Savings Plus Changes. Savings Plus is redesigning and customizing its Core Investment Lineup and Target Date Funds. To transition to the new investment fund lineup, Saving Plus is introducing a Reselection Window to give participants an opportunity to make their investment selections. The Reselection Window will open on April 1, 2020, and will close on May 22, 2020. Participants who do not choose their own investments during the Reselection Window will be invested in the Target Date Fund (TDF) that most closely aligns with the year in which they turn age 65.
For more information about the initiative, visit the Times Change. So Can the Way You Invest webpage on savingsplusnow.com.
Supervisors FAQ. Are Supervisory State Scientists represented in Adverse Action Appeals? CAPS provides representation to all our members with regard to wages, hours and working conditions. Adverse Actions can be taken by the State for alleged sub-standard performance, misconduct, insubordination, inappropriate use of state equipment, and many other reasons. CAPS’ representation is provided as a benefit of membership as part of dues – at no additional charge (as determined necessary and appropriate by CAPS). When compared to the cost of hiring outside counsel, benefits of membership far outweigh not being a member. Encourage your colleagues to join CAPS – and make sure they write your name in the “Referred By” section to earn $50!
Board of Directors Meeting Agenda and Motions to be Posted. On Friday, February 14, the Board of Directors Meeting Agenda and Proposed Motions will be posted on the Members Only section of the website for members to review ahead of the February 22 Board of Directors Meeting.
Reminder: CAPS T-Shirts Are Available for Science Fridays! All CAPS Members are welcome to request a CAPS T-shirt to wear on Science Fridays. On June 3, 2017, the CAPS Board of Directors adopted a Resolution calling on all California State Scientists to wear their green CAPS T-shirt every Friday workday to show solidarity and support for science, and the essential role of State Scientists in particular. Click here to order your first shirt, request a replacement of an old shirt, or to purchase additional shirts.
News Briefs
Bay Area microbe hunters to test for coronavirus. Disease sleuths at the State of California’s Viral and Rickettsial Disease Laboratory will soon be receiving samples of the mysterious coronavirus, accelerating efforts to provide more rapid results than currently offered by federal authorities. The Richmond-based lab will start conducting tests on Wednesday, Feb. 12, and report results within two days of receiving the specimens. Results from the federal U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention currently take between two to seven days.
Trained dogs are the most efficient way to hunt citrus industry’s biggest threat. Dogs specially trained by scientists have proven to be the most efficient way to detect huanglongbing-also known as citrus greening-according to a paper just published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The disease-sniffing dogs have been deployed for 9 months in California and northern Florida.