CA AB2088

Requires county offices of education, school districts, and community college districts to offer part-time and full-time classified position vacancies as a right of first refusal to current regular nonprobationary classified employees meeting minimum job qualifications for 10 business days before hiring external candidates.

Mandates employers provide all classified employees and their unions notice of and instructions for applying to new classified positions, with internal applicants selected by collective bargaining agreement method or by seniority among those in the same classification for whom the position represents an increase in hours.

Prohibits employers from discouraging, retaliating against, or prohibiting classified employees from applying for vacant positions, and requires fair consideration for all applicants.

Allows part-time employees to count all years of service regardless of hours worked when applying for additional part-time assignments requiring certain tenure, and requires part-time employees working full-time equivalent hours to receive the same benefits as full-time employees.

Becomes operative July 1, 2025, and does not apply to employees under disciplinary action, in performance improvement plans, or to confidential and management positions; existing collective bargaining agreements in effect on July 1, 2025 are exempt until expiration or renewal.