State Telework Bill - 3 Days, 3 Actions, Push through Suspense - Week of 5.14.26
Hello, r/CAStateWorkers
UPDATE 5.12.26
I recommend focusing on sending in position letters and calling other members of the committee instead of the committee chair, Buffy Wicks. You are welcome to try calling the committee chair, but at this point, it appears their phone lines are fairly jammed and going to voicemail. Prioritize Actions #1 and #3.
I hope the weekend treated you well. I heard from many folks both online and offline who contacted Appropriations Committee members after reading this last post regarding the State Telework Bill (AB 1729) currently moving through our legislature. I want to thank you all for staying active and staying motivated. It's a long process but we will do what we can to get this over the finish line.
A brief recap on AB 1729's history:
- AB 1729 has been on a remarkable journey so far, all things considered. It was introduced by Assm. Lee (always worth reaching out to them to thank them for their work on this bill) back in February and co-authored by Placerville's own and telework audit commissioner, Assm. Hoover
- It moved into the Public Employment policy committee where it passed with no objections. A bipartisan group of committee members celebrated the bill and shared how they see it as a big win for the state. The Committee Chair remarked how she would have at one point been skeptical of telework as a former office-based state worker, but she recognizes the importance of it now and wants to see it continue
- The bill picked up EIGHT co-authors. From the public employment committee: Tasha Boerner and Stephanie Nguyen (who was once skeptical of telework but swayed by outreach from Elk Grove state workers!)... from the budget subcommittee on state administration who held a hearing with CalHR and DGS last year: Sharon Quirk-Silva (chair), Liz Ortega, and Christopher Ward... and from the full assembly (folks who probably just heard about the bill and thought it sounded great)... Damon Connolly, James Ramos, and Dr. Corey Jackson
- The bill moved into its next committee, Appropriations, where it is being reviewed until May 14th as part of the suspense file. This committee can advance the bill further or end its run for now. What we want is for this bill to be released from suspense.
This week. We can continue to reach out to the Appropriations Committee. We have 3 days until its review period is complete. I have 3 actions I think that you can take to move the bill along.
Let's call it 3 Days, 3 Actions. You can do this in any order you like, but here's what I'll do.
Day #1: Email a position letter to the Appropriations Committee. If you are a supervisor or someone with knowledge of RTO costs in your agency, I will SUPER DUPER encourage you to write in a letter.
You can do this from whatever email you like. No websites needed. Though if you prefer to be extra sure your email is going to the right place you can click "Submit a Position Letter" on the committee's homepage.
Email To: approps.committee@assembly.ca.gov
Subject Line: Position Letter - Support AB 1729
(or some variant... just as long as it's clear you are supporting AB 1729 and offering a position letter)
Body:
Introduce yourself and your job within the state workforce. State plainly that you are encouraging the Appropriations committee to release AB 1729 from suspense so that it can proceed for a full debate and vote on the assembly floor.
Include reasons why this bill should move ahead (remember this is an Appropriations committee, so arguments about the bill's fiscal benefits are CRUCIAL).
Our top line reason for why this bill should advance is "The estimated $10M in telework oversight costs cited by DGS are vastly outweighed by the savings this bill generates through shedding unnecessary office space and workstation purchases."
- Cite any knowledge you have of RTO costs within your agency (new office leases, additional workstations, furniture purchases, hoteling failures, staff retention issues, hiring difficulties, productivity/morale drag, inefficiencies tied to RTO)
- If you have no direct knowledge of RTO costs in your agency, cite numbers from the California telework audit in 2024. Like...
- Just last year alone, 19 large departments spent $117M on unused office space accommodating a 2-day mandate
- The state could save up to $225M annually (a quarter billion? whatever sounds tastier to you) and shed 30% of its office footprint if it maintained existing telework flexibilities
- Close out respectfully reminding the committee that the costs of this bill fall far short of the savings. Remind staff that telework enables our state to recruit and retain a talented workforce all while saving vast sums of money
Day #2: Contact the committee chair, Buffy Wicks
916-319-2014
Be short and sweet. As best as possible.
When the staffer answers, share your name, your role in the state workforce... say that you're calling to encourage Assm. Wicks, the Appropriations chair, to release AB 1729, the state telework bill, from suspense so it can be debated and voted on by the full Assembly.
In addition, if you aren't quickly shuffled off the phone, provide any one reason from the email talking points above to explain. Anything that communicates "Spending a few million on oversight to prevent hundreds of millions of dollars of wasted facilities cost is well worth it."
Be polite and respectful. They have probably received lots of calls since last week. Courtesy means a lot. Thank the staffer for their time.
Day #3: Contact additional Assemblymembers
- Sacramento residents, contact committee member Maggy Krell.
(916) 319-2006.
She has previously authored letters opposing the 4-day RTO mandate last year. To the best of my knowledge, we have not heard from her on the issue since. Encourage her to support the release of AB 1729 from suspense so that it can move to the Assembly floor. Cite any of your preferred talking points, but emphasize fiscal reasons.
In addition, please call the remaining members. Easy way to split this up is to just divide the remaining members by birth month. Find your birth month, make a call.
Encourage any member to support the release of AB 1729, the state telework bill, from suspense so that it can be voted on the Assembly floor. Cite any of the fiscal talking points you'd like but remember to communicate that any estimated costs of the bill are far outweighed by facility cost savings.
- Rancho / Folsom / Placerville residents - Josh Hoover
916-319-2007
Thank him for co-authoring the bill and ask for his support in having it removed from suspense and onto the full Assembly floor
January - Dr. Joaquin Arambula (Fresno) - 916-319-2031
February - Lisa Calderon (Whittier) - 916-319-2056
March - David Tangipa (Mariposa) - 916-319-2008
April - Tri Ta (Orange County) - 916-319-2070
May - Jose Luis Solache Jr. (Los Angeles) - 916-319-2062
June - Gail Pellerin (Santa Cruz) - 916-319-2028
July - Blanca Pacheco (Los Angeles) - 916-319-2064
August - Dr. LaShae Sharp-Collins (San Diego) - 916-319-2079 ***New Appropriations Member!***
September - Mark Gonzalez (Los Angeles) - 916-319-2054
October - Mike Fong (Alhambra) - 916-319-2049
November - Diane Dixon (Huntington Beach) - 916-319-2072
December - Jessica Caloza (Los Angeles) - 916-319-2052
***A tidbit that can help calls to Los Angeles appropriations members. According to the state telework audit, the Ronald Reagan State Building is going to require about $660M to renovate in the coming years. Under the current 2-day RTO mandate, it only has about 20% occupancy. The state can divest from this building and immediately realize enormous savings that counter-balance the $10M annual spend on AB 1729. Telework oversight and right-sizing office space affords us enormous savings. Support AB 1728***