AFSCME Members,
It has been busy for AFSCME at the state capitol; where 2 bills passed the Senate floor and 3 others passed concurrence of amendments in their house of origin. Here are the details:
(click on the bill for more info)
AB 1400 (Kamlager-Dove) Employment Safety: firefighting equipment:mechanics
Yesterday, AFSCME sponsored bill AB 1400 passed the California State Senate with a 35-0 vote. This bill requires the Commission on Health and Safety and Worker’s Compensation to submit a study to the Legislature and the OSHS Board by January 1, 2021. This study will evaluate the risk of exposure to carcinogenic materials and incidence of occupational cancer in mechanics who repair and clean firefighting vehicles in the County of Los Angeles. The bill now heads back to the Assembly for concurrence on Senate amendments.
SB 591 (Galgiani) Incarcerated persons: mental health evaluations.
Yesterday, AFSCME sponsored bill SB 591 passed concurrence of amendments in the California State Senate. This bill requires that psychologists from the State Department of State Hospitals, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, or the Board of Parole Hearings be given access to a prisoner being temporarily housed at a county correctional facility, a county medical facility, or a state-assigned mental health provider. The bill passed off the floor with a 40-0 vote. It now heads to the Office of Governor Newsom for his signature.
Yesterday, AFSCME sponsored bill SB 363 passed through the California State Senate for the concurrence of amendments made in the Assembly. This bill amends the labor code by adding a requirement for data reporting of assaults on hospital staff. It specifically requires the State Department of Hospitals, the State Department of Developmental Services or the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to report the number of assaults quarterly, to all the state bargaining units at the department. This bill passed with a 40-0 vote and now heads to Governor Newsom’s desk for his signature.
SB 165 (Atkins) Medical interpretation services.
Yesterday, AFSCME sponsored bill SB 165 passed the California State Senate in concurrence with the amendments made in the Assembly. This bill will require pilot projects of in-person interpretation to run concurrent with the studies conducted, and extends the sunset date on the bill to July 1, 2024. The bill also requires the Department of Health Care Services to expend $5 million for the pilot projects. The purpose of the studies is to evaluate whether disparities can be reduced with LEP Medi-Cal beneficiaries by using in-person medical interpretation services. This bill passed with a 40-0 vote and now heads to Governor Newsom’s desk for his signature.
AB 314 (Bonta) Public Employment: labor relations: release time.
Yesterday, AFSCME sponsored bill AB 314 passed the California State Senate with a 27-11 vote. This bill requires employers to grant a reasonable number of employee designated representatives reasonable time off without loss of compensation or other benefits for specified activities. This bill now heads back to its house of origin for the concurrence of amendments made in the Senate.