Classified Workers in California’s Schools Get A Boost as Senator Cortese’s Legislation Is Passed By the Assembly PERS Committee
SACRAMENTO - California’s Classified School Employees including cafeteria workers, counselors, nurses, janitors and others in California’s public schools and community colleges are the focus of state Senator Dave Cortese’s Senate Bill 494 and Senate Joint Resolution 2 that were passed today by the Assembly Public Employment and Retirement Committee.
Both SB 494 and SJR 2 now move forward to the Assembly Higher Education Committee.
- Senate Bill 494 gives basic disciplinary due process and appeal rights now granted to teachers and community college faculty.
- Senate Joint Resolution 2 urges President Donald Trump and the Congress of the United States to approve federal legislation guaranteeing specified rights to classified workers that would, among other things, empower those workers to work in a stable, safe environment and receive livable and competitive wages, as provided.
“Classified employees are key to keeping our schools up and running and they deserve due process, rights to a hearing and the presentation of evidence including witness testimony, documents and other relevant materials. After the hearing and decision, the classified employee also should have the right to appeal the decision to a higher authority within the district,” said State Senator Dave Cortese (D-Silicon Valley) who earlier served on a San Jose school board.
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A classified employee discipline hearing is a formal process where a permanent classified employee in a school district or government agency is given the opportunity to defend themselves against disciplinary actions proposed by an employer. Those actions include potential suspension, demotion or termination with the right to present evidence and challenge the accusations before a designated employee.