AB 1457: Eligibility Workers Must Be Merit System or Civil Service System Employees

Assembly Bill (“AB”) 1457 will ensure that the important job of determining eligibility for numerous state and federal benefits will be performed by Eligibility Workers who are public sector merit system or civil service system employees.

Effective January 1, 2024, employees who perform eligibility work relating to the following programs must be merit system or civil service system employees:

1.      Medi-Cal

2.      In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS)

3.      California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs)

4.      CalFresh

5.      California Food Assistance Program (CFAP)

6.      Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI)

7.      Adult Protective Services (APS)

Although the term “contracting out” is not used in the bill, this is clearly an effort to prevent contracting out of eligibility work and to preserve public sector merit system and civil service system employment.

If you have any questions about this legislation, please contact your usual labor law counsel.