Originally published by EDSOURCE on Monday September 23, 2024 1:37 pm
Gov. Gavin Newsom has again vetoed a bill designed to increase the allowable workloads of adjunct community college instructors, citing potential cost increases.
The legislation, AB 2277 by Assemblymember Greg Wallis, R-Palm Springs, would have raised the possible workload of adjuncts to as much as 85% of full-time faculty if local community college district trustees agreed to do so in contract negotiations, including teaching, preparation time, meetings and office hours for students.
“This bill continues to create unknown, but potentially significant costs or cost pressures in the millions to tens of millions of dollars,” Newsom said in a veto message. The governor has twice vetoed similar bills, citing concerns that higher teaching loads could trigger some adjuncts to receive health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, burdening college districts with additional costs. AB 2277 had passed the Assembly 75-1 and The Senate 40-0.
Its sponsor, the California Part-Time Faculty Association, has repeatedly claimed the increase in workload would not trigger mandatory health coverage.
“It seems that the governor, again, got the wrong interpretation on how raising the 85% proposed cap would work,” John Martin, the association’s chair, said in an email Monday. Either Newsom (was) given wrong information – again – by his handlers or he just doesn’t care.”
In his message Monday to lawmakers, Newsom said, “In 2021, I vetoed a bill substantially similar to this proposal. I acknowledged the enormous role that part-time community college faculty play across the system. I also conveyed that the proposal had significant ongoing cost pressures that are better addressed as part of the budget process.”
“It is important to remain disciplined when considering bills with significant fiscal implications that are not included in the budget, such as this measure. For these reasons, I cannot sign this bill,” he said.
I have taught as an Adjunct 13 years at a couple of community colleges in southern california.I have a Master’s in Linguistics. I’ve had excellent evaluations. I am bilingual in Spanish/English.I am overqualified. Why aren’t there full-time jobs with benefits at the community college where I teach?