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Written by: STATE CONTROLLER’S OFFICE

Published: 10 July 2023

SACRAMENTO – The state’s net liability for retiree health and dental benefits is now $82.41 billion, according to a report published Monday by State Controller Malia M. Cohen.

The liability represents the present-day cost to provide health and dental benefits to state retirees and their dependents earned as of June 30, 2022 — one of the state’s largest long-term liabilities.

A year earlier, the state’s net liability for retiree health care, commonly known as Other Postemployment Benefits, or OPEB, was $95.51 billion.

California’s net OPEB liability decreased since the last valuation, decreasing by $13.10 billion.

By contrast, the net OPEB liability increased by $0.32 billion from the end of FY 2019-20 to the end of FY 2020-21 and by $3.26 billion from the end of FY 2018-19 to the end of FY 2019-20.

Demographic experience and changes to the discount rate had the most impact to the total OPEB liability.

CalPERS PPO health plans were consolidated from the PERS Choice, PERS Select, and PERSCare plans to the PERS Platinum and PERS Gold plans.

Demographic experience losses, mainly due to more plan members selecting the more expensive PERS Platinum plan, caused the total OPEB liability to increase by $3.46 billion.

The blended discount rate was significantly impacted by the increase in the 20-year municipal bond index which changed from 1.92% in fiscal year 2021 to 3.69% in fiscal year 2022.

The impact of the blended discount rate led to a decrease of $21.50 billion in the Total OPEB Liability.

“While the volatility of the blended discount rate created a favorable swing in net liability this year, rising healthcare costs remain a concern,” said Controller Cohen, the state’s chief fiscal officer and board member of CalPERS and CalSTRS. “We will continue to develop effective strategies to curb future costs and keep California on track for full funding by 2046.”

In January 2010, California began entering into collective bargaining agreements to prefund retiree health care benefits. Prior to this, California covered retiree health care benefits strictly as costs came due.

With all but California State University now contributing to the California Employer’s Retiree Benefit Trust, or CERBT, analysts expect to see acceleration of the funded rate.

The state has set a policy goal of full funding by 2046. CERBT funds cannot be used to pay OPEB benefits until the state has fully funded the legacy liability, or 2046, whichever comes first.

As the chief fiscal officer of California, Controller Cohen is responsible for accountability and disbursement of the state’s financial resources. The controller has independent auditing authority over government agencies that spend state funds.

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Written by: CALTRANS ‌‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌

Published: 08 July 2023

NORTH‌‌ ‌‌COAST, ‌‌ ‌‌Calif. — Caltrans‌‌ ‌‌reports‌‌ ‌‌that‌‌ ‌‌the‌‌ ‌‌following‌‌ ‌‌road‌‌ ‌‌projects‌‌ ‌‌will‌‌ ‌‌be‌‌ ‌‌taking‌‌ ‌‌place‌‌ ‌‌‌around‌‌ ‌‌the‌‌ ‌‌North‌‌ ‌‌Coast‌‌ ‌‌during‌‌ ‌‌the‌‌ ‌‌coming‌‌ ‌‌week. ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌
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Included‌‌ ‌‌are‌‌ ‌‌Mendocino‌‌ ‌‌County‌‌ ‌‌projects‌‌ ‌‌that‌‌ ‌‌may‌‌ ‌‌impact‌‌ ‌‌Lake‌‌ ‌‌County‌‌ ‌‌commuters, as well as work in Del Norte and Humboldt counties.
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Caltrans‌‌ ‌‌advises‌‌ ‌‌motorists‌‌ ‌‌to‌‌ ‌‌drive‌‌ ‌‌with‌‌ ‌‌caution‌‌ ‌‌when‌‌ ‌‌approaching‌‌ ‌‌work‌‌ ‌‌areas‌‌ ‌‌and‌‌ ‌‌to‌‌ ‌‌be‌‌ ‌‌‌prepared‌‌ ‌‌to‌‌ ‌‌stop‌‌ ‌‌at‌‌ ‌‌traffic‌‌ ‌‌control‌‌ ‌‌stations. ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌
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The‌‌ ‌‌Caltrans‌‌ ‌‌Traffic‌‌ ‌‌Operations‌‌ ‌‌Office‌‌ ‌‌has‌‌ ‌‌reviewed‌‌ ‌‌each‌‌ ‌‌project‌‌ ‌‌and‌‌ ‌‌determined‌‌ ‌‌that‌‌ ‌‌individual‌‌ ‌‌‌project‌‌ ‌‌delays‌‌ ‌‌are‌‌ ‌‌expected‌‌ ‌‌to‌‌ ‌‌be‌‌ ‌‌less‌‌ ‌‌than‌‌ ‌‌the‌‌ ‌‌statewide‌‌ ‌‌policy‌‌ ‌‌maximum‌‌ ‌‌of‌‌ ‌‌30‌‌ ‌‌minutes‌‌ ‌‌unless‌‌ ‌‌‌noted‌‌ ‌‌otherwise. ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌

