Flashback -- Feedback for Legislative Contacts
Senate Okays CTA-Sponsored Retirement Bill
By a 27-8 vote, the full Senate has approved CTA-sponsored SB 102 (Burton) - thanks in part to the hard work of CTA Contact Teams. CTA distributed an Alert on SB 102 at the January 9-10 Contact Training in Los Angeles. Contact Team Coordinators and staff responded quickly and forcefully by urging lawmakers to approve the CTA-sponsored bill.
SB 102, as amended, will allow STRS members to use some of their accumulated sick leave to qualify for new retirement enhancements. Without the bill, some STRS members might not qualify for the STRS career bonus (30 years of service required), the longevity incentive (30, 31 or 32 years), and the highest year compensation (25 years). They might fall short because they were docked a few days at some time in their career for things such as taking a sick family member to the hospital. The bill now moves to the Assembly, where it will go to the Public Employees, Retirement, and Social Security Committee this spring.
Voting aye were Senators Richard Alarcon, Dede Alpert, Richard Ashburn, Debra Bowen, John Burton, Gil Cedillo, Wes Chesbro, Jeff Denham, Denise Ducheny, Joe Dunn, Martha Escutia, Liz Figueroa, Ross Johnson, Betty Karnette, Sheila Kuehl, Michael Machado, Bruce McPherson, Kevin Murray, Deborah Ortiz, Don Perata, Gloria Romero, Jack Scott, Byron Sher, Jackie Speier, Tom Torlakson, John Vasconcellos, and Ed Vincent. The eight lawmakers voting "no" on the CTA-sponsored measure were Senators Samuel Aanestad, Dick Ackerman, Jim Battin, Dennis Hollingsworth, Pete Knight, Tom McClintock, Bill Morrow, and Rico Oller. One lawmaker - Sen. Charles Poochigian - abstained, and four others -- Senators Jim Brulte, Dean Florez, Bob Margett, and Nell Soto -- were absent.
SB 102 will be heard next in the Assembly Public Employees, Retirement, and Social Security Committee, perhaps as early as this month. Now is a good time for CTA members to begin generating contacts to all members of the Assembly in support of SB 102. If you need any more information, please call Advocate Bill Collins or GR Communications Consultant Len Feldman at 916-325-1500.