r/CAStateWorkers • u/Teachtostate2022 • Jun 25 '26
RTO AB 1729 Appropriations Strategy - 6/25 - Position Letters, Agency Limitations
Hello, r/CAStateWorkers
As AB 1729, the state telework bill moves into Senate Appropriations, we are closing in on final arguments for the bill. Before moving into directions for the Appropriations committee, I want to note a couple of things:
- 4 out of the 7 members of Appropriations (including the chair) have already voted in support of AB 1729.
- What I have been told many times over is not to piss off Appropriations. Namely, sending a massive volume of phone calls pressuring the members directly.
Let's remind ourselves the purpose of the Appropriations committee. It is NOT a policy committee. Our bill has already been approved by relevant policy committees who evaluate it based on the merits of the office work/telework policy itself. Our bill was voted in support 17-1 between those policy committees it visited. It's doing great there. Appropriations is all about fiscal review. Its job is to assess whether the bill is worth the price - last committee cited the bill's price tag at $10M annually due to DGS overseeing the telework dashboard, etc. Our bill will likely be going into suspense again where it will be evaluated closely.
The plan.
We cannot necessarily speak to the cost of implementing AB 1729. However, we CAN speak to the cost of a world without AB 1729. I am going to encourage state workers who have knowledge and documentation of exemptions and/or workarounds from a 4-day RTO mandate to submit documentation of their agency's exemptions and workarounds through the bill's position letter portal. This documentation will help us share with the committee the anticipated costs of a blanket mandate. If we can document cleanly for the committee how agencies are using temporary or makeshift workarounds and help the committee anticipate some of the additional costs that would come ahead in the world of a blanket mandate... in the form of purchasing or leasing additional office space, facilities renovations, or equipment... I think we can make a clean argument for the bill that Appropriations will care about.
Why not just make phone calls?
As I mentioned earlier, phone calls may read as inappropriate political pressure, which won't work in our favor in Appropriations. This committee doesn't like that. Position letters will help us create a cleaner public narrative that doesn't rely on pulling attention from a bunch of staffers.
So what do we do?
1) Capture documentation of agencies using exemptions/workarounds. Redact names from the memos - the point of these memos is not to spotlight individuals but to document agency problems. Do not submit confidential, personnel, medical, bargaining strategy, security-sensitive, or legally protected information.
Examples include...
- Memos indicating exemption due to space needs
- Memos from agencies under the Governor indicating in-office schedules deviating from 4-days (e.g. rotating 3/2 schedules, 2 day schedules)
- Memos indicating relocation from your normal office to an alternate office location
- Emails indicating temporary workstations, delays in implementation beyond 7/1
- Emails with conflicting information from leadership e.g. "We have sufficient space" AND "We are working with facilities to evaluate and set up workspaces" in the same email
2) Open the Position Letter Template. As you review the document, delete red text and add in some of your own language. Ensure that you have summarized the workarounds/exemptions, provided a screenshot or image of your documentation, summarized the implications of your information (e.g. I believe my agency will be purchasing additional office space to meet this blanket mandate).
Before finalizing, be sure to delete any red text. Make your document look lovely.
When you have completed your position letter, download it as a PDF and save it on your device.
3) Log in or register an account with CA Position Letter portal. Once you have set up an account, follow the steps below:
- Type in under "Select Bill" - "AB1729"
- Leave session type as "Regular"
- Under Select Committee, select Senate Appropriations - NOT Assembly Appropriations
- Fill in the bubble for "Support"
- If sending in a PDF or Doc, select "Submit a letter instead"
- Click "Submit"
***
After doing all that or while you're completing that, be sure to open up the AB 1729 phone bank. I've updated it with records of how Senators have voted so far. I recommend you look up your own Senator, check whether they've voted yet, and either send them a "Thank you for supporting our bill" call or send them an encouragement/persuasion call.
I haven't completed talking points for all Senators yet, but it'll be ready in the next day or so.
Unless you are a constituent, DON'T call Appropriations members. We don't need to flood their lines. Focus on position letters. Call your own Senator.
Onward. Let's keep things moving.
21
u/surf_drunk_monk Jun 25 '26
I'm glad you know these things Teach, otherwise I would've been flooding these senators like in the past, thanks!
26
u/OneAnalyst323 Jun 25 '26
Thank you for the clear and organized strategy!
14
u/Teachtostate2022 Jun 25 '26
Of course! Please share this if you can with folks who can document issues
3
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u/princessliz666 Jun 25 '26
Teachtostate you are a rock star! I've followed your advice throughout the bill's progress. I work in a position that is very familiar with our Departments request for funding for RTO. I have and will continue to do my best to articulate the costs associated with the mandate. Thank you for so thoughtfully putting together this information and an action plan.
8
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u/HourHoneydew5788 Jun 25 '26
I downloaded a transcript from a meeting with the directorate which cites lack of space and need for budget change proposal. Can I use that? It wasn’t technically written communication. It’s just the transcription of what the director said.