For‌‌ ‌‌updates‌‌ ‌‌to‌‌ ‌‌this‌‌ ‌‌list‌‌ ‌‌check‌‌ ‌‌QuickMap‌‌ ‌‌at‌‌ ‌‌‌www.dot.ca.gov‌‌‌ or‌‌ ‌‌1-800-GAS-ROAD‌‌ ‌‌‌(1-800-427-7623). ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌

LAKE COUNTY

Highway 29

— Road work east of Kelseyville will occur from Route 281 to Private Drive on Friday, July 7. Lane closures will be in effect and motorists should anticipate up to 15-minute delays. LC#C29FA

Highway 175

— Culvert work in Kelseyville near Route 29 will begin on Monday, July 10. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Motorists should expect up to five-minute delays. LC#C175AA

— Culvert work in Kelseyville from Mathews Road to north of Route 29 will begin on Tuesday, July 11. Lane closures will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Motorists should expect up to 5-minute delays. LC#C175AA

— Tree work west of Diener Road continues. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Motorists should anticipate up to 10-minute delays. LC#C175KA

— Bridge work in Cobb at Bottle Rock Road will begin on Monday, July 10. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should expect up to five-minute delays. LC#C175RA

— Utility work in Cobb from Bottle Rock Road to Road 10 will occur on Tuesday, July 11. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Motorists should expect up to five-minute delays. LC#C175AA

— Guardrail work south of Cobb at Private Road continues. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Motorists should expect up to 10-minute delays. LC#C175JA

— Paving work at Neft Road continues. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Motorists should expect up to 10-minute delays. LC#C175JA

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

— Bridge work in Fort Bragg from Manzanita Street to Pudding Creek Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect and motorists from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. can expect up to 20-minute delays Monday through Friday and 30-minute delays are anticipated on the weekends. LC#C1OB

— Emergency work at Hales Grove will occur on Tuesday, July 11. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Motorists can expect up to five-minute delays. LC#P1AA

Highway 20

— Paving work near Road 10 will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Motorists should expect up to 10-minute delays. LC#C20IB

— Tree work west of Three Chop Road continues. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Motorists should expect up to five-minute delays. LC#C20BA

Highway 101

— Road work from Comminsky Station Road to the Pieta Creek Bridge will begin on Friday, June 23. Lane closures will be in effect from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and motorists should expect minor slowdowns. LC#C101KC

— Road work in Ukiah at Route 253 will occur on Tuesday, July 11, and Wednesday, July 12. A full off ramp closure will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Motorists can expect up to five-minute delays. LC#M101G

— Emergency work in Willits from Water Plant Road to the East Hill Undercrossing continues. Lane closures will be in effect and motorists should expect minor slowdowns in the area. LC#C101ND

— Tree work north of Laytonville near Spyrock Road will occur on Tuesday, July 11. One-way traffic control will be in effect and motorists should expect up to five-minute delays. LC#C101GA

