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.