Amid a Los Angeles Times investigation showing an increasing number of police and fire employees taking advantage of the city’s injury leave program, Gov. Jerry Brown has vetoed two bill that would have expanded those local programs.
Under current law, emergency responders are entitled to full salary, tax-free while they are on injury leave. That means workers are actually taking home more money for not working. Many have complained the program is ripe for abuse, and creates a disincentive to show up for work.
The increased number of leaves in Los Angeles has forced the Fire Department to spend millions of dollars a year in overtime and reduced the number of police officers on the street, city officials told the LA Times.
“One of the bills rejected by Brown would have expanded a state listing of public safety workers whose ailments, including cancer, were presumed to be job-related. The other bill would have ensured police and firefighters could receive up to two years of regular, reduced workers' compensation benefits after they have exhausted full-pay injury leave benefits.”
The times even produced a handy-dandy video showing how the leave program works, and how it has been abused by some workers.