From the Capitol

Bills will protect classified employees in the midst of COVID-19 changes

by Shannon Carr

The passage of the state budget this summer included historic protections for classified jobs, but CSEA's Governmental Relations team didn't stop there. They spent the remainder of the legislative session, which ended August 31st, working tirelessly on getting good legislation passed and defeating bad bills that would have an impact on our members. We are also in the midst of election season, which means the GR team has also been busy researching and recommending endorsements of legislative candidates and propositions to the Board of Directors for review and approval. You can find the Voter Guide, which lists CSEA endorsed candidates and propositions, in its entirety here.

AB 2234

(School Personnel Commissions and Independent Legal Counsel)


Our legislative accomplishments on behalf of our members are a testament to our union’s strength, including a long track record of the Governmental Relations Department advancing legislation that protects members’ rights and improves their lives. Earlier this month, Governor Gavin Newsom signed our Assembly Bill 2234 into law.

SB 1159

(COVID-19 Workers' Compensation Presumption)


CSEA’s Governmental Relations Department joined efforts to pass SB 1159 this session because it impacts the livelihoods of the classified members we represent.

Governor Gavin Newsom signed this bill into law on September 17.

Governmental Relations presented the following propositions for consideration of endorsements to recent Board of Directors’ meetings, which were approved:

Vote "YES" on Proposition 15

Schools and Communities First


Prop 15 will increase funding for K-14 and local government services by $12 billion per year by making large corporations that aren't paying their fair share have their commercial and industrial properties that are worth more than $3 million be taxed based on current market value. It will NOT affect residential taxpayers or raise taxes for hard-working Californians like our members or for small businesses.

Vote "YES" on Proposition 16

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This initiative would repeal Proposition 209, passed in 1996, from the California Constitution. Prop 209 banned the use of affirmative action to promote diversity in California. By passing Prop 16, state and local governments, public universities and other political subdivisions and public entities would be allowed to develop and use affirmative action programs to account for indicators of disadvantage by considering race and gender when admitting students into institutions of higher learning, recruiting faculty and hiring staff.

Vote "NO" on Proposition 22

App-Based Drivers as Contractors and Labor Policies Initiative


More than 1 million Californians work as independent contractors for app-based rideshare, food and grocery delivery platforms. Uber, Lyft, Instacart and Doordash wrote Prop 22 in an attempt to create a special exemption for themselves from California law that requires their companies to provide basic protections for their workers. They are spending more than $100 million on the initiative to boost their profits by denying their drivers’ rights to a minimum wage, paid sick leave and safety protections.

Humanitarian Fund


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