The Government Code generally gives public employees the right to join and be represented by employee organizations. Existing law further requires public employers specified in Government Code Section 3555.5 to provide exclusive representatives access to new employee orientations. Existing law also provides that, if a public employer does not conduct an in-person new employee orientation within 30 days of a newly hired employee’s start date, and the employee works in person, the exclusive representative may schedule an in-person meeting at the worksite during employment hours. New employees must have an opportunity to attend that meeting and be relieved of other duties while doing so. These requirements were previously scheduled to expire on June 30, 2027.
AB 187 makes these in-person meeting requirements permanent by eliminating the June 30, 2027 sunset date. Thus, affected public employers must continue providing qualifying exclusive representatives with access to newly hired employees as required under existing law.
AB 187 also makes other employment-related changes. Among other things, AB 187 authorizes specified claims fund reserve accounts for state employee benefit programs; allows specified members of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Appeals Board and Central Valley Flood Protection Board to elect PERS membership; and, until January 1, 2029, establishes specified wage, meal and rest period, lodging, posting, and other employment protections for goat herders similar to protections applicable to sheepherders. AB 187 took effect on September 18, 2026 as a budget-related measure.
AB 187 amends Sections 19816.18, 20305, and 22953 of, amends and repeals Section 3556 of, and adds Section 20899.7 to the Government Code, and adds Section 2695.4 to the Labor Code.
