Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1546952
Legislative Update Bills await governor's signature Compiled by Julian Peeples A T P R E S S T I M E , approximately 800 bills approved by both houses of the California Legislature awaited a date with the governor 's pen and a chance to become law. SB 1349 and AB 917 are co-sponsored by our union. The governor has until Sept. 30 to either sign or veto the bills. SB 1349: Examining Corporate Tax Credits In this era of egregious tax avoidance by corporations and the wealthy, SB 1349 (Gonzalez) shines a light on corporate tax breaks that impact the funding of every school district in California — many of which have sat on the books for years without any scrutiny, oversight or data to demonstrate results. Signed into law by the governor on Sept. 20, SB 1349 requires a cost-benefit analysis of the largest existing tax expenditures and recommendations to the Legislature about their efficacy, so lawmakers can make an informed decision about whether they are in our collective best interest. Last year, corporations in California received approximately $94 billion in tax breaks, and while a 2014 state law required all new tax credits to include accountability measures to ensure they achieve their intended outcomes, billions of dollars in breaks approved previously continue without oversight. For every $1 billion reduction to state education funding, there is a potential for 9,600 fewer educators in our public schools — underscor- ing the importance of ensuring every tax credit is benefiting the public good. "SB 1349 will help accomplish those goals and guarantee that corporations are paying their fair share of the cost of our collective future, " CTA President David Goldberg said. Status: Signed into law by Gov. Newsom In late August, our union urged what turned out to be a successful full floor vote on SB 1349 in the Legislature. AB 917: Equal Rights for All Educators Thousands of California educators in small school districts will have to continue to wait for the same job security rights as their counterparts in larger districts after Gov. Newsom vetoed AB 917 (Ávila Farías). Due to an antiquated state law, educators in school districts with less than 250 students Continued on Page 42 41 F A L L 2 0 26 A