Case Records Update - March 21, 2008

CRT Class Delayed by Incomplete Information
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) in conjunction with the Department of Personnel Administration (DPA) had attempted to submit their proposal for the new classification of Case Records Technician (CRT) to be established at the March 25, 2008 meeting of the State Personnel Board (SPB).  Unfortunately, the proposal submitted by CDCR and DPA was incomplete, and will not be on the agenda for SPB’s meeting on March 25.

According to staff at SPB, the proposal did not sufficiently outline the need for the new deep class.  The proposal also did not include plans to establish an exam for the new class, nor did the proposal outline future recruitment plans.  Also missing was clarification on how new hires would be placed in the ranges based on previous experience.

In order to have the CRT proposal on the agenda for SPB’s April meeting, DPA would have to provide the missing information to SPB staff by the end of today, March 21.  If not, April 11 is the next deadline to resubmit the proposal, which would place the item on SPB’s May 12 agenda.

When will CRTs get their salary increases?
Our agreement stipulates that the new salaries will become effective the first full pay period following adoption by SPB.  If the new CRT class is adopted by SPB on May 12, the salary increases become effective for the June pay period.


What about CCRAs?
DPA’s negotiator will not enter into negotiations over changes to the class specs and salaries of the Correctional Case Records Analyst (CCRA) class until the CRT class has been adopted by SPB.  DPA has indicated that their proposal for updating the CCRA class includes adding experience as a CRT in the qualifications section.  Because the CRT class has not been formally adopted yet, DPA is refusing to begin talks on revising the CCRA class specs.

We may have to take some action that will change their minds.  More details to follow.

In the meantime, CCRA representatives will continue to push the state to convene a meeting of the Correctional Case Records Analyst Workload Committee, pursuant to section 5.12.1 of our Master Agreement with the state.