EMPLOYMENT LAW: California Senate Junks Bill on State Worker Pay Protection Measure

September 1, 2010

Sacramento - The state Senate has rejected Assembly Bill 1699, which was intended to make state employee payroll a continuous appropriation, during the last day of the legislative session.

The bill was unable to gather the 27 votes that it needed to be passed, reports said.

At least ten senators voted against it, six others were unable to vote, and one seat in the Senate was vacant.

State worker unions rallied behind the bill, which was authored by D-West Covina Assemblyman Ed Hernandez, because it would have prevented state employee pay from being withheld whenever Congress fails to pass a budget plan.

Senate Democrats also amended the bill so that it will grant continuous appropriation status on payments to businesses that provide services and goods to California during a budget impasse.