AB 161: State employment: state bargaining units.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

(1)Existing law provides that a provision of a memorandum of understanding reached between the state employer and a recognized employee organization representing state civil service employees that requires the expenditure of funds does not become effective unless approved by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act.

Existing law requires the Department of Human Resources to provide a memorandum of understanding to the Legislative Analyst, who then has 10 calendar days from the date the tentative agreement is received to issue a fiscal analysis to the Legislature. Existing law prohibits the memorandum of understanding from being subject to legislative determination until either the Legislative Analyst has presented a fiscal analysis of the memorandum of understanding or until 10 calendar days have elapsed since the memorandum was received by the Legislative Analyst.

This bill, notwithstanding the above-described statutory provisions, would approve provisions of the agreements entered into by the state employer and specified state bargaining units. The bill would provide that the provisions of the agreements that require the expenditure of funds will not take effect unless funds for these provisions are specifically appropriated by the Legislature. The bill would authorize the state employer or the bargaining units to reopen negotiations if funds for these provisions are not specifically appropriated by the Legislature. The bill would require the provisions of the agreement that require the expenditure of funds to become effective even if the provisions are approved by the Legislature in legislation other than the annual Budget Act. By approving provisions of the agreements that require the expenditure of funds, this bill would make an appropriation.

(2)Existing law, for the 2026–27 fiscal year, continuously appropriates to the Controller from the General Fund unallocated special funds, including federal funds and unallocated nongovernmental cost funds, and any other fund from which state employees are compensated, the amount necessary for the payment and compensation and employee benefits to state employees covered by specified memoranda of understanding if the Budget Act of 2026 is not enacted by July 1, 2026.

This bill would additionally include the memoranda of understanding for State Bargaining Unit 8 (effective July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2027, inclusive) and State Bargaining Unit 18 (effective July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2028, inclusive).

Existing law, for the 2027–28 fiscal year, continuously appropriates to the Controller from the General Fund unallocated special funds, including federal funds and unallocated nongovernmental cost funds, and any other fund from which state employees are compensated, the amount necessary for the payment and compensation and employee benefits to state employees covered by specified memoranda of understanding if the Budget Act of 2027 is not enacted by July 1, 2027.

Sponsors

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. September 13, 2025Ordered to inactive file at the request of Senator Grayson.
2. September 11, 2025Senate Rule 29.4 suspended. (Ayes 30. Noes 10. Page 2935.)
3. September 11, 2025Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
4. September 10, 2025From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (September 10).
5. September 8, 2025Senate Rule 29.3(b) suspended. (Ayes 28. Noes 8. Page 2568.)
6. September 8, 2025From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on B. & F. R.
7. April 2, 2025Referred to Com. on B. & F. R.
8. March 20, 2025In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
9. March 20, 2025Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 53. Noes 17. Page 743.)
10. March 18, 2025Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
11. March 17, 2025Withdrawn from committee.
12. March 17, 2025(Ayes 53. Noes 17. Page 643.)