— Culvert work in Piercy north of Exit 627 continues. Lane closures will be in effect from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Motorists should expect up to 10-minute delays. LC#C101ED

— Bridge work from the Lowell Allen Memorial Bridge to Route 271 continues. Lane closures will be in effect and motorists can expect minor slowdowns in the area. LC#C101JD

— Emergency work between Piercy and Benbow near Milkyway Loop Road continues. One-way traffic control is in effect and motorists should expect up to five-minute delays. LC#T101IA

Highway 162

— Road work south of Dos Rios near the Rodeo Creek Bridge continues. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 3 p.m. to 7 a.m. weeknights. Motorists should expect up to 10-minute delays. LC#C162GA

Highway 271

— Culvert work in Piercy from south of Bear Pen Road to north of County Road 442B continues. A full lane closure is in effect from 7:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and motorists should expect up to five-minute delays. LC#C271EA

— Road work in Piercy continues. A full lane closure is in effect from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Motorists should use an alternative route. LC#C271IA

DEL NORTE COUNTY

Highway 101

— Bridge work between Peine Road and Old Hunter Creek Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate up to 10-minute delays. LC#C101KB

— Construction in the Last Chance Grade area will continue. Additional emergency storm clean up work is also in progress. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate a total of up to 30-minute delays. LC#C101ID, and C101OC

— Emergency work south of Crescent City from Enderts Beach Road to Humboldt Road will continue. Southbound lane closures will be in effect and motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns. LC#M101AA

HUMBOLDT COUNTY

Highway 36

— Slipout repair near Burr Valley Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. LC#C36DA

Highway 96

— Construction work near Bluff Creek Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. LC#C96LA

— Bridge work at Aiken Creek Bridge and Bluff Creek Bridge will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. LC#C96KA

Highway 101

— Drainage work south of Myers Flat will continue. Lane closures will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns. LC#C101OD

— Bridge work at Myers Flat Bridge continues. Lane closures will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. In addition, full on and off ramp closures will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns. LC#C101ZC

— Utility work at Orchard Street and King Salmon Undercrossing will occur Monday, July 10, through Wednesday, July 12. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns. LC#C101ZB

— Various improvements between Herrick Avenue and 5th Street will continue. Lane closures will be in effect from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Motorists should expect minor traffic slowdowns. LC#P101HA and C101HD

— Construction work from Cole Avenue to Jacobs Avenue will continue. Lane closures will be in effect from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns. LC#C101FD

— Striping from the 101/200 junction in McKinleyville to the Big Lagoon area will continue. Lane closures will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should expect 10-minute delays. LC#C101CA

Highway 169

— Bridge work at Rube Creek Bridge will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns. LC#C169AA

— Drainage and paving work north of Weitchpec continues. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. LC#C169BA

Highway 254

— Construction work along Avenue of the Giants will conclude on Friday, July 7. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays. LC#C254IA

— Bridge work between State Park Road and Fish Creek Road will continue. A full closure of this portion of highway will be in effect. Motorists should choose an alternate route. LC#C254CA

— Road work north of Fish Creek Road continues. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should expect up to 5-minute delays. LC#C254D

Highway 299

— Falsework installation at Route 200 will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns. LC#C299CA

— Drainage work from Route 200 to Blue Lake Undercrossing will continue. Lane closures will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic delays. LC#C299QA

— Full on and off ramp closures at Blue Lake Undercrossing will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Motorists should choose an alternate route. LC#C299QA

— Drainage work from North Fork Mad River to Simpson Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. LC#C299QA

— Paving work from Redwood Creek Bridge to Cedar Creek Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Motorists should anticipate up to 10-minute delays. LC#C299BA

— Construction work near East Fork Campground will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. LC#C299LA

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Written by: Elizabeth Larson

Published: 07 July 2023

Pursuant to Assembly Bill 3121 (AB 3121), the California Task Force to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans has released its final report and recommendations for redressing the historical atrocities perpetrated against African Americans in California.

