BILL NUMBER: AB 2493 VETOED DATE: 09/30/2016 To the Members of the California State Assembly: I am returning Assembly Bill 2493 without my signature. This bill grants to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection firefighters up to one year of "4800 time" disability leave paid at full salary and tax-free. This policy results in higher take home pay than pre-injury wages. As stated in my veto of AB 1451 last year, costs go up significantly when this benefit is extended to new classes of employees. The state now faces over $200 billion in unfunded pension and health liabilities. Since 2011 the costs for all this has increased by nearly $5 billion per year-a 59 percent increase. In light of these huge commitments, I am reluctant to extend this disability benefit at all-let alone through legislation outside the bargaining process. Sincerely, Edmund G. Brown Jr.