CASE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UPDATE
CASE May Revise Press Release. Last week, Governor Newsom released his May Revision of the 2024-25 State Budget. The May Revise is an update of the 2024-25 California State Budget proposal that was released in January and is based on the latest economic forecasts. Included in the May Revise is a proposal to eliminate approximately 10,000 unfilled state positions starting in 2025-26 and ongoing. In response to this proposal, CASE released a statement urging Governor Newsom to preserve state attorney, judge, and hearing officer positions in the budget. CASE’s statement in its entirety can be found here.
Joint Legislative Audit Committee Hearing. On May 14, the Joint Legislative Audit Committee (JLAC) met and heard Assemblymember Josh Hoover’s audit request of the proposed changes to state telework policies made by the Department of General Services (DGS) and the Department of Human Resources (CalHR). Due to overwhelming bipartisan support, the bill was placed on the Consent Calendar – an action reserved for non-controversial items that allows the bill to move out of committee without debate by legislators. Thus, the committee approved to carry out the audit as requested by Assembly member Hoover.
2024 Special Salary Adjustments Take Effect. With the arrival of the new fiscal year on July 1, the maximum salary range of all Unit 2 classifications except Attorney level III classifications (see class codes identified in below) will increase by 4.5%. Employees who have been at the current maximum for 12 qualifying pay periods or more shall be moved to the new maximum of the range. All other employees shall retain their salary and salary anniversary dates.
Also effective July 1, the maximum salary range of the Attorney level III classifications (see classifications below) will increase by 10%:
· 5795 Attorney III
· 5706 Deputy Attorney General III
· 5789 Deputy Attorney III, Caltrans
· 6180 Industrial Relations Counsel III (Specialist)
· 5812 Public Utilities Counsel III, CPUC
· 5537 Real Estate Counsel III (specialist)
· 6274 Senior Board Counsel, ALRB
· 6115 Senior Fair Employment and Housing Counsel (Specialist)
· 6733 Tax Counsel III (Specialist)
· 5763 Deputy State Public Defender Range C (only)
· 6204 Sr. Commission Counsel (Specialist) FFPC
Employees who have been at the current maximum for 12 qualifying pay periods or more shall be moved to the new maximum of the range. All other employees shall retain their salary and salary anniversary dates.
We expect to see the increase reflected in the pay you receive for time worked in July, issuing on or about August 1. We will continue to monitor CalHR and the State Controller’s work to implement the raises through required pay letters.
Check Your Pay Stubs and Leave Balances. CASE encourages members to check their pay stubs and leave balances each month to ensure accuracy of items such as the telework stipend, health insurance payments and that leave balances are up to date. If you find an issue with your pay stub or leave balance, please make an inquiry to your department’s Human Resource Office. If you are unable to resolve an issue, please reach out to CASE at info@calattorneys.org.
Professional Development Days – Use ‘Em or Lose ‘Em. CASE Members receive professional development days (PDD) each year. Unlike other types of leave that can rollover from year to year, your PDDs expire each fiscal year on June 30. You can check to see how much PDD time you have on the books by referring to the Leave Balances box in your CalConnect Account. Unlike other leave balances which get lower with use, the “TRNG/DEV” line item that reflects PDD use counts up with usage. If the number in the far-right box is less than 40, then you have PDD time to use.
MOU Suggestion Box. While we are a year away from the next round of bargaining, it’s never too soon to collect ideas for future negotiations. You have access to our MOU Suggestion Box, a place for members – and ONLY members – to contribute ideas for new or improved benefits and MOU terms at any time. We are, of course, well aware of the need for the Governor to address continuing salary lags (both within the unit and between state service and local government jobs), so we are hoping to collect your ideas on non-salary MOU items. To complete a suggestion card, click here. (pw: membersmatter22).
REMINDERS
Next CASE Board Meeting is Friday, May 17. Members are invited to attend all CASE Board Meetings. The next quarterly Board Meeting is Friday, May 17. Register here no later than Thursday, May 16 at 5:00p and you’ll receive the link by 9:00am on Friday morning to attend. (pw: membersmatter22)
Support Foster Youth and Your Health. Join your fellow CASE members for a good cause on Saturday, May 18, 2024 at the Foster the Future Run in La Cañada. The event, with 5k or 10k options, benefits Journey House and CASE members receive $15 off their registration using the discount code CASE.
Tracking Return-to-Office Mandates. Your feedback on the impact of return-to-office mandates is invaluable in helping CASE prepare to meet and confer with departments and agencies as well as preparing grievances and for arbitration as necessary. Consider sharing the impact of the proposed policy changes with us via this form.