The emergency medical services will see reforms and the creation of a statewide EMT registry, thanks to CPF-sponsored landmark legislation, which was signed this week by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
While the 2007-2008 Legislative Session was a huge success, CPF is now turning with new urgency to the 2009-2010 Legislative Session. To this end, the CPF Executive Board unanimously approved an ambitious legislative agenda for the upcoming session, which began this week.
The votes were finally counted on Monday, and Barack Obama has won California by a vote of 55 to 0. And the man doing the counting was a familiar face to California's first responders. Participating in a ritual dating to the founding of the Republic, California's Electoral College was convened December 15th at the State Capitol in Sacramento. CPF President Lou Paulson was chosen by Senator Barbara Boxer to serve as one of the 55 electors.
Although lawmakers continue to argue over how to resolve the state's fiscal crisis, both parties appear to be willing to reduce funding for public schools, colleges, transit programs and programs that help a wide range of people with special needs.
CalPERS is getting a new chief investment officer, but don't expect any immediate wholesale changes in how the big pension fund invests its money. Joseph Dear, the newly appointed chief investment officer at CalPERS, says this isn't the time to panic. (SacBee registration may be required.)