Agreement Would Extend Current MOU By 1 Year

On Friday, June 6, 2025, the CSLEA and CalHR Negotiations Teams resumed conceptual discussions on a possible side letter to the existing Unit 7 Contract to achieve targeted cost-savings as outlined in the May Budget Revise.  CSLEA offered a number of possible enhancements to the MOU to be considered by CalHR in consideration for the changes the State is seeking. 

The parties are scheduled to meet again this Thursday when CalHR will provide feedback to CSLEA on its conceptual proposals.  The State must adopt a budget for fiscal year 2025/26 (or the Legislature’s pay will be suspended) where it should become evident how the cost savings that are being sought might be achieved absent an agreement. 

The CSLEA Board of Directors will be holding its quarterly meeting in Sacramento on June 18^th at which time the status of bargaining and authorization for a possible side letter will be discussed.   

 

By Shane LaVigne, LaVigne Strategies

On May 14, 2025, Governor Gavin Newsom unveiled California’s revised state budget, confronting a projected $12 billion deficit. The shortfall, according to the Governor, is attributed to several factors, including the economic impact of President Donald Trump’s tariff policies, which have disrupted global commerce and reduced state revenues by an estimated $16 billion. Additionally, rising healthcare costs, particularly within the Medi-Cal program, have strained the budget. To address these challenges, Newsom proposes measures such as freezing new enrollments for undocumented adults in Medi-Cal starting in 2026 and introducing a $100 monthly premium for existing undocumented enrollees beginning in 2027, aiming to save the state $5.4 billion over the next few years.

Given this year’s budget shortfall—and projections that next year’s deficit could be two to three times larger—we expect the Administration will seek concessions from state employees and initiate new rounds of bargaining.

Despite the fiscal constraints, the revised budget maintains investments in several areas. It continues to fund universal transitional kindergarten, free school meals for all students, and expanded before- and after-school programs. The budget also allocates resources to expedite critical infrastructure projects, such as the Delta Conveyance Project, to enhance the state’s water management system. Furthermore, it includes provisions to lower prescription drug costs and extends the state’s cap-and-trade program to support climate initiatives, including the high-speed rail project.

Specific to public safety and Bargaining Unit 7, the Governor is attempting to address the challenges posed by the illicit cannabis market. The revised budget includes a proposal to shift the Department of Cannabis Control’s enforcement funding from the Cannabis Control Fund to the Cannabis Tax Fund. This move is designed to sustain existing enforcement activities without imposing significant fee increases on current licensees. Additionally, the budget allocates $7.1 million in 2025-26, $4.9 million in 2026-27, and $6.1 million ongoing from 2027-28 to support additional inspections and departmental activities by adding 27 staff over the next three years. These measures are part of a broader strategy to strengthen the legal cannabis market, reduce financial and administrative barriers, and promote equity within the industry.

CSLEA Peace Officer Members,

As a courtesy, CSLEA would like to pass along some information from the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST). POST has announced that  in collaboration with the Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC), it will be holding several presentations of a two-hour decertification class that covers practical information about peace officer certification and decertification [Senate Bill 2 (2021)]. This free class will include topics such as POST’s role in serious misconduct investigations, an introduction to the definitions of serious misconduct categories, and the decertification process. 

For more information, click here.

Dear CSLEA Member,

As a courtesy, the California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) would like to make you aware of a decision made by the California Department of Finance and announced by CalHR last week to suspend the voluntary Leave Buy-Back Program for fiscal year 2024-2025.  

In an email sent to department and agency executives by CalHr Director Eraina Ortega, Ortega states: “The current economic and fiscal climate has caused considerable fiscal uncertainty to the state’s budget. Therefore, department and agency executives are prohibited from authorizing buy-back of accrued vacation or annual leave in 2024-25, including for excluded employees.”

Some departments are notifying employees by email of the decision to suspend the program for the fiscal year 2024-2025.

“While this decision was not totally unexpected given economic and fiscal circumstances, CSLEA recognizes that this may be a disappointment to some of its members.  Please do not hesitate to reach out to CSLEA should you have any questions or concerns regarding this matter,” said CSLEA President Alan Barcelona.  “We will be reviewing the governor’s May Revise when it soon becomes available.  The May Revise includes changes to the 2025-2026 budget that the governor proposed in January, based upon the latest economic forecasts.”