ACSS Legislative Program Delivers for Members! Governor Newsom Signs ACSS Sponsored Assembly Bill 1137

On September 28, 2024, Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1137 (Jones-Sawyer) into law. This ACSS sponsored legislation will take effect January 1, 2025 and will provide excluded employees with long-sought after “premium holiday pay” and provide certainty for the timing of Merit Salary Adjustment approvals or denials.

Prior to these statutory changes, supervisors and managers required to work on the six major holidays only receive their regular pay and holiday credit. Recognizing this problem, ACSS President Todd D’Braunstein and the ACSS Board of Directors voted in early 2023 to pursue legislation to provide additional compensation to excluded employees working these holidays and sacrificing time with family and friends to meet the needs of their programs. After a nearly 15-month process, ACSS is pleased to announce these statutory changes which will result in more money in the pockets of impacted ACSS members.

AB 1137 changes the law to provide excluded employees required to work on January 1, Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, or Christmas, with additional premium holiday pay compensation. WWG 2 excluded employees (eligible for overtime) working these premium holidays will receive one and one-half (1½) times their salary rate for all hours worked on the holiday and up to eight hours of Holiday Credit. WWG E and SE excluded employees (not eligible for overtime pay) working these holidays will receive the equivalent premium compensation in the form of eight hours of Holiday Credit and four hours of Informal Time Off.

AB 1137 also amends the law to require an excluded employee to be informed in writing of a Merit Salary Adjustment denial 10 working days prior to the effective date of the MSA.

ACSS President Todd D'Braunstein commented, "I hope that every ACSS Member feels a sense of accomplishment and pride in the hard work done by ACSS and what we have accomplished with the passing of this bill.”

ACSS thanks Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer for authoring AB 1137 and seeing the bill through the legislative process. We also thank the ACSS Members and leaders who supported this monumental legislation and helped educate lawmakers at ACSS’ Lobby Day at the State Capitol. ACSS appreciates the support of the Legislature and the Newsom Administration for addressing these important issues affecting excluded employees.