LAO Report: Overview of the May Revision (2012-2013 Budget)

In the May Revision of his 2012-13 budget proposal, the Governor identified a larger budget problem of $15.7 billion for state leaders to address in the coming weeks. While we find that the administration's economic and revenue forecasts are reasonable, we are concerned that the amount of property tax revenues from former redevelopment agencies (RDAs) may be substantially less than the May Revision assumes in 2011-12 and 2012-13. If so, this could increase the state's Proposition 98 school funding obligations and, therefore, the size of the budget problem above administration estimates. Moreover, the administration's $1.4 billion estimate for the amount of General Fund benefit that may be achieved in 2012-13 from transferring former RDAs' liquid cash assets to school districts is highly uncertain.

We advise the Legislature to focus on adopting realistic and ongoing budget actions to continue the progress the state has made in reducing its annual operating, or structural, deficit. We describe and assess the administration's major May Revision proposals. In some cases, we offer alternative ways to achieve the savings targeted by the Governor. With regard to Proposition 98, we offer alternatives to both the Governor's basic budget plan and his trigger plan.

LAO Report: State Should Consider Less Costly Alternatives to CDCR Blueprint

In April 2012, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) released a report (referred to as the “blueprint”) on the administration’s plan to reorganize various aspects of CDCR operations, facilities, and budgets in response to the effects of the 2011 realignment of adult offenders, as well as to meet various federal court requirements (such as reducing the inmate population to meet specified population cap targets). In this brief we (1) summarize and assess the major aspects of the blueprint and (2) present alternative approaches that are available to the Legislature. In our view, much of the administration’s blueprint merits legislative consideration.

However, the General Fund costs of the planned approach—in particular, an estimated $78 million in annual debt service—is a significant trade-off. We find that the state could meet its facility requirements (including those for medical and mental health treatment) and specified population cap targets at much lower ongoing General Fund costs than proposed by the administration, potentially saving the state as much as a billion dollars over the next seven years...
 

CCPOA Weekly Update - May 11, 2012

CDC Update — By Chuck Helton, CDC VP

In case you missed it, the Sacramento Bee reported this week that “state workers’ compensation is back on the budget chopping block.” Administration officials who spoke anonymously anticipated that the May Budget Revise would contain cuts to payroll costs ranging from 5-10% — depending on the article you read. The rationale — and this part is true — is that the state’s budget deficit has grown since the initial budget was proposed in January, and additional cuts have to be made somewhere. It’s that second part where we have problems —since we’ve already taken a reduction, and know that there are other places they should be looking to make cuts that don’t involve our members. Any reductions MUST be shared across the board — that’s our message and we’re delivering it loudly and clearly as our discussions with the state continue. And I’m sure they’ll heat up even more after the May Revise is released next week, so stay tuned. In the meantime, you can read the Sacramento Bee articles online at www.sacbee.com...

CCPOA Weekly Update - May 4, 2012

DJJ Update — By Daryl Lee, DJJ VP

Some of you may have heard rumors about the possible closure of another living unit. I am scheduling a meeting with management to determine the accuracy of this information and will report back.

This week weʼre also participating in DJJ use-of-force negotiations, and are preparing for both the upcoming Evidence Based Criminal Justice Training featuring Dr. Ed Latessa from the University of Cincinnati, and the governorʼs May Budget Revise, which will give us a clearer picture of CDCRʼs funding...

CCPOA Weekly Update: April 27, 2012

Supervisory Update — By Kevin Raymond, Supervisory VP

We are trying to secure the date of May 8 for the statewide SO6 DJJ use-of-force table, and will confirm this date as soon as it’s set.

In addition, we are trying to set dates for discussions with the state on a variety of other supervisory issues, including, but not limited to, seniority assignment re-bids and redirects.

We also recently received the SO6 statewide seniority scores by county. Each of you should also have received your personal seniority scores in the mail, along with a form allowing you to challenge your score if you believe it to be incorrect. We strongly encourage any member that believes his or her score is wrong to appeal it immediately...

THE FUTURE OF CALIFORNIA CORRECTIONS

A Blueprint to Save Billions of Dollars, End Federal Court Oversight, and Improve the Prison System

For years, California’s prison system has faced costly and seemingly endless challenges. Decades-old class-action lawsuits challenge the adequacy of critical parts of its operations, including its health care system, its parole-revocation process, and its ability to accommodate inmates with disabilities. In one case, a federal court seized control over the prison medical care system and appointed a Receiver to manage its operations. The Receiver remains in place today...

CCPOA Weekly Update - April 20, 2012

CDC Update — By Chuck Helton, CDC VP / Brenda Gibbons, Salinas Valley State Prison Chapter President

LAO Report: Providing Constitutional and Cost-Effective Inmate Medical Care

Inmate Medical Program Under Federal Receivership. In 2006, after finding that California had failed to provide a constitutional level of medical care to its inmates, a federal court appointed a Receiver to take over the direct management and operation of the state’s inmate medical care program from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). Since that time, the current and prior Receiver have taken a variety of actions that appear to have increased the quality of inmate medical care but also dramatically increased state expenditures. The increased cost of the inmate medical care program is partially attributable to several inefficiencies including its (1) inconsistent application of the utilization management system, (2) limited use of telemedicine, and (3) an inefficient management structure...

Summary of LAO Findings and Recommendations on the 2012-13 Budget

Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Personnel Specialist Staffing Ratios

Reduce CDCRs funding for Personnel Specialists I (PSI) and Personnel Specialist Supervisors (PSS) by $13.1 million in the budget year. This adjustment would provide CDCR with PSI positions on a 300 to 1 ratio and PSS positions on a 5 to 1 ratio, both of which are more consistent with other large state departments...

