Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1541528
Legislative Update By Julian Peeples AB 288: PERB Can Rule on California-Related Labor Issues CTA-supported AB 288 (McKinnon) was signed into law, expanding the jurisdiction of the state Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) by authorizing certain workers to petition PERB to protect and enforce their rights when the federal govern- ment can't or won't. "It is more important than ever that states stand up to protect workers and ensure they have a path to defend their right to organize and collectively bargain," said Gov. Gavin Newsom upon signing the bill. "California is a proud labor state — and we will continue standing up for the workers that keep our state running and our economy booming." Recent education-related bills and their status: AB 560: Improvements for Special Education Students, Teachers Gov. Newsom signed CTA-supported AB 560 into law, which will provide additional supports for California's spe- cial educators. Among the provisions, AB 560 equally distributes initial assessment workloads across resource specialists, requires the state to develop recom- mended maximum adult-to-student staffing ratios, and guarantees that educators and other stakeholders are part of the process to develop and shape recommendations. Governor Vetoes SB 414 Over Cost Concerns, Unworkability Gov. Gavin Newsom heard our union's sig- nificant concerns and vetoed SB 414, saying it failed to address systemic weaknesses exploited by non-classroom-based charters. In his veto message, Newsom said the legis- lation fell short of the goal to improve oversight and accountability. "While the oversight and auditing provisions are meaningful, other sec- tions are unworkable, would face legal challenges, and require hundreds of millions of dollars to implement," he wrote. The concern about oversight of non-classroom-based charter schools comes after the Learn4Life charter school scandal, which saw $450 million in funding go to the operator in 2023–24 alone for what amounted to pack- ets, online assignments and little teacher interaction. While the operator 's co-founder makes about $600,000 a year, Learn4Life spends the minimum possible on educators — and SB 414 would have allowed them to spend even less. 44 cta.org Advocacy