Senate Bill that will End Furloughs Awaiting Approval

Employment Law - State News February 18, 2010

Washington - A Senate-approved bill that would end the monthly furloughs and would benefit about 80,000 state employees awaits Governor Schwarzenegger’s approval.

The bill written by Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) will end the three-day furloughs that employees are forced to take each month.

The furloughs were instituted by Schwarzenegger a year earlier in order to aid the growing budget deficit and was initially said to take effect until June 30.

State employees who will be exempted from the mandated furloughs are those working for state departments that are at least 95 percent funded by generated fees, taxes, and the federal government. These departments include the Employment Development Department, Department of Motor Vehicles, and the Franchise Tax Board.