State employees: Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority: employee relations.

The California Assembly Committee on Public Employment and Retirement proposes substantial changes to military service benefits for state employees while establishing new enforcement mechanisms for labor practice decisions at the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority. The legislation extends insurance premium reimbursement periods from 365 to 730 cumulative calendar days for state employees called to active military duty and repeals outdated provisions related to the Bosnia crisis.

Under the amended provisions, state employees serving in the California National Guard or U.S. military reserve organizations maintain eligibility for differential pay between their military compensation and state salary, along with continued state benefits during active duty periods. The bill coordinates these state benefits with federal income protection programs, requiring benefit reductions for employees eligible for federal support. For those who elect federal protection, the state provides insurance premium reimbursement for up to 730 days of service.

The legislation adds judicial review procedures for Public Employment Relations Board decisions regarding the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority. Parties may petition district courts of appeal for extraordinary relief within 30 days of final board decisions, while the board itself can seek enforcement through the courts after the petition period expires. The courts retain authority to grant temporary relief and enforce or modify board decisions without reviewing their underlying merits, though board findings of fact remain conclusive if supported by substantial evidence.