CSAC is opposing AB 1603, a measure by Assembly Member Sebastian
Ridley-Thomas that would allow all private contractors who
contract with counties to join in the collective bargaining
process with county union employees. The sponsors of the bill,
the Union of American Physicians and Dentists, have indicated
that they intend to amend the bill to apply only to licensed
professionals within county public hospitals and health systems,
but the current, far broader version is up in the Senate
Appropriations Committee on Monday, August 28.
AB 1603 would currently allow any contracted employee – not just
physicians and psychiatrists – to join in the county collective
bargaining process, entitling them to the same benefits as those
that the county bargains with county unionized employees.
While AB 1603 is not related to AB 1250, it does raise many of
the same issues, as county public hospitals, health clinics, and
the behavioral health system in each county may rely on the
ability to contract with clinicians to provide critical
safety-net services.
CSAC, CAPH, CHEAC, and CBHDA have raised serious legal and
logistical concerns with the measure, all of which remain valid
even if the bill is narrowed to county health systems and
licensed medical professionals. We urge counties to oppose AB
1603. View the CSAC Oppose letter
here.
