RCRC, along with a broad coalition of local government associations, oppose Assembly Bill 2561, authored by Assembly Member Tina McKinnor (D-Inglewood). This measure requires local public agencies with bargaining unit vacancy rates exceeding 10 percent for more than 180 days (approximately 6 months) to produce, implement, and publish a plan to reduce their vacancy rates to 0 percent within the subsequent 180 days. The bill also requires the public agency to present this plan during a public hearing to the governing legislative body and to publish the plan on its internet website for public review for at least one year.
Local public agencies – like all other employers in California and across the nation – face several challenges related to recruitment and retention due to a number of factors, such as rebounding from the COVID-19 pandemic, The Great Resignation, competing with the private sector for a limited hiring pool, and some disinterest in returning to in-office work. Many specialty positions like nurses, licensed behavioral health professionals, social workers, utility workers, police, teachers, and planners are experiencing nationwide workforce shortages and a dwindling pipeline for new entrants, driven by both an expansion of services and an aging workforce.
Sizable vacancy rates exist in the public sector - for the state and for local employers. While the bill notably omits the state, the vacancy rate for the State of California has consistently been above 10 percent statewide for at least the past 20 years. For counties, the issue of vacancies is particularly acute with the highest rates typically in county behavioral health, the sheriff’s department, corrections, and employment and social services.
Requiring local public agencies to produce, implement, and publish a plan every time one of their many bargaining units exceeds 10 percent vacancy rates for more than 180 days will keep local agencies on a perpetual cycle in order to comply. This will be incredibly taxing on agency staff and financial resources, likely resulting in diverting county staff away from core service delivery to comply.
If the true intent of AB 2561 is to provide a path for local public agencies to reduce staff vacancies, diverting staff away from core service delivery and mandating they spend time producing reports on their vacancy rates will not achieve that goal. Adding another unfunded mandate on public agencies will not solve the problem this bill has identified. It is just as likely to create even more burn-out from employees tasked with producing the very report the bill mandates.
AB 2561 passed off the Assembly floor on May 22 and is awaiting committee referral in the Senate. RCRC’s letter of opposition is available here. RCRC encourages counties to oppose this measure and contact their legislative delegation. For additional information, contact RCRC Policy Advocate, Sarah Dukett.