BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SB 221
Page 1
Date of Hearing: June 24, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC EMPLOYEES, RETIREMENT, AND SOCIAL
SECURITY
Rob Bonta, Chair
SB
221 (Jackson) - As Amended April 20, 2015
SENATE VOTE: 40-0
SUBJECT: State public employees: sick leave: veterans with
service-related disabilities.
SUMMARY: Provides any state employee who is hired on or after
January 1, 2016 and who is a military veteran with a military
service-connected disability rated at 30% or more with
additional credit for sick leave with pay of up to 96 hours, as
specified. Specifically, this bill:
1)Provides, in addition to any other entitlement for sick leave
with pay, an additional credit for sick leave with pay of up
to 96 hours to a state officer or employee hired after January
1, 2016, who is a military veteran with a military
service-connected disability rated at 30% or more by the
United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
2)Requires the additional sick leave be for the purposes of
SB 221
Page 2
undergoing medical treatment for a military service-connected
disability.
3)Requires the additional sick leave to be credited on the first
day of the eligible employee's employment and be available for
use for the following 12 months of employment.
4)Prohibits any portion of the 96 hours of additional leave not
used during the 12 month period from accruing to the employee
and provides that any unused leave upon termination of the 12
month period will be forfeited.
5)Permits employing agencies to require "submission of
satisfactory proof" that the sick leave is being used for
treatment of a service-connected disability, pursuant to rules
adopted by the Department of Human Resources.
EXISTING LAW provides each state officer and employee who is
employed full time with one day of credit for sick leave with
pay following the completion of one month of continuous service.
Each state officer or employee is entitled to this leave with
pay, on the submission of satisfactory proof of the necessity
for sick leave as provided by rule of the department. Unused
sick leave accumulates throughout the individual's employment.
FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Senate Appropriations
Committee:
SB 221
Page 3
"Unknown, potentially over $50,000 for sick leave credit
(General/Special Funds) and unknown, potentially minor,
administrative costs (General).
"Exact costs will depend on the number of military veterans who
are hired into state service and who have a service-connected
disability rated at 30 percent or higher. Additionally, the
source of funding (General or Special) will depend on the
department that hires the veteran. Assuming the new employee
has a monthly salary of $4,000, the cost of an additional 96
hours in sick leave would be approximately $2,220 per employee.
There will be additional, unknown but likely minor, costs for
administering and tracking this new benefit."
COMMENTS: According to the author, "Newly hired state employees
begin their careers with no sick leave, and accrue it slowly,
after their first month of employment, at a rate of 8 hours per
month. As a result, disabled veterans who have recently entered
the workforce may not have sufficient sick leave to attend
medical appointments on a regular basis."
"Many veterans are returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with
physical and mental health issues that require medical
attention. VA appointments can be very hard to get and very
SB 221
Page 4
difficult to reschedule. A shortage of mental health specialists
in the VA makes it particularly important to follow up and
attend appointments as soon as they are received."
The author concludes, "For these disabled veterans, SB 221 will
mean an easier transition from military to state service. For
the state, this will mean a healthier and more productive
workforce, and a way to show our continued commitment to the men
and women who have served our country."
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
American Legion-Department of California
AMVETS-Department of California
California Association of County Veterans Service Officers
California School Employees Association
California State Commanders Veterans Council
Military Officers Association of America, California Council of
Chapters
SB 221
Page 5
National Association of Social Workers
VFW-Department of California
Vietnam Veterans of America-California State Council
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by:Karon Green / P.E.,R., & S.S. / (916)
319-3957