AB 2561 Presentation:
Status of City of Hayward
Vacancies and Recruitment &
Retention Efforts
Public Hearing
February 2026
Attachment II
Brief Overview of AB 2561 Report Summary
Assembly Bill 2561 (AB 2561), codified in Government Code Section 3502.3, was signed into law on September 22, 2024, and went into effect on January 1, 2025. This bill requires public agencies to hold a public hearing to address the status of job vacancies prior to the adoption of the upcoming final budget. During this public hearing, the City must present information on the status of vacancies and the City’s recruitment and retention efforts. If necessary, the City will identify necessary changes to policies, procedures, or recruitment activities that may lead to obstacles in the hiring process. This public hearing will ensure compliance with the new law. If vacancies within a single bargaining unit meet or exceed 20% of authorized full-time positions in that bargaining unit, upon request of the recognized employee organization for that bargaining unit, the City must provide additional information during the public hearing.
Key requirements under AB 2561:
Bargaining groups are:
Allowed to attend public hearings
Given the opportunity to present their input
Public agencies must report on:
Staffing vacancies
Recruitment efforts
Retention strategies
Identify hiring challenges
Outline strategies and offer recommendations
If a bargaining unit has a vacancy rate over 20%:
The agency must provide additional
recruitment-related data
Attachment II
Citywide Vacancy Data FY 2025 - 2026
# of CountFY 2025 – 2026 (July 1, 2025 - January 30, 2026) 956.3# of Budgeted FTE
977# of Total Positions
135# of Viable Vacancies as of January 30, 2026
26# of New Hires
39# of Promotions
93# of Separations
13.82% Vacancy Rate
# of CountFY 2025 – 2026 (July 1, 2025 - January 30, 2026) 14# of Layoffs
12# of VSIP
67# of Other Separations (Retirement, Voluntary Separations, etc) Separation Data FY 2025-2026
Attachment II
Citywide Bargaining Group Vacancy Information
Vacancy Data as of January 30, 2026
Vacancy Rate# of Viable
Vacancies
# of Total PositionsTotal Budgeted FTE
Position Count
Bargaining Group
6.15%8130130IAFF Local 1909
0%088IAFF Local 1909 Fire Officer’s
0%022Fire Chief’s Association
12.44%24193193Hayward Police Officers’ Association
0%044Hayward Police Management
18.01%38211193.3SEIU 1021 Clerical
15.33%21137137SEIU 1021 Maintenance
12.61%15119116.5IFPTE Local 21
16.07%18112111.5Hayward Association of Management
Attachment II
Citywide Employee Group Vacancy Information
Vacancy Data as of January 30, 2026
Vacancy Rate# of Viable Vacancies# of Total PositionsTotal Budgeted FTE Position Count
Employee Group
0%033City Appointed
0%077Mayor and Council
33.33%103030Unrepresented Employees (Exempt)
0%099Unrepresented Employees (Non-
Exempt)
8.33%11212Unrepresented Employees
(Executives)
Attachment II
General Fund Vacancy Information
Vacant Position CountEmployee Group
11Hayward Association of Management Employee
24Hayward Police Officers’ Association
8IAFF Local 1909
12IFPTE Local 21
31SEIU 1021 Clerical
1SEIU 1021 Maintenance
6Unpresented Employees (Exempt)
1Unpresented Employees (Executives)
Attachment II
Hiring
Incentives
Streamline
Recruitment
Efficiencies
Elevate
Candidate
Experience
Community
Partnership
Classification/
Compensation
Reviews
Recruitment Efforts for July 1 , 2025 – January 30, 2026:
• Total # of Job Postings: 37
• Promotional Only Recruitments:7
• # of Applications Received:2564
• Total # of Eligibility Lists Created: 62
• Total # of Vacancies Filled: 65
Recruitment Strategies
Attachment II