HomeMy WebLinkAboutAB 1373 LTR to Perez 20130808kollel"U'o.
� t Y o. cit o s� is oBispo OFFICE OF THE CITY COUNCIL
4 / g O 990 Palm Street ■ San Luis Obispo, CA 93401-3249 ■ 805/781-7119
August 8, 2013
VIA FACSIMILE ONLY (916) 319-2153
The Honorable John A. Pdrez
Speaker, California State Assembly
State Capitol Building, Room 219
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: AB 1373 Workers' Compensation. Public Safety Officers
NOTICE OF OPPOSITION
Dear Speaker Pdrez,
The City of San Luis Obispo is opposed to your AB 1373, which is essentially a
reintroduction of AB 2451 (Pdrez) of 2012. This measure extends the statute of limitations
from 240 weeks to 480 week for a presumptive death benefit claim for cancer, tuberculosis, or
MRSA to be filed on behalf of a firefighter or peace officer.
Our City firefighters and peace officers perform exceptionally, often at risk to their own
lives and health. We agree with Governor Brown's observation in his veto message of last
year's AB 2451 that "what is needed is rational, thoughtful consideration of balancing the
serious fiscal constraints faced at all levels of government against our shared priority to
adequately and fairly compensate the families of those public safety heroes who succumb to
work -related injuries and disease." He also suggested that more research and study was needed
to make an informed policy decision.
More research and study would certainly inform public policy on this issue. However,
we are not aware of any complete studies that have been conducted since the last legislative
session. We hope that further study with firefighter specific data will be concluded before taking
action on such a serious issue. Decisions that seriously impact local fiscal sustainability should
not be imposed on cities without careful study that demonstrates the need for the remedy. At this
time, the City of San Luis Obispo opposes AB 1373.
Sincerely,
b n Marx
Mayor
cc: Senator Bill Morning, fax 916-445-8081
Assembly Member Katcho Achadjian, fax 916-319-2135
City Council
City Manager
David Lanier, Chief Deputy Legislative Secretary, Governor's Office, fax 916-558-3177
David Mullinax, League of California Cities, dmullinaxCacacities.org
Natasha Karl, League of California Cities, nkarlcacacities.org
Meg Desmond, League of California Cities, mdesmondgcacities.org