13.10.1 Education and Training (Unit 1)

  1. It is the policy of the State to assure quality service to the public by developing the skills and abilities of State employees through training and education activities. These interests are served by having competent employees capable of maintaining productivity, able to adjust to changes in service requirements, and prepared to assume increased responsibilities.
  2. Each State department shall make available at the work site its training policies and, annually, its training course list. Each department shall provide to the Union a copy of its training courses.
  3. Working within budgetary and workload constraints, each State department, through its annual training plan process, will provide training in handling hostile and threatening behavior.
  4. Employees may request training courses. Training requests shall not be unreasonably denied and the reason for the denial shall be in writing to the employee.
  5. The parties agree that training on rape prevention, sexual harassment awareness, managing assaultive behavior and stress reduction are appropriate subjects for high priority consideration by the appropriate Joint Labor Management Health and Safety Committees.
  6. The State and the Union recognize that certain benefits accrue to the State and employees through participation in professional job related seminars, conferences and conventions. The State, working within the framework of budgetary and workload constraints, will support such activities.
  7. Training Categories/Definitions:
    1. Job-Required Training, including safety training, is designed to assure adequate performance in an employee's current assignment or classification and includes training necessary for newly assigned employees; refresher training for the maintenance of ongoing programs; and training mandated by law or other State authority.
    2. Job-Related Training is designed to increase an employee's job proficiency and includes training to improve job performance above the acceptable level of competency established for specific job assignment or classification, and training to prepare an employee for assuming increased responsibility.
    3. Career-Related Training is designed to assist an employee in the development of career potential and is intended to help provide an employee with an opportunity for self-development while also assisting in the achievement of the State's mission. This training does not have to be related to the employee's current classification or assignment.
    4. In-Service Training is sponsored, administered or contracted for, by the State for its employees. Such training includes courses or activities designed and administered by State departments individually or in joint agreement; offered by CalHR; designed or contracted exclusively for the State through private consultants or firms, regional training centers, accredited colleges or universities, or other non-State agencies.
    5. Out-Service Training is sponsored by a non-State agency and is open to the public as well as State employees.
    6. Training conferences are training activities conducted primarily for educational development purposes and not primarily for professional and social affiliation purposes. Training conferences may be a job-required, job related, or career related training activity.
  8. The State agrees to reimburse employees for expenses incurred as a result of passing training or education courses required by the department to assure adequate performance or increase current job proficiency. When such courses are offered during normal working hours, the employee shall receive the employee's regular salary. When such courses are taken outside of normal working hours, an employee in Work Week Group 2 shall be reimbursed in cash or the work hours may be adjusted on an hour-for-hour basis commensurate with the hours necessary to attend classroom instruction. The reimbursement will include:
    1. Tuition and/or registration fees.
    2. Cost of course-related books.
    3. Transportation or mileage expenses.
    4. Toll and parking fees.
    5. Lodging and subsistence expenses.

    An employee who does not satisfactorily complete a training or education course required by the department according to the department's predetermined standards shall not be eligible for reimbursement of tuition and other necessary expenses and shall agree to return any advance payment received.

  9. Reimbursement for the above expenses shall be in accordance with Article 12 of this Contract.
  10. When assigning or approving an employee for career-related out-service training, or job-related training, the department may establish policies regarding:
    1. Allocation of time with pay (including adjustments of work hours) for assignments during normal working hours, and
    2. Reimbursement for tuition and other necessary expenses.

    Except as established by the department, reimbursement should be for fifty percent (50%) and may be up to one hundred percent (100%) of costs incurred. Reimbursement for travel and per diem shall not be allowed for an assignment during non-working hours, except when the appointing power determines that such reimbursement is justified in order to avoid substantial inequity.

  11. The employee or the employee's estate shall receive reimbursement for tuition and other necessary expenses, if the training assignment is terminated prior to completion either: (1) at the convenience of the State, or (2) because of death, prolonged illness, disability, or other eventuality beyond the control of the employee.
  12. To the extent practicable and within available training resources, the department shall arrange for counseling, education, and training of employees as may be reasonably needed to prepare them for placement in other State civil service positions when the employee's positions have been and are about to be changed substantially or eliminated by automation, technological changes or other management initiated changes.
  13. Each department, upon request of an eligible employee as defined in the subsection concerning Class A and Class B Driver's Licenses, will make available any information prepared by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) covering the commercial driver's license examination.
  14. The State shall provide to all employees, two days per fiscal year (without loss of compensation) for activities such as, professional association activities, professional and/or personal development seminars, etc., to promote professional and/or personal growth and to enhance professional and/or personal goals. These activities are at the employees' expense and therefore the choice of activity is at the employee's discretion. This time shall be requested and approved in the same manner as vacation/annual leave. Such time shall not be accumulated.