Assembly Bill 2561 Summary
Assembly Bill 2561 (AB 2561), effective January 1, 2025, introduces specific obligations for local public agencies in California to address job vacancies and enhance recruitment and retention efforts. To comply with AB 2561, local governments must:
1. Annual Public Hearing: Conduct a public hearing before the governing board at least once per fiscal year to present:
• The current status of job vacancies.
• Efforts and strategies related to recruitment and retention. • Identification of any policies, procedure s, or recruitment activities that may pose obstacles in the hiring process, along with potential changes to alleviate these obstacles.
If the agency adopts an annual or multiyear budget during the fiscal year, this presentation must occur before the final budget adoption.
2. Employee Organization Participation: Recognized employee organizations representing a bargaining unit have the right to make a presentation during the public hearing concerning vacancies and recruitment efforts for positions within their unit.
3. Additional Reporting for High Vacancy Rates: If a bargaining unit's vacancies reach or exceed 20% of its total authorized full -time positions, and upon request from the recognized employee organization, the agency must provide during the public hearing:
• The total number of job vacancies within the bargaining unit. • The total number of applicants for these vacant positions. • The average duration of the hiring process from job posting to completion. • Opportunities identified to improve compensation and other working conditions.
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