Healthcare Open Enrollment Ends THIS FRIDAY. The CalPERS Annual Health Care Open Enrollment Period for the 2020 calendar year commenced September 9th and ends this Friday, October 4, 2019. During this time, State Scientists (and all CalPERS members) may enroll in or switch their CalPERS Health Plan, add eligible dependents, or delete dependents. All changes made during Open Enrollment become effective January 1, 2020. You can see a list of each CalPERS plan, and your costs after the new state contribution rates are applied. See them here: https://capsscientists.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/CalPERS-Health-Plan-Rates-2020.pdf
CAPS Member Needs Your Help! Department of Fish and Wildlife Environmental Scientist and CAPS Member Dana McCanne has requested catastrophic leave donations in order to continue receiving pay and benefits. Section 3.10 of the CAPS MOU allows transfer of leave credits as catastrophic leave: CTO, Personal Leave, Annual Leave, Vacation, Personal Day, and/or Holiday Credit. If donating Personal Holidays, they must be donated in whole-day increments per the donating employee’s time base. All other donations must be made in a minimum of one hour (1.00) increments. Sick leave cannot be donated. If you can spare even ONE HOUR, it would greatly assist this member. CAPS thanks all who can assist. For more details: https://capsscientists.org/resources/catastrophic-leave-donations/
Congratulations on Your Retirement, Director Thomas! CAPS At-Large Director James Thomas has decided to end his thirteen-year career as a dedicated public servant. Director Thomas worked diligently as an Associate Health Physicist at the California Department of Public Health, ensuring the safety of Californians for years. CAPS wishes him a wonderful, restful retirement.
How Your Dues Are Spent. Each year, CAPS’ expenditures are audited by a professional financial, accounting and auditing firm, Lindquist LLP. Once the auditing firm has completed their annual audit, CAPS releases an infographic to allow you to see “How Your Dues are Spent.” The infographic for the 2018 Budget can be found now on the Members Only section of the CAPS Website. The password is Winter2020 – it IS case-sensitive.
News Briefs
Trump’s EPA blames homeless for California water pollution, demands action from Newsom – The Trump Administration continued pounding California officials over the environment, Thursday, blaming San Francisco and Los Angeles’ homelessness for polluting their cities’ water and demanding Governor Gavin Newsom address a wide range of shortcomings with drinking water supplies.
California Department of Fish and Wildlife Expands Statewide Sampling for Chronic Wasting Disease in Deer and Elk – The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is increasing the scope of its monitoring and testing efforts for Chronic Wasting Disease in California’s deer and elk herds.