BILL ANALYSIS
AB 266
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 266 (Mullin)
As Amended May 8, 2003
Majority vote
PUBLIC EMPLOYEES 6-3
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|Ayes:|Negrete McLeod, Levine, | | |
| |Chan, Correa, Kehoe, | | |
| |Laird | | |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Maldonado, Nakanishi, | | |
| |Spitzer | | |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Authorizes the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors
to negotiate through collective bargaining, a phased-in
implementation of survivor benefits for domestic partners.
EXISTING LAW authorizes the San Mateo County Board of
Supervisors, among others, to provide specified benefits to the
surviving domestic partners of a member of the county's
retirement system.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
COMMENTS : According to the author, in 1999 joint negotiations
between San Mateo County (County) and the County Unions resulted
in an agreement for domestic partners of County employees to
receive survivor and death benefits under the 1937 Retirement
Act. The retirement benefit is the only benefit available to
married couples that is not available to domestic partners.
The author also states that an actuarial study done in 2002
concluded that the cost of the benefit was $987,000. In the
2002 negotiations, the Unions were told that the County could
not afford to implement the benefit. It was then negotiated
that the County would support legislation that would allow a
negotiated phase-in of these benefits.
This bill is sponsored by American Federation of State, County,
and Municipal Employees Local 829 (AFSCME) in accordance with
negotiations with Service Employees International Union (SEIU)
AB 266
Page 2
Local 715 and the County. The County has been unable to provide
these benefits because a law change was needed. The economic
status of the County has worsened and therefore a phase-in of
the benefit would allow earlier implementation of this benefit.
Analysis Prepared by : Clem Meredith / P.E., R. & S.S. / (916)
319-3957
FN: 0000826