Sacramento Watch: Bills and Decisions That Can Impact CAPE Members

CAPE is watching movement of three pieces of legislature that would impact our membership. The union works hard to ensure our members’ interests are represented fairly, not only by elected county officials, but state representatives as well.

In May, we sent lawmakers in Sacramento a letter in support of SB 362, which would add Code Enforcement Officers to the list of public service employees whose personal information is not available in Department of Motor Vehicles records.

For CAPE members, particularly those working for the Department of Regional Planning, this is an important bill, since many use their own personal vehicles for inspections and code enforcement.

We also sent that month a letter to lawmakers strongly opposing an amendment to the state Constitution. SCA 12 would directly affect the governance of Los Angeles County. The amendment asks state voters to approve what L.A. County voters have rejected eight times - expanding the Board of Supervisors and creating an elected position of Chief Executive Officer for the county.

In June, CAPE's Sacramento lobbyist Tim Yaryan sent Sen. Mike McGuire, the chair of the state's Senate Governance and Finance Committee, a letter on behalf of the union urging him to vote "aye" on AB 1250 when it comes before his committee.

AB 1250 is an act to add a section to the Government Code regarding counties contracts for personal services, aka "contracting out."

As our letter states, this is a "common sense measure to ensure counties adhere to due diligence standards when opting to outsource public services" and provides government standards for which counties would be allowed to outsource services currently or customarily performed by their employees. Among the standards proposed: a fair cost analysis, proven savings to taxpayers, no displacement of employees and ensuring prospective contractors are qualified and do not engage in discriminatory practices.

We also note that it's California's long-standing policy - since 1913 - to ensure public services are delivered through a welltrained and qualified workforce to ensure consistent quality of services to the public. This addition to the Government Code continues this policy and ensures counties operate in the best interests of the public.

As public service professionals, we are the most qualified and trained workforce to service the citizens of Los Angeles County. AB 1250 will ensure that when LA County departments want to outsource work, there is accountability measures in place.

CAPE will continue to keep its membership updated on these pieces of legislation as they move through committees and onto voting by the state Assembly and Senate.

Click here to read more about these bills and view our letters.