AB 3041

Bill Subjects

Abstract

Existing law, the State Civil Service Act, creates the Department of Human Resources and grants to the department the powers, duties, and authority necessary to operate the state civil service system in accordance with Article VII of the California Constitution, the Government Code, the merit principle, and applicable rules duly adopted by the State Personnel Board. Existing law requires the State Personnel Board to prescribe rules consistent with a merit-based civil service system to govern classifications, examinations, probationary periods, disciplinary actions, appointments, and other matters related to the board's authority under the California Constitution. This bill would require the department, until July 1, 2032, to administer and oversee the Career Development Apprenticeship Program, which would provide an alternative to the traditional civil service examination and appointment process, as specified. The bill would require the department or its designee to conduct competitive examinations in the form of career development apprenticeship evaluations to determine the qualifications and readiness of career development apprentices for permanent state employment. The bill would require apprenticeship appointments to be made on a provisional basis, and would specify candidates serving in an apprenticeship appointment shall not acquire permanent civil service status for the duration of the term of the apprentice evaluation period. The bill would require the department or its designee to develop job-related evaluation standards that are appropriate tests of fitness for the job classification, as specified, and to provide a final evaluation to each apprentice at the end of the evaluation period that contains a determination as to whether the apprentice meets the minimum qualifications and a certification as to whether the apprentice successfully passed the evaluation period and should be transitioned to a permanent civil service appointment. The bill would also require the department, on June 30, 2026, and annually thereafter, to submit to the Legislature and publicly post on its internet website a report for the prior program and fiscal year that summarizes and details substantive qualitative and quantitative outcomes, as specified. Existing law establishes the Division of Apprenticeship Standards within the Department of Industrial Relations and charges it with various duties related to apprenticeship and preapprenticeship programs. Existing law requires the Chief of the Division of Apprenticeship Standards, or their duly authorized representative, to administer these provisions. Under existing law, the chief is required to issue rules and regulations that establish standards for minimum wages, maximum hours, and working conditions for apprentice agreements. This bill would require rules and regulations issued pursuant to those provisions to be consistent with the provisions governing the Career Development Apprenticeship Program, as described above, and the rules of the State Personnel Board. Existing law authorizes an apprenticeship program to be administered by a joint apprenticeship committee, unilateral management or labor apprenticeship committee, or an individual employer. This bill would require apprenticeship programs for classifications determined to be eligible for recruitment under the Career Development Apprenticeship Program to be administered by the Department of Human Resources with the advice of a joint apprenticeship committee. The bill would further require apprenticeship programs under the Career Development Apprenticeship Program to also be governed by standards for apprenticeship programs set forth in the Labor Code, as specified. In this connection, the bill would authorize the chief to issue rules and regulations that govern apprenticeship programs under the Career Development Apprenticeship Program, including the approval and denial of programs, registration of agreements, and other related matters, as prescribed. Among other provisions, the bill would provide that the function of a joint apprenticeship committee, for programs under the Career Development Apprenticeship Program, is to advise the Department of Human Resources in establishing work processes, conditions, and related duties. The bill would establish procedures for disputes, wage rates, apprenticeship terms, probationary periods, and related matters pursuant to these provisions.