AB 131 Summary

• Approves memoranda of understanding between the state and Professional Engineers in California Government (State Bargaining Unit 9) and California Association of Professional Scientists (State Bargaining Unit 10), effective through June 30, 2018 and July 1, 2018 respectively, with continuous appropriation to the Controller if budget is not enacted by July 1 in fiscal years 2016-17 and 2017-18.

• Expands civil service examination eligibility for former legislative employees, military veterans, and former exempt executive branch employees to take promotional and career executive assignment examinations without time limits or restrictions on competing in multiple examinations.

• Eliminates previous three-rank and management-class certification rules for filling state positions, consolidating appointment procedures under a unified three-rank system based on rounded examination scores.

• Revises career executive assignment provisions to allow employees appointed from outside civil service to defer examinations and count career executive experience as state civil service experience, and grants reinstatement rights to previously-employed state workers.

• Establishes new health benefit contribution limits for employees first hired on or after January 1, 2016 in Bargaining Units 9 and 10, capping employer contributions at 80% of average premiums and requiring 15 years of service to receive any retiree health benefits, with scheduled prefunding contributions through July 1, 2019.