Bill > SB605

This bill aims to ensure competitive salaries for state attorneys and administrative law judges in California by establishing a systematic approach to salary determination. The legislation requires the Department of Human Resources to conduct an annual survey of public sector attorney salaries across three geographic regions of California, comparing state attorneys' compensation with those in local agencies like district attorneys' offices and city attorney offices. The bill mandates that state attorneys in Bargaining Unit 2 receive salaries no less than the average salaries of public sector attorneys in their respective regions, with separate calculations for entry-level and senior nonmanagerial attorneys. Administrative law judges would be guaranteed salaries at least equivalent to the maximum salary of state attorneys at the State Attorney IV level. The implementation of these salary adjustments would be phased in over three fiscal years starting July 1, 2026, and is contingent on budget appropriations. Importantly, the bill ensures that no attorney or administrative law judge classification will have its salary reduced as a result of these provisions, and it gives the superior court exclusive jurisdiction over any disputes. The overall goal is to help the state recruit and retain high-quality legal professionals by offering competitive compensation that reflects market rates for public sector attorneys.

Budget and Finance, Labor and Employment

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB605