To: Board of Supervisors
From: Ann Elliott, Human Resources Director
Report Title: ADOPT Resolution No. 2025-08 and ADOPT Personnel Resolution No. 26393 regarding Annual State of California Minimum Wage for Health Care Workers
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
ADOPT Resolution No. 2025-08 directing the Human Resources Director to reallocate and maintain job classifications on the Salary Schedule to be in alignment with annual State of California Minimum Wage for Health Care Workers per Senate Bill 525 in future years; and ADOPT Personnel Resolution No. 26393 authorizing the Human Resources Director to reallocate the classifications of Student Intern Level I (998A), plan and grade FS5/0101, from a 3-step salary range to a 1-step rate of $3,650.165 and reallocate Student Intern Level II (998B) plan and grade FS5/0102 from a 5-step salary range to a 3-step salary range of $3,650.165 - $4,024.307.
FISCAL IMPACT:
On January 1, 2025, the State of California will increase the minimum wage for Health Care Workers to $21.00 per hour. In 2026 the Health Care Worker minimum wage will increase to $23.00 per hour. Future increases will be dependent on annual changes mandated by the State of California. Upon approval, the cost of these actions will be absorbed by the departments utilizing the impacted job classifications.
BACKGROUND:
Annually, Human Resources reviews all County job classifications to identify the impact of changes in the California minimum wage and make appropriate adjustments to be effective as of January 1 of the following calendar year. On October 13, 2023, the Governor approved Senate Bill No. 525 which adds a new type of minimum wage specific to Health Care Workers. The definition of Health Care Worker is very broad and is not limited to medical professionals, but also includes administrative support services, custodial, food service and the law even references gift shop workers as examples of covered employees. SB 525 further differentiates required effective dates and specific hourly rates. Contra Costa County is subject to the category of “Covered Health Care Facilities run by Medium Sized Counties (250,000 to five million people as of 1/1/23).” This determines the requirement to implement $21/hour effective 01/01/2025 and $23/hour effective 01/01/2026.
All Contra Costa Health job classifications were reviewed to determine whether the current rate of pay met the new required minimum. Student Intern Level I and Level II were the only job classifications with salary rates below the required $21/hour for the 01/01/2025 effective date. The salary ranges for these two job classifications will be modified to assure compliance. Incumbent employees in Student Intern Level I will be moved to Step 1 of the new range. Student Intern Level II incumbents at steps 1-3 will be moved to the new step 1 of the range and incumbents at current steps 4 and 5 will be placed at the closest salary rate above their current rate. Student Intern Levels III - V will continue the current practice of calculating up from the Level I salary rate. For all future changes, Human Resources is seeking approval to implement updates as they are provided by the State of California.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
Failure to make these changes will result in non-compliance with SB 525, the State of California Health Care Worker Minimum Wage laws and will impact the County's ability to recruit and retain its workforce due to its incapability to remain competitive with other employers within Contra Costa County and its surrounding areas.
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
and for Special Districts, Agencies and Authorities Governed by the Board
body
IN THE MATTER OF Directing the Human Resources Department to reallocate identified job classifications on the Salary Schedule to be in alignment with the annual State of California Minimum Wage for Health Care Workers per SB 525 in future years.
WHEREAS, the State of California has revised the State Minimum Wage for Health Care Workers, and
WHEREAS, in order to remain in line with the State Minimum Wage for Health Care Workers, identified classifications will be reallocated on the salary schedule to set the minimum salary at no less than the current State Minimum Wage for Health Care Workers as revisions are enacted.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED the Human Resources Department is authorized to reallocate the salary upward and maintain the salary ranges of existing and to-be-created job classifications to be in step with the State of California Minimum Wage for Health Care Workers.
If a Memorandum of Understanding provides for a general negotiated salary increase, the salary range is to be adjusted to the level it would have been as the result of the NSI as through the minimum wage adjustment has not occurred.
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