Outsourcing bill moves out of committee
“added Local 1000 staff making a difference”

AB 2603, the Local 1000-sponsored legislation designed to help limit outsourcing, passed an important milestone last week, achieving unanimous support from the members of the Assembly Business and Professions Committee.

Authored by Assemblymember Mike Eng (D-Monterey Park) AB 2603 provides greater transparency in the contracting-out process. The Local 1000 research staff has identified more than $100 million in annual savings now wasted by outsourcing. The bill requires departments to report the number and type of contract employees retained by the state; the information will be used to monitor costly spending and staffing  associated with information technology, medical registry and architectural and engineering services contracts.

Local 1000’s expanded legislative staff is working on dozens of pieces of legislation that affect members. “Increased staff resources – paid for with member dues – are making a difference by allowing us to move and monitor legislation on multiple fronts,” said Jim Hard, Local 1000 president. “A year ago, we didn’t have the resources to lobby on all legislation impacting state employees.”

This week alone, representatives from Local 1000 will participate in a half-dozen proceedings at the Capitol, including an important hearing affecting tax compliance and collection at the Board of Equalization and the Franchise Tax Board. Legislators will examine methods to remedy the $8.5 billion in corporate and personal taxes that go uncollected each year – a concept brought to light by Local 1000’s first white paper on the budget crisis, The California Bottom Line.

Local 1000 will also be on hand for a review of AB 900, the bill forcing the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to expand the rehabilitation programs delivered by Local 1000 members.