CASE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UPDATE
New Year, Stronger CASE. Welcome to 2024! We hope you had a wonderful holiday season. As the CASE Board gets ready for another year of action and advocacy on behalf of CASE Members, we need your help. Take 5 minutes to complete our 2024 CASE Member Survey. Your answers will help us better know the membership that we serve and inform our decision making in the coming year. The survey will be open through January 31 and three respondents will be selected at random for a $100 gift card.
New Reproductive Loss Leave Benefit. January 1 saw many new laws take effect. CASE Files will review notable new laws for 2024 in the coming weeks. First, the newly added Government Code Section 12945.6 provides up to 5 days of reproductive loss leave to those who need time following a miscarriage, stillbirth, failed adoption or surrogacy, or unsuccessful assisted reproduction for all those who have been employed for more than 30 days. The leave is unpaid unless there is an existing policy that requires paid leave, but employees may use existing leave balances to cover the time taken. It does not need to be taken on consecutive days. For full details and requirements, please visit the State’s HR Manual or contact CASE.
REMINDERS
Planning Your 2024 Vacations? Here’s the 2024 State Holiday schedule. In addition to these holidays, CASE members also receive one personal holiday per fiscal year. And don’t forget about your 5 Professional Development Days which renew each year on July 1 and must be used (or lost) by June 30 each year. Members who are not required to be members of the State Bar as a condition of employment also have the option to have bar dues reimbursed or to receive 2 additional days of professional leave each calendar year.
While you’re planning, remember to check out CASE’s consumer discounts for savings on travel, theme parks, and more (pw: membersmatter22).
2024 Bar Dues. State Bar Dues must be paid by February 1, 2024. The process for paying fees can vary from department to department. The maximum the State will reimburse is $465 of the default $510 indicated on your State Bar dues form. The State does not cover voluntary or optional contributions. The CASE MOU provides increased reimbursement for specialty or local bar dues – up to $200 annually where State Bar Membership is required as a condition of employment. Fees for more than one specialty or local bar membership can be reimbursed if the total reimbursement does not exceed $200. For employees not required to be State Bar members as a condition of employment, your department may provide reimbursement for dues or 2 additional Professional Development Days (PDDs). For more details, check out the CalHR Manual section on dues payment, or contact CASE.
More-Miles New Year’s Resolution? We Have a Race for You! Members from all departments are invited to join the California DOJ Baker to Vegas Challenge Cup Relay team, March 23-24, 2024. This 120-mile, 20-stage foot race begins in Baker, California, and ends in Las Vegas, Nevada. The team is looking for members to embrace the challenge of this highly competitive, grueling, non-stop competition that highlights the work of public servants and offers a chance for cross-agency camaraderie. Learn more about the race here. Up to the challenge or want to learn more? Contact CASE Vice President (and race veteran) Ryan Smith.