Classified school and community college employees: disciplinary hearings: appeals: contracted administrative law judges.

Senator Cortese's legislation revises disciplinary procedures for classified employees in California's school and community college districts, extending the timeline for hearing requests and modifying how administrative law judges oversee these proceedings. The bill requires districts to allow employees at least 30 days to request disciplinary hearings after receiving notice of charges, replacing the current 5-day minimum.

Under the new provisions, administrative law judges overseeing disciplinary hearings must be jointly selected by the district and the employee or their representative organization, with costs covered by the district. This requirement applies unless alternative appeal methods have been established through collective bargaining agreements. The bill extends these procedures to classified employees of joint powers authorities that include school or community college districts.

Districts retain the ability to withhold employee pay after 30 calendar days from when a hearing is requested, regardless of who conducts the proceedings. For cases involving allegations of egregious misconduct with minors, the bill mandates that administrative law judges delegate authority to designated judges whose decisions are binding. The legislation includes provisions for state reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for costs associated with implementing these changes, subject to determination by the Commission on State Mandates.