2023 Sep 11 Request for Veto AB 1020 County Employees Retirement Law of 1937: disability retirement: medical conditions: employment-related presumption

September 11, 2023

The Honorable Governor Gavin Newsom
1021 O Street, Suite 9000
Sacramento, California 95814

Re: AB 1020 (Grayson) County Employees Retirement Law of 1937: disability retirement: medical conditions: employment-related presumption – REQUEST FOR VETO

Dear Governor Newsom,

On behalf of the Marin County Board of Supervisors, I respectfully request your veto on AB 1020 (Grayson), which would expand the scope of medical conditions and employment-related presumptions for disability retirement for firefighters and members in active law enforcement that arise out of and in the course of employment for counties governed by the County Employees Retirement Law of 1937.

Marin County wholly recognizes the critical importance and distinguished service firefighters and law enforcement members provide to its communities. This includes work in some of the most difficult circumstances imaginable, and Marin County concurs that some of the injuries related to their work warrant access to the workers’ compensation system. However, Marin County agrees with CSAC that AB 1020 is unnecessary, as current policies and processes provide public safety employees with fair access to workers’ compensation benefits and disability retirement.

AB 1020 would represent a significant expansion of applicable medical conditions eligible for presumption and add considerable new and long-term costs for local government employers still recovering from the losses of the Great Recession and COVID-19 pandemic emergency.

For these reasons, Marin County respectfully urges your veto of AB 1020.

Sincerely,

Stephanie Moulton-Peters, President
Marin County Board of Supervisors

Cc: State Senator Mike McGuire
Assembly Member Damon Connolly
Marin County Board of Supervisors