The Reparations Task Force, the first initiative of its kind by a state government, spent the past two years documenting how enslavement and its enduring legacy of systemic racism cemented structural inequality and recommended many methods for repairing the resulting harm.

The final report can be accessed here.

The Reparations Task Force’s final report identifies methodologies for calculating reparations payments to the community of eligibility — descendants of a chattel enslaved person, or descendants of a free Black person living in the United States prior to the end of the 19th century.

It recommends to the Legislature, for its adoption, numerous policy changes directed at redressing each and every aspect of the atrocities perpetrated against African Americans, as well as, a formal apology, and a standard curriculum to help make the history of African Americans as well as the Task Force's findings and recommendations, accessible to people of all ages.

Other components of the report include a survey on the implementation of the California Racial Justice Act, a detailed compendium of state and federal laws and cases impacting the rights of African Americans, and a robust community engagement process undertaken at the direction of the Task Force.

“For California to be a leader in the movement for true reparatory justice for African Americans, we must start with accountability. Our nation has for too long overlooked the atrocities visited upon African Americans or consigned them to vestiges of the past,” said Attorney General Bonta. “This final report decisively establishes that now is the time for California to acknowledge the state's role in perpetuating these harms, and ensure that through a comprehensive approach to reparations, we commit ourselves to the healing and restoration of our African American residents.”

Enacted on Sept. 30, 2020, AB 3121 tasked the Reparations Task Force with studying the institution of slavery in the United States — including the keeping of enslaved persons and enforcement of “Fugitive Slave Acts” in California — and how those actions and structures put in place during the enslavement period and thereafter resulted in a system that relentlessly subjugated African Americans.

The report traces this through California’s history into the present and both details the ongoing adverse impacts on living African Americans and presents numerous ideas for policy changes designed to begin the process of repair, with special attention to addressing the specific injuries to descendants of individuals enslaved in the United States.

The final report consolidates months of hearings, expert testimony, public comments, witness statements, and an array of records and materials submitted to the task force.

The report is organized as follows:

• Part I details the history of how, 158 years after the abolition of slavery, its badges and incidents remain embedded in the political, legal, health, financial, educational, cultural, environmental, social, and economic systems of California and the United States.
• Part II discusses the international framework for reparations as established by the United Nations, which requires compensation, restitution, rehabilitation, satisfaction, and guarantees of non-repetition.
• Part III offers recommendations as to how the State of California should apologize for the state’s perpetration of gross human rights violations against Africans who were enslaved and their descendants.
• Part IV sets forth methods for calculating some aspects of monetary reparations to address: (a) health disparities, (b) disproportionate African American mass incarceration and over-policing, (c) housing discrimination, (d) devaluation of African American businesses; (e) unjust property takings by eminent domain; and (f) labor discrimination.
• Part V delineates a broad set of more than 115 recommendations to the Legislature for critically needed law and policy reforms to address and redress the harms set forth in Part I and support the other recommendations in the Report.
• Part VI discusses the results of the DOJ’s survey regarding the implementation of the California Racial Justice Act, which could offer a potentially powerful tool for rooting out and addressing bias in the criminal justice system, including charging decisions, convictions, and sentencing.
• Part VII includes a report commissioned by the Task Force intended to give the community voice in the conversation concerning reparations, including through listening sessions, collection of personal testimonies and oral histories, and a statewide survey.
• Part VIII sets forth the Task Force’s recommendation that the Legislature adopt a standard curriculum centered on the Task Force’s findings and recommendations and that the Legislature fund the development and implementation of age-appropriate curricula across all grade levels.
• Part IX contains a compendium of state and federal laws and cases that demonstrate that from the birth of the nation forward, federal and state constitutional provisions, statutes, and court decisions have sanctioned, enabled, and institutionalized discrimination, on the part of government and private actors, against African Americans.

For additional information about the Reparations Task Force's work, visit www.oag.ca.gov/ab3121.