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Assembly minority urges inclusion of death pension benefit as budget talks begin
Summary
Assemblymember Riley, speaking for the Assembly minority, urged five-way budget negotiations and pressed for inclusion of a death pension benefit that the minority says passed previously, arguing the benefit aids recruitment and retention for public safety roles.
Assemblymember Riley, speaking for the Assembly minority, told the joint budget subcommittee that as budget negotiations reach their final stages, talks should be conducted on a five-way basis to include divergent perspectives.
Riley criticized the majority for excluding a death pension benefit that he said had received unanimous passage by the body in prior years and urged that the governor’s direction to consider the benefit within the budget be honored now. "Enacting this benefit would also serve as a strong recruitment and retention tool for those considering a career in public safety," he said.
Riley said the Assembly minority remains committed to safeguarding public safety through "common sense policies, working closely with law enforcement agencies, and collaborating with communities," and reiterated other minority priorities including civil legal services, parental representation, programs for justice-involved youth and support for victim service providers. He asked for an open and transparent process to produce a timely budget that exercises fiscal restraint while addressing public safety.
The cochairs did not take a vote or issue a response to the specific demand during this session; staff were instructed to continue consultation with members as budget work proceeds.
