Legislative Update 2-2-09
February 3rd, 2009
2-2-09 Legislative Update
CWA is supporting a variety of bills.
HB 15/SB164: State employee dismissal arbitration. This is the most important legislation for us this year. It allows an employee to choose arbitration over the SPO process in disciplinary cases. It passed House Labor and is on the temporary calendar for the full House on Monday. It hasn't been scheduled yet in the Senate.
Anti-Wage Theft: Bills haven't been introduced yet, but being carried by Reps. Miguel Garcia and Al Park. It strengthens the State Wage and Hour by introducing non-retaliation language (yes, it's legal right now to retaliate against an employee for filing a wage and hour claim at the state level) and allowing public workers to access the state Dept. of Workforce Solutions (which we can't now). I have copies of the two bills for anyone who wants to look at them.
HB 336 Increase Public Employee per diem and mileage (Rep. Rick Miera)
HB 394 Whistleblower Protection Act (Rep. Joseph Cervantes)
SB 281 Health Security Act;
This coming week in HOUSE LABOR AND HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE, Chaired by Miguel Garcia, the following bills will be heard. Our positions on them follow. Please try to make it to this committee and either support or oppose these bills. Let's pack the room on Thursday to oppose Right To Work!!
Tuesday, February 3, 1:30 pm Room 305
HB 234 SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR LICENSURE CONSIDERATION (GARCIA T.)
HB 235 CONTRACTED SCHOOL BUS DRIVER SALARY INCREASE (GARCIA T.) AFT NM BILL support
HB 236 PERA SERVICE CREDIT PURCHASE (GARCIA T.)
HB 242 DISCRIMINATION AGAINST ARMED SERVICE SPOUSES (COTE)
HB 245 CHILD CARE PROVIDER COLLECTIVE BARGAINING (GARCIA MP) AFSCME BILL support
HB 246 PERA RETURN TO WORK FOR CERTAIN EMPLOYEES (GARCIA MP) AFSCME BILL support
HB 247 ENHANCE EMPLOYMENT OF DISABLED PERSONS (GARCIA MP)
HB 270 COMMUNITY-BASED WAIVER PROGRAM COST-OF-LIVING (GONZALES)
Thursday, February 5, 2009 - 1:30 p.m.- Room 305
HB 271 REOPEN MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT PLAN 4 (GARCIA T.)
HB 281 SOUTH VALLEY BICYCLE RECYCLING PROGRAM (GARCIA MP)
HB 329 PUBLIC WORK PROJECT PREVAILING WAGE (LUJAN B.) BUILDING TRADES BILL support
HB 380 PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR LICENSING & REGULATION (REHM)
HB 421 RIGHT TO WORK ACT (EZZELL) Oppose
HB 453 EDUCATIONAL RETIREMENT SERVICE CREDITS (GARCIA MP) support
Also, Labor meets on Tuesday and Thursday mornings at around 10 am (when the House goes to the floor) in the Secretary of State's conference room. All updates and bill discussions take place at these meetings.
AFSCME is having its Lobby Day this Thursday, February 5th. CWA will host a lobby day or activity that will be announced in the coming days.
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In Solidarity,
Robin Gould
President, SEA-CWA Local 7076
460 St. Michael's Drive
Building 1000, Ste. 1001
Santa Fe, NM 87505
(505) 955-8534
