Dear CAPS Excluded Employee Member:
Thank you for your membership and continued support of CAPS.
As with every new year, there are changes that could impact you or that you should generally be aware of. Below is a Summary of those changes. As a CAPS Supervisory Member, you have access to CAPS’ labor relations professionals who can provide you with additional information. The easiest way to reach us is via email: caps@capsscientists.org.
Reproductive Loss Leave. Effective January 1, 2024, all state employees (Supervisors/Managers and Rank and File) who have been employed for at least 30 days, are entitled up to a maximum of five days of reproductive loss leave for a reproductive loss event. A “reproductive loss event” means the day or, for a multiple-day event, the final day of a failed adoption, failed surrogacy, miscarriage, stillbirth, or an unsuccessful assisted reproduction. Leave under this statute is unpaid, but you can use vacation/annual leave, personal leave, accrued and available sick leave, or compensatory time off to cover these days. Employers must maintain the confidentiality of any employee requesting reproductive loss leave. You can read more details about this new leave here.
Federal Mileage Increase for 2024. Effective January 1, 2024, the personal vehicle mileage reimbursement rate for all state employees is 67 cents per mile. The relocation/moving mileage reimbursement rate for all current state employees and new hires to state service is 21 cents per mile. You can view the related HR Manual Policy here: 2202 – Mileage Reimbursement.
Increase to Reimbursement for Meals, Incidentals and Lodging. Effective January 1, 2024, the reimbursement rates for:
Meals have increased as follows:
Breakfast is now $13 (was $7);
Lunch is now $15 (was $11);
Dinner is now $26 (was $23);
Incidentals stay the same at $5.
Short-Term Lodging has increased as follows:
All counties except those listed below increased to $107 (was $90)
– Alameda $189 (was $140)
– Santa Monica $270 (was $150)
– Los Angeles $169 (was $120)
– Marin $166 (was $110)
– Monterey $184 (was $125)
– Napa $195 (was $95)
– Orange $169 (was $120)
– Riverside $142 (was $95)
– Sacramento $145 (was $95)
– San Diego $194 (was $125)
– San Francisco $270 (was $250)
– San Mateo $222 (was $140)
– Santa Clara $245 (was $140)
– Ventura & Edwards AFB, excluding the city of Santa Monica $169 (was $120)
You can view the related HR Manual Policy here:https://hrmanual.calhr.ca.gov/Home/ManualItem/1/2203
Governor’s Proposed FY 24-25 Budget, and Elimination of Telework Stipends. On January 10th, Governor Newsom released his Proposed 2024-25 State Budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1, 2024. The Governor’s Proposed Budget assumes a deficit of $38 billion, which, while significant, is considerably lower than the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) $68 billion deficit forecast made in December 2023. The proposed spending plan totals $291.5 billion ($208.7 billion general fund) and closes the deficit by tapping into the rainy day fund and other reserves, making budget cuts, borrowing from and shifting spending to other funds, and delaying and deferring previously planned spending.
One of the proposed budget cuts is the elimination of telework stipends, effective July 1, 2024. CAPS disagrees with the need to take away this modest, but important, benefit and intends to work with the State to find a different way of saving costs. On a brighter note, the budget does not propose furloughs, personal leave days, or any other similar reductions in state employee salaries.
As we know, the governor’s proposal is just the start of the Budget process. There will be many meetings and discussions before the final Budget begins to take shape. And CAPS will be there every step of the way to protect the interests of you and your colleagues.
I appreciate your time,
Daniel Ellis, Chair
CAPS Supervisory Committee