President's Message
February 2008
SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS ACT
SEBA has joined forces with Senator George Runner in support of his legislation. This legislation deals directly with gangs, guns and street crimes. It will enhance public safety by providing sustainable law enforcement funding and target criminal street gangs, felons with guns, and drug dealers with focused penalties. It also increases public information and accountability as well as oversight of deterrence and rehabilitation programs.
There are provisions within the legislation that would prohibit the release of dangerous felons. It would require judicial hearing before a person charged with a serious felony may be released by way of own recognizance.
It authorizes the admission of sworn statements by witnesses to gang crimes, who either die or are unavailable to testify at the time of prosecution because of flight or intimidation.
There are sentencing enhancements that add 10 years to a dangerous felon for carrying a loaded or concealed firearm in a public place, 10-20-Life for offenders and accomplices when a firearm is used in the commission of certain felonies, streamlining of civil gang injunctions and the increase of penalties for multiple acts of graffiti.
This Act also stabilizes existing law enforcement funding for COPS, Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention and other critical law enforcement programs.
The Safe Neighborhoods Act is supported by many state associations including the California State Sheriff’s Association, California District Attorney’s Association, Chief Probation Officers’ of California and Peace Officers Research Association of California to name a few, and many individual Sheriffs and Chiefs of Police.
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS COMMISION
The report is complete with 34 recommendations to help resolve some of the issues surrounding post employment benefits and the funding for them. The report can be read in its completed form of 337 pages at www.pebc.ca.gov (open up “Final Report”).
It appears the Commission worked together to find areas of improvement and make recommendations that ensured benefits would not be cut, to ensure health care for retirees could continue, and to give the public sector a template of “best practices” to operate their systems.
Overall, the report is a positive step in helping resolve many issues surrounding the misconception about our retirement benefits earned after many years of service to the public.
RETIREMENT MEDICAL TRUST
Last month I was contacted by Tim Barrett, Executive Director/Chief Investment Officer, at the San Bernardino County Retirement Board. Mr. Barrett requested that I review language that had been drafted by him for the purpose of allowing the Retirement Board to operate as a Medical Retirement Trust. After reviewing the language, I suggested that Mr. Barrett and our Retirement Board Representative, Harry Hatch, address the full SEBA Board of Directors at the next Board meeting.
The presentation at the Board meeting was well received by the Board of Directors. The proposed language change would allow the Retirement Board to collect monies from members for the purpose of paying for qualified medical expenses after retirement. This would allow the Retirement Board to take over the investing of monies currently be contributed to our medical trust accounts.
There is still much work that needs to be done by the Retirement Board. I will keep everyone informed about this as information becomes available.
And as always, last but not least, ”Stay safe out there.”
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