CCPOA Weekly Update - April 13, 2012

CCPOA Weekly Update - April 6, 2012

"Just as we continue to need prisons for violent and serious adult felons, California needs a Division of Juvenile Justice — smaller, to be sure, and more enlightened and more effective — to house, supervise and treat a reduced population of violent young offenders. There are only two other alternatives, and neither is acceptable: The state must not send its dangerous and damaged minors to probation departments that are not yet equipped to handle the most difficult cases; nor should it abandon them, along with any chance for their rehabilitation, to the adult penal system."

LA Times, 3-27-12

CCPOA Weekly Update - March 30, 2012

Supervisory Update — By Kevin Raymond, Supervisory VP

Late last week the AB 109 CCPOA bargaining team reached an agreement with the state regarding post and bid. This agreement covers key aspects of post and bid as it relates to the ongoing realignment. In fact, some of the same issues pertinent to supervisors under the Seniority Assignment (SA) Agreement are being faced by the rank-and-file. Therefore, CCPOA has requested a meeting with DPA and CDCR Labor Relations to discuss a similar agreement on the key aspects that our SO6 members are facing. That meeting has been scheduled for April 2, 2012...

March 23, 2012

Governor’s Proposal to Complete Juvenile Justice Realignment

The Governor's Proposal:

Fully Realign Juvenile Justice to Counties. The DJJ would stop receiving new wards on January 1, 2013, though DJJ would continue to house wards admitted to its facilities prior to this date until they are released. After all wards are released from DJJ, counties would be responsible for managing all offenders adjudicated in juvenile courts.

Provide Funding to Counties. The Governor proposes to provide counties with an unspecified amount of ongoing funding beginning in 2013-14 to help them manage the increase in juvenile caseload resulting from the realignment. The Governor also proposes a one-time $10 million General Fund augmentation in 2011-12 to help counties plan for their increased caseload.

Delay Collection of Enacted Fees. Current law requires counties, as of January 1, 2012, to reimburse the state $125,000 per year for each juvenile offender committed by the courts to DJJ. The Governor has delayed the collection of these fees, and proposes to continue delaying collection for an unspecified period, perhaps indefinitely. The administration estimates that this provision would have benefited the General Fund by $60 million in 2011-12 and $125 million in 2012-13...

CCPOA Weekly Update - March 16, 2012

DJJ Update — By Daryl Lee, DJJ VP

We had very productive talks with DJJ Chief Deputy Secretary Mike Minor, DJJ Chief Business Manager Greg OʼBrian and Superintendent of Pine Grove Conservation Camp Mike Roots this week. Hereʼs a rundown:

Pine Grove Labor Issues — While most issues were moot, we did tackle the difference in voluntary OT procedures between adult camps and DJJ camps. The former is based on rotation and the latter on seniority. Based on these meetings, weʼre in agreement that the best course of action is to poll the Pine Grove staff and allow them to choose the procedure they prefer...

CCPOA Weekly Update - March 9, 2012

Supervisory Update — By Kevin Raymond, Supervisory VP

The Executive Council has spent the entire week in PAC meetings preparing for the upcoming Primary Election — most specifically, conducting candidate interviews. However, I also dealt with an issue at CCWF where a Lt. was being told that heʼd have to transfer to VSPW. And we received the following response from CDCR labor relations regarding the issues discussed at our follow up meeting:

Concept of Super Seniority into the SA Policy.;

CDCR does not object to the concept of Super Seniority for Supervisors. Further discussion on the implementation process is needed...

CCPOA Weekly Update - March 2, 2012

CCPOA Weekly Update - February 24, 2012

Important reminder to the membership regarding Personal Development Days (PDD):

All Rank and File members are reminded that effective January 1, 2012 you received four Personal Development Days (PDD), two for 2011 and two for 2012,  in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). These days must  be utilized during the calendar as they have no cash value. If they are not used  by December 31, 2012 these days will be deleted from your books. Moving forward you will receive two days each calendar year, in January. As for our  Supervisory members the PDD days are in accordance with the Governors Executive order S-15-10. These two days are granted by fiscal year and must be utilized by July 1, 2012 or they also will be deleted from your books...

The 2012–13 Budget: Refocusing CDCR After The 2011 Realignment

In 2011, the state enacted several bills to realign to county governments the responsibility for certain felon offenders who previously had been eligible for state prison and parole. These changes will significantly reduce the inmate and parole populations managed by CDCR. This report identifies the impacts of the realignment of adult offenders on CDCR's operations and facility needs, discusses whether realignment will enable the state to meet the prison population limit required by the federal court, as well as whether the change in the makeup of CDCR's inmate population following realignment will affect its housing, mental health, and medical facility needs. The report provides recommendations on how to better match CDCR facilities and programs with the remaining inmate population following the realignment...

The 2012-13 Budget: The 2011 Realignment of Adult Offenders—An Update

In 2011, the state enacted several bills to enact a wide-ranging “realignment,” shifting several state programs and a commensurate level of revenues to local governments.

Perhaps the most significant programmatic change implemented as part of the 2011 realignment was realigning to county governments the responsibility for managing and supervising certain felon offenders who previously had been eligible for state prison and parole.

This report provides an update on the status of realignment, reviews changes proposed by the Governor, and makes several recommendations designed to promote the long-term success of realignment, such as creating a reserve fund for revenue growth as well as designing an ongoing allocation formula that is responsive to future demographic changes...