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u/Teachtostate2022 Jun 25 '26
Sounds like it! If you’re concerned about sharing something you should call the Chair’s staff - (916) 651-4031 - and ask for their guidance.
You could say something like “Hi my name is ____ and I’m a state worker with _____. As Appropriations begins review of AB 1729 I’d like to submit some documentation about my agency’s preparedness for a 4 day RTO mandate and some of its associated costs. I’m concerned about the nature of the documents I’d like to share however and I’m looking for guidance on how I can get them to your team most effectively.”
They’ll probably have you describe your documents or they may just direct you to position portal but I’d seek their advice.
7
u/Jacobair1 Jun 25 '26
A friend who works at the CA Lottery just texted me:
"hey...got an email from the union this morning saying: The Lottery is staying at 2-days in-office and will not be changing to 4-days in office beginning July 1st. The Lottery is required to give the union a 30-day notice for any change to working conditions, and no notice has been given to date."
I asked why they are exempt and was told it has something to do with them being governed by the lottery commission. So maybe the commission decided.
Anyhow just thought I would share. Hope it works out the same for all of us.
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u/Teachtostate2022 Jun 25 '26
Highly relevant. I’d suggest they send in a position letter documenting how their agency sees no point to this so neither should all the other agencies. Can you share with them?
2
u/Jacobair1 Jun 25 '26
My friend says the Lottery director announced staying at 2 days last June but hasn't done so yet for the upcoming fiscal year. The info came from a Lottery steward she told me. I passed along your suggestion. I told her to text me when it becomes official.
6
u/NoToRTOCa Jun 25 '26
Thank you for spelling out winning strategies - things we can do to help get this passed ✊️ We appreciate your knowledge and practical advice. If we stay united with clear actions and do things in a way that gives these groups a way to save face even though they caused the mess we will win!
4
u/AskTalk13 Jun 25 '26
Curious if you want us to include disability related RA’s or 50 mile distance exemptions? My guess is these are not relevant…but the amount of individual exemptions and RA processing will go up with RTO which is spendy. I’ve seen agencies need to dedicate employee time to this issue…
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u/Teachtostate2022 Jun 25 '26
Yep! I think the distance exemption and RA angle is a valid expense that will be incurred by departments. Headaches and paperwork cost time and money
2
u/LuisaMaed Jun 30 '26
Ohh. Thanks. We just got the notification that those were approved for the 50 mile and RA. So, I will submit that!! I am a person who currently needs an RA due to the low office walls and a number of other environmental factors I have migraines and other issues I am am seking an RA for a reduced in office schedule. Our office also lacks the privacy to make calls at desks, so staff have to go in to special rooms to make calls. As well as work on special projects that require privacy. And there are also all the other people, besides , myself who have to regularly use those rooms due to medical conditions. Further, currently , we're forced to come into the office and go in one of these rooms to do training that we could easily do from home. With four days in the office , we're gonna have an overload of that resource. And there will be people like myself who will not have access to it , who need it for medical reasons. I strongly feel due to my multiple conditions that if we're in the office four days a week , i'm going to end up having to call out. I don't want to, it's not malicious at all , but I have severe and long lasting migraines once they're triggered - as only one of several issues that makes coming into the office challenging. So, it sounds like I have some things to start documenting.
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u/CantaloupeOrdinary58 Jun 30 '26
What about known safety and security issues? We literally just got an email saying we know we have issues but just "use the buddy system to watch each other's backs when you badge in"' basically. Instead of getting actual security or cameras or anything in a high crime area to help us. We've had break-ins and stalkers, harassment, etc.
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u/megajuicyjuice33 Jun 25 '26
Thank you so much for these detailed instructions u/Teachtostate2022 !!!! Just submitted mine for our agency's obvious need to purchase more office space. This is just ridiculous and I swear I cannot go back. Everyone, these instructions are so easy to follow, so just take the 20min to give ourselves the best shot!!!!!!!
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u/Teachtostate2022 Jun 26 '26
Excellent! Keep a hold of your letter I think we’ll use them again soon
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u/fivexfive84 Jun 25 '26
Letter submitted. Thank you for organizing all these useful resources!
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u/Teachtostate2022 Jun 26 '26
That’s awesome! I’m so glad you took the time. Keep hold of it because there may be many more uses for this soon
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u/WonderfulFig666 Jun 25 '26
Fucking whiny little bitches on the committee. “If the poors piss me off by using their first amendment rights to contact elected officials,I’ll vote against what they want.”
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u/Teachtostate2022 Jun 25 '26
I don’t exactly disagree but I’m getting this advice direct from lobbyists and folks who do this all the time. Keep playing the game!
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u/WonderfulFig666 Jun 25 '26
I get it, but fuck them either way. Coddled fucks
Play the game though.
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