Here is some additional information from CFT Higher Education Lobbyist Michael Young:
From: Michael Young
Subject: AB 375 vetoed by Governor
Hi All – Yesterday, the Governor vetoed AB 375 – our sponsored bill increasing the cap part-timers can work from 67% of a full-time load to 85%. The veto message can be found here.
The veto message cites cost factors as a contributing factor and points to the budget as the best place to deal with those issues.
The Chancellor’s Office stated the bill would cost $440 Million each year in new health care costs to implement due to triggering ACA requirements. (See page 1 of the 07/13/21- Senate Appropriations analysis.) Despite the fact that the new proposed cap of 85% avoids any automatic ACA triggers, the Chancellor’s Office argued that out of classroom work – like office hours or meetings – could push faculty over the 30hr/week ACA threshold, triggering new health care cost obligations.
We made our case for why we believe those figures were outrageously inflated, the likelihood of workers triggering ACA obligations and new health care costs was low, and the Chancellor’s Office’s fear was unfounded; however, the huge price tag ultimately proved too big of a hurdle.
The Governor, in his message, does commit to working through the budget process to specifically address those issues facing part-time faculty in next year’s budget.
The work for engaging the administration and other stakeholders on next year’s budget has already started and we’ll keep folks posted on opportunities to advocate but I wanted to thank you all for the hundreds of letters and tweets and phone calls you made on this bill through out the year and especially over the last few weeks to help us get this far.
More to follow but as always feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions.
Thank you,
Michael Young | Legislative Advocate
CFT Sacramento Office
1107 9th Street, Suite 460
Sacramento, CA 95814
myoung@cft.org
C: 916-696-0563
www.cft.org
On Oct 8, 2021, at 8:16 PM, Jim Mahler wrote:
The Governor’s veto message can be found here. Let’s hope he is earnest about working on a solution in the budget as he states in his veto message.
In Solidarity,
Jim