[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6580366,"mediaKeyId","3100740-9ef2d4c3bbb414b43eba0bc303371e4c","parentId",3100740,"title","Committee advances bill to lower retirement age for first responders to 55","audioSeconds",3757,"startMs",7245000,"endMs",11002000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3100740-9ef2d4c3bbb414b43eba0bc303371e4c&start=7245&end=11002","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3100740-9ef2d4c3bbb414b43eba0bc303371e4c/thumbnail_7245000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6580366/California/Committee-advances-bill-to-lower-retirement-age-for-first-responders-to-55","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6580366-9c747a75fd8cd709a517391cad62d879/orig.mp4?Expires=1770929401&Signature=gXpKUtuPahapMJwyBVVaC8oraFvMcWX--HzAyLmwbLQXCkSkqY5a8kmvcPg54cOOafqkpEVhfaChjiprmfWG45I~Kn~d-n8xNankFbVNByBOiEAaKAHO6BKFOSdnSuq9J6nwr6FiKKYPhfsd2HYXNyxenW876tTaV7uiOd3TaaPgBBer6pIruaH0SSo7la9an1FgGembhgvS9ockFvpboXxdDbXo85n4CNzLCJmmtsd5lCMRKnzgTbuAWCgvyOzNA8M7sEE5LGMktjCynowNzrAELFxjcC~ic0sYblGCEty5SOVcMumAwc8s8mLMQb2DzRwcTFUhQ2nu52I23AGXlw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","California State Assembly","date","2025-04-23T00:00:00Z","article","At a hearing of the Assembly Committee on the Public Employment and Retirement, members voted to pass AB 13 83 as amended and refer it to the Committee on Appropriations. The bill would lower the normal retirement age for designated first responders to 55 and restore specified collective-bargaining rights related to retirement benefits while maintaining other PEPRA protections.

AB 13 83’s supporters said the bill responds to serious, long-term health risks for firefighters and other first responders and restores negotiation space for local bargaining units. Brian Rice, president of the California Professional Firefighters, said the physical and toxic exposures in the job are cumulative and severe, and argued the bill is a measured step to protect workers’ health. “We’re trading firefighters and police officers lives for money, period,” Rice told the committee.

The bill’s author and supporters said AB 13 83 is prospective only and does not grant retroactive pension increases or “pension holidays.” Lamont Nguyen, president of the Long Beach Firefighters Local 372, told the committee the measure would not itself decide benefit levels but would “restore collective bargaining rights in a manner that doesn't make any affirmative decisions, but does give us all room to discuss at the table.”

Opponents focused on the bill’s fiscal implications for local governments and pension funds. Lisa Murphy, assistant city manager for Salinas, said returning to earlier benefit structures would threaten the long-term viability of public retirement systems and impose large new costs on cities already paying millions in pension contributions. “This bill, in its current form, will not resolve staffing shortages,” Murphy said, adding that higher pension costs could reduce funds available for salaries and services.

Bob Nelson, a Santa Barbara County supervisor and second vice chair of the Rural County Representatives of California, said his county has spent tens of millions stabilizing pension funding and warned AB 13 83 would revive unsustainable obligations from earlier eras. He said rising pension costs can force reductions to public safety staffing, mental-health services and other local programs.

Committee members pressed for technical detail and highlighted tradeoffs between workforce health and local fiscal constraints. Multiple members said they wanted further negotiations between sponsors and local-government associations before the bill reaches the floor.

The committee recorded the motion to pass as amended and refer the bill to appropriations; clerks announced the measure received the seven votes needed to advance. The author requested additional coauthors and said she and staff will continue working with stakeholders on technical refinements.

Votes at a glance: motion passed as amended; referred to Committee on Appropriations; roll-call tally recorded by the committee indicated sufficient affirmative votes to advance the bill.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Assembly Public Employment and Retirement Committee (1)","oneSentenceSummary","At a hearing of the Assembly Committee on the Public Employment and Retirement, members voted to pass AB 13 83 as amended and refer it to the Committee on Appropriations.","taxTitle","California State Assembly, House, Legislative, California","taxId",17099,"location","California","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6580358,"Committee roundup: committee advances state holidays, personnel and pension bills; motions refer measures to appropriations and education",7815,3184000,10999000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3100740-9ef2d4c3bbb414b43eba0bc303371e4c&start=3184&end=10999","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3100740-9ef2d4c3bbb414b43eba0bc303371e4c/thumbnail_3184000.jpg","/articles/6580358/California/Committee-roundup-committee-advances-state-holidays-personnel-and-pension-bills-motions-refer-measures-to-appropriations-and-education","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6580358-bdbc80df3eae8495880d58c40c61910a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770929401&Signature=a8QmAWWPNCPJwHrfZej599yHaDFMLVmQdkEbLcP-YwEThNd7y3lYO3SM5LsAtINSs1FVsLT4Hv6IXYnt2ih1S9lgFlWcLoAI~tO2mEpVMh7Sn3kvuxGan2XZ-Lxyiho5ai3DX8VgWxLiji6Cg0ayJ8Xu63tjzgwioJNq0peBFKLunvKy9-v59ltWOF3qEfqirRtucoJkscJLB4yFWN0mt-Qmk3va8ubDuZQmuf81UxDzLoOO0kJr7cr-FJMAWGoVHQtcxsYo5SRCJ7jSL0stsjLhIinbZhPLfjd7f3PQSfSAHzJM-mKdmNyfpyE4fMKkbVRBSpgYl8Yai04~HQ4ojQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Assembly Committee on the Public Employment and Retirement advanced multiple measures and a resolution that address holidays, personnel policy and pension-related rules. Committee members moved several bills as amended or on consent and referred them to the next committees for fiscal review.

