SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California Gov. Jerry Brown on Monday signed legislation to enact labor contracts for more than 50,000 prison guards, attorneys, engineers and other state workers that are expected to save more than $300 million a year.

Brown signed the bill just hours after it was approved by the state Assembly. The 54-17 vote Monday afternoon was the minimum needed for approval of SB151 and came despite objections from Republican lawmakers that the contracts should have saved even more money.

Supporters said the six contracts boosted the amount state workers pay toward their retirement benefits, and that any salary increases were meant to offset those higher contributions. The contracts contained "significant employee concessions that will immediately save the state millions of dollars" and continue to do so in future years, said Assemblyman Warren Furutani, D-Lakewood.

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