House bill, labor contracts on tap for supes

County Supervisors are considering whether they’ll ask Rep. Devin Nunes to cosponsor a bill that would provide a federal offset for state and local agencies to recover outstanding restitution ordered to crime victims.

The bill, introduced in April 2009 by Rep. Erik Paulsen of Minnesota, is being reviewed by the House Committee on Ways and Means. If it made its way to the floor and were ultimately approved, the Crime Victim Restitution and Court Fee Intercept Act would amend the Internal Revenue Code to require offenders who have left the state to pay delinquent penalty debt from any federal tax refund or credit.

“The passage of the Act would help ensure that offenders are held accountable for their actions, while helping to fund programs such as victim compensation programs, DNA collection and identification programs, probation prevention and supervision programs without an increase in taxes or federal deficits,” the County Administrative Office writes in its request to the Board of Supervisors to seek cosponsorship from Nunes. “The State of California has a similar provision that has been successful for offenders residing in the state.”
The Board will make its decision Tuesday morning during its regularly scheduled meeting in Visalia, when it will also vote on labor contracts with seven unions, including the Tulare County Deputy Sheriff’s Association. All the contracts have been ratified by members and await final approval from the Board before they take effect.

Among the primary terms of the agreement struck with the approximately 460 sheriff’s deputies, are the elimination of time and a half for hours worked between 40 and 43 in a one week period, a 16 hour reduction in vacation accrual, a suspension in uniform allowances and a suspension in sick leave buy back benefits.

“The terms and conditions of this agreement result in financial give backs and/or reduced value equivalent to the County’s original proposal for a furlough, pay reduction, freezing of merit increases and suspension of sick leave buy back program,” Human Resource Director Tim Huntley wrote in a letter to the Board. “The suspension of the uniform allowance is equal to approximately 1.1 percent of salary for the deputies. Surrendering 16 hours of vacation together with the suspension of the uniform allowance results in the equivalent of a 1.92 percent pay reduction for the deputies.”

The other unions, such as those representing probation and correction officers, welfare investigators and district attorney investigators,  have agreed to the same terms the Board struck with non-union employees last month, including, a suspension in benefits and 40 hours in furloughs equal to a 1.9 percent pay cut.

The Board of Supervisors meets at 9 a.m. in the County Administration Building, 2800 W. Burrel Ave., Visalia.

The entire meeting agenda is available online at http://bosagendas.co.tulare.ca.us/.
The meeting will also be broadcast live at http://www.co.tulare.ca.us/government/board/default.asp.

Contact Jenna Chandler at 784-5000, Ext. 1050, or jchandler@portervillerecorder.com.