In-Home Supportive Services Employer-Employee Relations Act.

Assembly Member Haney's legislation establishes a comprehensive framework for labor relations between In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) providers and the state of California, designating the state as the employer of record for collective bargaining purposes while preserving recipients' rights to hire, supervise and terminate their individual providers.

The bill creates the In-Home Supportive Services Employer-Employee Relations Act, which grants IHSS providers the right to form and join employee organizations for collective bargaining over wages, benefits, and working conditions. Under the new structure, existing county-level bargaining units represented by the same organization will merge into larger multicounty units, with all recognized employee organizations required to negotiate jointly toward a single memorandum of understanding with the state.

To facilitate implementation, the legislation establishes detailed procedures for mediation and binding arbitration when parties cannot reach agreement through negotiations. The Public Employment Relations Board gains authority to investigate unfair labor practices and adopt regulations enforcing the new framework. The bill also requires provider orientations to incorporate information from collective bargaining agreements and creates an advisory committee comprising service recipients and providers to guide program improvements.

While transferring employer status to the state for labor relations purposes, the measure explicitly preserves IHSS recipients' authority to hire, fire and supervise their individual providers. Current providers maintain their employment status without needing to requalify when the changes take effect in 2026. Counties must continue performing administrative functions but face potential withholding of realignment funds for failing to comply with collective bargaining agreements.

The legislation includes provisions ensuring access to provider information for recognized employee organizations while protecting individual privacy rights. It also establishes mechanisms for resolving disputes over implementation and enforcement of the new labor relations system.