus and billions from the latest round of federal stimulus funding from the American Rescue Plan. Spending for K-12 education totals $123.9 billion and is at an all-time high, including the largest ever allocation of Proposition 98 funding for schools and community colleges.

    Download the CFT Budget Brief

    Article state budget

    What’s in the largest ever state education budget?
    Legislative Update — historic investment coming in 2021-22

    On July 9, Governor Newsom signed a historic education budget with an unprecedented investment in our students and schools.

    The California Legislature voted on and passed identical budget bills (AB/SB 129) on June 28, after reaching agreement with the governor about most budget issues. The full budget is $263 billion, thanks to an extraordinary surplus and the latest round of federal stimulus funding from the American Rescue Plan. A few outstanding details will be finalized in trailer bills.

    Article state budget

    Governor’s May Revision proposes highest level of education funding in California history
    Legislative Update

    California began the previous budget year with a looming recession forecasted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and a projected $54 billion deficit. However, due mostly to the inequitable recovery of the stock market, profits from Silicon Valley, and high-income earners that did not lose their jobs, the state now has projected a $75.7 billion surplus.

    Article pay parity part-time faculty

    CFT seeks 85% adjunct teaching load, statewide path to pay parity
    Union-sponsored legislation tackles long-standing adjunct issues

    After last year’s heavily pandemic-impacted legislative session reduced the number of bills signed to its lowest number since 1967, the CFT is again taking up the adjunct cause on bills directed towards raising the part-time percentage cap on teaching in a single district, and in developing a path towards part-time/full-time pay parity.

    Article state budget

    Governor’s budget proposes increases for education, financial incentive to return to in-person
    Legislative Update

    Gov. Newsom released the annual January budget proposal for the 2021-22 budget year, totaling $227.2 billion on Friday, January 8. The budget is very different from what lawmakers anticipated six months ago, when the 2020-21 budget was finalized, thanks to much larger than expected tax receipts.  The proposal includes $34 billion allocated to reserves (including the Public School System Stabilization reserve) and as discretionary surplus funding.

    Article state budget

    Governor proposes record education funding in state budget

    To cap a tumultuous week, today Governor Newsom announced his state budget proposal for the coming year. Despite a struggling economy, and high unemployment, the top line budget numbers are hopeful for public education: a record $85.8 billion for K-14 schools, along with additional funding for teacher recruitment and training, and special education, among other programs. Additionally, the governor estimates that there will be an additional $6.7 billion from the federal government for K-12 as part of the most recent stimulus package.

    Four new laws classified employees need to know about
    From contracting COVID at work to personnel commission changes

    Workers’ Comp classifies on-the-job COVID cases as occupational injuries

    Senate Bill 1159 (Hill, D-San Mateo) directs the state Workers’ Compensation system to presume that an employee’s COVID-related illness is an occupational injury and therefore the worker eligible for Workers’ Comp benefits if specific criteria are met.

    Article Workers Compensation student debt coronavirus

    Legislative gains and losses for adjuncts in a time of COVID
    Union scores expanded Workers’ Comp support, Student Borrower Bill of Rights

    Just as the COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted public education, so too did it impact the California Legislature and CFT’s legislative goals.

    What would normally have been a rigorous six-month period to discuss the state budget and legislation, was reduced to two virtual sessions, one running from May 4 to June 19, and the other from July 27 to August 31. This forced the Legislature, which was slated to hear and discuss some 2,390 bills, to shelve consideration of any bills not deemed related to the pandemic, wildfires, and affordable housing.