Key items advanced by the committee (motions carried; committee clerks recorded sufficient votes to refer the measures):

- AB 5 69 — Clarifies that local public employers and recognized bargaining units may negotiate contributions to supplemental defined-benefit plans consistent with PEPRA limits. Author accepted committee amendments. Supporters included Shane Guzman with the California Teamsters Public Affairs Council and Yvonne Fernandez with the California Labor Federation. Committee action: passed as amended and referred to the Committee on Appropriations (committee recorded sufficient affirmative votes; placed on hold for appropriations review).

- AB 9 89 — Seeks to establish California Native American Day as a paid state holiday observed in September. Author Assemblymember Ramos and witnesses including Calvin Hedrick of the California Native Vote Project and tribal representatives spoke in support. Committee action: passed and referred to the Committee on Appropriations.

- AB 2 68 — Would recognize Diwali as an official state holiday. Assemblymember Carla presented the bill; supporters described cultural significance and growing statewide recognition. Committee action: passed and referred to Appropriations.

- AJR 3 — A resolution urging federal leaders to protect Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid (Medi-Cal) from cuts. Sponsors and dozens of organizational supporters, including CARA, SEIU locals, health and disability advocacy groups, and the California Nurses Association, testified in favor. Committee action: adopted and referred to Appropriations; clerks recorded the affirmative votes.

- AB 10 67 — Requires public employers to complete misconduct investigations even if an employee retires during the investigation; sponsors framed it as closing a loophole used to avoid accountability and said retirement would only be impacted if there is a conviction. Committee action: passed as amended and referred to Appropriations.

- AB 15 10 — Technical ‘cleanup’ bill with conforming changes affecting state employee pay and Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority employer–employee relations; committee passed the measure and referred it to Appropriations.

Other procedural notes: several bills were placed on the consent calendar and many measures passed by unanimous or near-unanimous committee votes; clerks announced multiple bills as advancing with recorded 7–0 votes during the hearing.

While many measures received broad support from sponsoring organizations and unions, several proposals prompted discussion of fiscal tradeoffs and technical refinements. Committee members and authors signaled further negotiation with stakeholders before floor action. The measures will next face fiscal review in the Committee on Appropriations or subject-matter review in Education, as noted above.","The Assembly Committee on the Public Employment and Retirement advanced a package of bills and a resolution covering holidays, personnel rules and pension issues and referred them to the appropriate next committees.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6580363,"Committee advances bill to create statewide record of classified employee misconduct and employment history",508,6616000,7124000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3100740-9ef2d4c3bbb414b43eba0bc303371e4c&start=6616&end=7124","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3100740-9ef2d4c3bbb414b43eba0bc303371e4c/thumbnail_6616000.jpg","/articles/6580363/California/Committee-advances-bill-to-create-statewide-record-of-classified-employee-misconduct-and-employment-history","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6580363-2ded94042517cfc24e38d0abc5abb8d3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770929401&Signature=i8ecBLGHjuRKSyCqFFwump2-oAKgDbkSvO49bnG8YpNz2va009zFON9iVXF8KUlxhIOc9hr~UtBgcP1h1axbRs5ZEV8OvArI6RTdfZfk0vG9-v6gkEaoUKXL6t~4hA2~8O2J3rQ7dcdjrjeJTYhRS1CKB-kyaLpLte7Vi1CheTeWPjxc0I3o7n2MQ4ZO033qgJQhS3gwp-mWptrHzZuQ8NzATlzvSuMh0meDZWqsPDeLy0ks2cpUBSVoTy2ZduQz~fOFzT-x5gt8kHzAbEmHuGt3UiXfyi-SenCMgNBTwA2Xs~0CzpXlMHexCGZ8i6XuJ3CIhvGSKKDpIo8T948SLQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Assemblymember Josh Hoover introduced AB 12 33 in committee and the measure advanced to the Committee on Education with a recorded majority. The bill would create a statewide database of classified positions and employment history, including records of substantial investigations for egregious misconduct, to help school employers identify prior investigations and protect students.

Supporters — including district human-resources officials and county superintendents — said current hiring processes can miss prior employers or pending investigations when applicants omit prior work. Don Ogden, associate superintendent of human resources for Folsom Cordova Unified School District, told the committee that local employers use DOJ fingerprint checks but still lack a centralized record that would help keep “bad actors out of school settings.” Jeff Baca, representing the Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, said the bill strikes “a balance between achieving our goal…while also providing a fair process for employees.”

Unions and employee groups raised concerns about the bill’s current language and due-process protections. Sandra Perdue said classified employees “do not receive the same unbiased investigation and ultimate decision on their disciplinary allegations,” and urged sponsors to address false accusations and reputation harms. Mitch Steiger (California Federation of Teachers) and Chris Myers (California School Employees Association) similarly asked for narrower definitions of qualifying misconduct and stronger procedural safeguards.

The author and sponsors told the committee they would continue negotiating technical fixes and narrowing criteria; the bill’s education-sector supporters said the measure as drafted focuses on the most serious offenses involving students and can be refined in follow-up discussions.

The committee motion to refer AB 12 33 to the Committee on Education passed; clerks announced sufficient votes for the bill to advance.","AB 12 33 would establish a statewide database for classified school employees’ employment history and records of substantial investigations for egregious misconduct; school administrators and superintendents supported the bill as a tool to protect students while unions urged narrowing and due-process safeguards.","actionData","errors"]

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Committee advances bill to lower retirement age for first responders to 55

Committee roundup: committee advances state holidays, personnel and pension bills; motions refer measures to appropriations and education

Committee advances bill to create statewide record of classified employee misconduct and employment history