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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 07171990 - 1.35 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS `=� s"L Contra CostaFROM: •� ';• Phil Batchelor, County Administrator of County DATE: July 10, 1990 srgcooN� cT SUBJECT: LEGISLATION: AB 3236 (Tucker) SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATION: Indicate that the Board of Supervisors continues to SUPPORT AB 3236 by Assemblyman Tucker which would create the Employee Assistance Council of California, to promote and assist in the development of employee assistance programs which would return employees to effective job performance by helping these employees to resolve personal problems that affect their performance. BACKGROUND: On May 15, 1990 the Board of Supervisors voted to support AB 3236. On May 22, 1990 the Board of Supervisors voted to continue its support of the bill as amended April 16, 1990. On June 12, 1990 the Board of Supervisors voted to continue their support of the bill as it was amended May 2, 1990. On June 20, 1990 the bill was amended again. AB 3236 has been introduced by Assemblyman Tucker. As amended June 20, 1990, AB 3236 would create within the Department of Industrial Relations the Employee Assistance Council, the principal purpose of which would be to promote and assist in the development . of employee assistance programs which seek to facilitate the appropriate use of professional treatment and community-based services to help resolve personal problems impacting job performance so that employees may be returned to effective performance as promptly as possible. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: VPC YES SIGNATURE: f L A RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER /f SIGNATURE(S): ACTION OF BOARD ON July 17. 1990 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS ' j 1 HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE UNANIMOUS(ABSENT //L ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE 1 SHOWN. (� CC: ATTESTED JUL, ` PHIL BATCHELOR,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR Please see Page 3 . BY DEPUTY M382 (10/88) .r -2- The intent of the Legislature in creating the Council is spelled out as: * Establishing a working project for labor and management to cooperatively address worksite productivity issues associated with employees impaired by personal concerns, using the experiences and viewpoints of both groups to promote better worksite management and enhancement of employee productivity. * Creating a central information base for employee assistance programs that will assist in developing and dispersing information about the availability of employee assistance program services for all working Californians. * Promoting the use of employee assistance programs as a method of containing health care costs and promoting better labor-management relations. The Employee Assistance Council would consist of 11 members appointed by the Governor (sic) , as follows: * The Director of Industrial Relations, or his or her designee, who shall chair the Council. The Governor would appoint four members as follows: * One representing labor. * one representing management. * One member representing public employees. * One member representing public employers. The Speaker of the Assembly would appoint three members as follows: * one representing labor. * One representing management. * One representing the public. The Senate Rules Committee would appoint three members, as follows: * One representing labor.. * One representing management. * One representing the public. The bill lists desirable qualifications for members of the Council. The Council is authorized to apply for any and all federal funds to finance its activities. The Council would also be able to accept private gifts or gifts from other governmental agencies. The existence of the Council would be contingent upon the availability and receipt of federal funding, private support, or both. The role of the Council would be to promote and initiate efforts to establish employee assistance programs for troubled employees throughout the state. In order to fulfill this role, the Council would be authorized to do all of the following: * Assist labor and management representatives in developing written drug and alcohol policies, in creating new employee -3- orientation programs and in choosing health insurance providers who offer appropriate and cost-effective chemical dependency treatment programs. * Develop a resource network through which labor and management can be made aware of available experts and other resources for improving labor-management relationships. * Utilize existing case studies which identify examples of successful business operations in the state with excellent labor-management relations. * Demonstrate, through existing case studies, the financial incentives for investing in an employee assistance program. * Establish a center for gathering evaluation and performance data on employee assistance programs statewide. * Create an up to date resource base, objectively detailing the availability and quality of community resources for worksite referrals. * Utilize any other method or strategy in order to accomplish the purposes and goals of the council as set forth in this bill. The bill goes on to define a number of additional purposes and goals for the Council. Since the bill furthers the emphasis on employee assistance program services designed to assist employees with alcohol, drug and other personal problems which affect job performance it appears to be consistent with the Board of Supervisors ' concern and emphasis in this area. It is therefore recommended that the Board of Supervisors continue to indicate its support for AB 3236. AB 3236 passed the Assembly Labor and Employment Committee on April 4, 1990 by a vote of 8: 1. The bill passed the Assembly Ways & Means Committee May 8, 1990 by a vote of 13 : 8 and the full Assembly May 17, 1990 by a vote of 42:26. The bill is currently on referral to the Senate Industrial Relations Committee and Senate Rules Committee. The bill was scheduled to be heard in the Senate Industrial Relations Committee on June 27, 1990. cc: Assemblyman Curtis Tucker, Jr. County Administrator Health Services Director Drug Program Administrator Alcohol Program Administrator Director of Personnel Chair, Drug Abuse Advisory Board Chair,. Alcohol Advisory Board Les Spahnn, SRJ. Jackson, Barish & Associates Harry York, Concord Chamber of Commerce Steve Roberti, Central Labor Council Michael Radetsky, United Way (Concord)