BILL NUMBER: AB 2930 CHAPTERED 09/13/06 CHAPTER 239 FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE SEPTEMBER 13, 2006 APPROVED BY GOVERNOR SEPTEMBER 13, 2006 PASSED THE ASSEMBLY AUGUST 31, 2006 PASSED THE SENATE AUGUST 30, 2006 AMENDED IN SENATE AUGUST 24, 2006 AMENDED IN SENATE AUGUST 7, 2006 AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 22, 2006 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 6, 2006 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Laird FEBRUARY 24, 2006 An act to add Section 20037.10 to the Government Code, relating to state employees, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 2930, Laird State employees: memorandum of understanding: State Bargaining Unit 7. (1) Under existing law, a provision of a memorandum of understanding reached between the state employer and a recognized employee organization representing state civil service employees that requires the expenditure of funds does not become effective unless approved by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act. This bill would approve provisions that require the expenditure of funds of a memorandum of understanding entered into between the state employer and State Bargaining Unit 7, the California Union of Safety Employees, and would provide that these provisions will become effective even if these provisions are approved by the Legislature in legislation other than the annual Budget Act. This bill would further provide that provisions of the memorandum of understanding approved by this bill that require the expenditure of funds will not take effect unless funds for these provisions are specifically appropriated by the Legislature, and would authorize the state employer and the affected employee organization to reopen negotiations on all or part of the memorandum if funds for those provisions are not specifically appropriated by the Legislature. (2) The Public Employees' Retirement Law provides a comprehensive set of rights and benefits based upon age, service credit, and final compensation. Existing law defines final compensation variously for different member classifications and bargaining units and, in this regard, defines final compensation for a state member for the purpose of calculating retirement benefits as the highest annual average compensation earnable by the member during a designated 12-month period. This bill would provide that final compensation for a person who becomes a state member, as specified, on or after January 1, 2007, and who is represented by State Bargaining Unit 7 means the highest annual average compensation earnable by the member during a designated 36-month period. (3) This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares that the purpose of this act is to approve an agreement pursuant to Section 3517 of the Government Code entered into by the state employer and State Bargaining Unit 7, California Union of Safety Employees (CAUSE) on August 11, 2006, that requires the expenditure of funds. SEC. 2. The provisions of the memorandum of understanding prepared pursuant to Section 3517.5 of the Government Code and entered into by the state employer and State Bargaining Unit 7, California Union of Safety Employees (CAUSE), that require the expenditure of funds, are hereby approved for the purposes of Section 3517.6 of the Government Code. SEC. 3. The provisions of the memorandum of understanding approved by Section 2 of this act that are scheduled to take effect on or after July 1, 2006, and that require the expenditure of funds, shall not take effect unless funds for these provisions are specifically appropriated by the Legislature. If the Legislature does not approve or fully fund any provision of the memorandum of understanding that requires the expenditure of funds, either party may reopen negotiations on all or part of the memorandum of understanding. SEC. 4. Notwithstanding Section 3517.6 of the Government Code, the provisions of any memorandum of understanding included in Section 2 of this act that require the expenditure of funds shall become effective even if the provisions of the memorandum of understanding are approved by the Legislature in legislation other than the annual Budget Act. SEC. 5. Section 20037.10 is added to the Government Code, to read: 20037.10. (a) Notwithstanding Sections 20035 and 20037, final compensation for a person who becomes a state member of the system on or after January 1, 2007, and is represented by State Bargaining Unit 7, means the highest average annual compensation earnable by the member during the consecutive 36-month period immediately preceding the effective date of his or her retirement, or the date of his or her last separation from state service if earlier, or during any other period of 36 consecutive months during his or her state membership that the member designates on the application for retirement. (b) This section applies to service credit accrued while a member of State Bargaining Unit 7. (c) This section does not apply to: (1) Service credit accrued while classified as a state peace officer/firefighter while a member of Bargaining Unit 7. (2) Former state employees previously employed before January 1, 2007, who return to state employment on or after January 1, 2007. (3) State employees hired prior to January 1, 2007, who were subject to Section 20281.5 during the first 24 months of state employment. (4) State employees hired prior to January 1, 2007, who become subject to representation by State Bargaining Unit 7 on or after January 1, 2007. (5) State employees on an approved leave of absence employed before January 1, 2007, who return to active employment on or after January 1, 2007. SEC. 6. This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the meaning of Article IV of the Constitution and shall go into immediate effect. The facts constituting the necessity are: In order for the provisions of this act to be applicable as soon as possible in the 2006-07 fiscal year and thereby facilitate the orderly administration of state government at the earliest possible time; it is necessary that this act take effect immediately.