State of California

          M E M O R A N D U M

          REFERENCE CODE:       95-026

          DATE:      May 11, 1995

          TO:        PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT LIAISONS

                      THIS MEMORANDUM SHOULD BE DISTRIBUTED TO:

                      Personnel Officers
                      Employment Relations Officers


          FROM:      Department of Personnel Administration
                      Office of the Director

          SUBJECT:         Family School Partnership Act


          CONTACT:         Bruce N. Crain
                            (916) 324-0530, CALNET 454-0530
                            OfficeVision:  DPA(BNCRAIN)
                            INTERNET:  BNCRAIN@SMTP.DPA.CA.GOV



          The Governor has signed Assembly Bill 2590 (Chapter 1290, 1994), 
          effective in calendar year 1995.  This bill amends Labor Code 
          Section 230.8 to allow eligible State civil service and related 
          employees to use up to 40 hours of vacation, annual leave, 
          personal leave, or compensating time off to participate in school 
          activities of any of their children attending kindergarten or 
          grades 1 to 12.  Eligible employees include a parent, guardian, or 
          grandparent having custody of the child.  If both parents are 
          employed at the same worksite, only one must be allowed to attend.

          The employee, prior to taking the time off, must give reasonable 
          notice to the employer of the planned absence.  Time off may not 
          exceed eight hours in any calendar month of the school year.  The 
          employee shall use existing vacation, annual leave, personal 
          leave, or compensating time off unless otherwise provided in a 
          collective bargaining agreement entered into before 
          January 1, 1995 and still in effect during the planned absence.  
          Unpaid leave may only be used with the consent of the employer.  

          All current State collective bargaining agreements provide that 
          the appointing authority has the discretion to determine when 
          annual leave, vacation, personal leave, and compensating time off 
          may be taken.  Any dispute resulting from the denial of leave to a 
          represented employee is subject to the grievance and arbitration 
          process specified in the appropriate Memorandum of Understanding.  












          A dispute of an excluded employee should be directed to the 
          Department of Industrial Relations.  

          The employee, if requested by the employer, shall provide written 
          documentation from the school to verify he or she participated in 
          the school activity on the specified date and time.  

          The Department of Industrial Relations is charged with 
          administering the provisions of the Labor Code and questions 
          relating to the administration of this statute should be directed 
          to their staff in the local Division of Labor Standards 
          Enforcement.  However, questions concerning collective bargaining 
          agreements covering State employees should be directed to the 
          Department of Personnel Administration's Labor Relations Division 
          at (916) 324-0476, CALNET 454-0476.  




          Lillian Rowett
          Chief Deputy Director