School district employees: merit system

The law extends LAUSD’s ability to fill certain hard-to-staff classified jobs based on specified skills rather than overall eligibility-list rank. It also creates reporting requirements on how the exception is used.

What the law does ​

• Extends through January 1, 2031, LAUSD’s authority to appoint eligible candidates outside the top three overall ranks when a job requires bilingual ability, a driver’s license, specialized credentials or skills, or a bona fide occupational gender qualification.
• Limits the exemption to specified senior analyst, administrative assistant, human-resources, management, and confidential classifications.
• Requires exempt appointments to come from the three highest ranks of candidates who meet the stated special requirement.
• Allows qualifying employees hired under the exemption to be retained during layoffs regardless of seniority when their layoff would deprive LAUSD of the qualification that justified their hire.
• Requires LAUSD to report to the Legislature by January 1, 2030, on exempt hires, their qualifications, terminations, layoff effects, rehires, and employee demographic data.

Who it affects ​

• LAUSD classified employees and applicants for covered analyst, administrative, human-resources, management, and confidential jobs.
• LAUSD’s personnel commission and affected labor unions.
• Classified employees otherwise subject to seniority-based layoffs.

Context ​

The law removes information technology electronic communications technicians from the covered classifications.

Breakdown ​

LAUSD Merit-System Hiring Exemption ​

The bill extends through January 1, 2031, Los Angeles Unified School District’s authority to fill certain listed jobs using qualified candidates outside the overall top three ranks on an eligibility list when special job requirements apply. It removes information technology electronic communications technician from the jobs covered by that authority. It also requires LAUSD to report to the Legislature by January 1, 2030, on its use of this exemption.

Key takeaways

• LAUSD may continue using the special hiring exemption for specified job classifications until January 1, 2031.
• The exemption allows LAUSD to consider candidates outside the first three overall eligibility-list ranks when a job requires specified special qualifications.
• When using the exemption, LAUSD must appoint from the highest three ranks of eligible candidates who meet the special job requirements and are willing to take the position.
• Information technology electronic communications technician is no longer covered by the special hiring exemption.
• LAUSD must submit a report to the Legislature by January 1, 2030, about its use of the merit-process exemption.
• Extending the related enforcement period creates a state-required local program because violations of applicable merit-system rules can be misdemeanors.

LAUSD Layoff Exception ​

The bill lets the Los Angeles Unified School District make an exception to normal seniority-based layoff rules for certain classified employees. LAUSD may keep an employee hired for specified qualifications even if the employee has less seniority, when laying that person off would cause the district to lose the qualifications that justified the original hire.

Key takeaways

• The exception applies only to the Los Angeles Unified School District.
• It applies to certain classified employees hired under the provisions identified in the bill.
• LAUSD may retain an eligible employee without following the usual seniority order for layoffs.
• The district may use this exception only when the employee’s layoff would deprive the district of specified qualifications that were the basis for hiring the employee.
• Normal rules generally require classified employees with the least service in their class and higher classes to be laid off first.

Special Statute for Los Angeles Unified ​

The bill declares that a special statute is necessary for the Los Angeles Unified School District. This finding supports treating the district differently under the bill rather than applying a uniform statewide rule.

Key takeaways

• The bill makes formal findings that a special statute is necessary for the Los Angeles Unified School District.
• The provision identifies Los Angeles Unified as requiring bill-specific treatment.
• The digest also notes the state’s existing process for reimbursing certain state-required local costs.

No State Reimbursement ​

This part of the bill states that the state does not have to reimburse local agencies or school districts for costs caused by this change. It does so because the bill relates to creating or changing a crime or infraction, or changing penalties for one.

Key takeaways

• The bill does not require the state to reimburse local agencies or school districts for related costs.
• The stated reason is that the bill creates or changes a crime or infraction, or changes penalties for one.