CSDA Leads Opposition to Risky Employee Secret Communications Bill

By Morgan Leskody posted 7 days ago

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On March 12, CSDA submitted a letter opposing Assembly Bill 1564 (Ahrens) Employer-employee relations: confidential communications. CSDA is leading a coalition opposing this bill. AB 1564 is substantially a reintroduction of AB 340 (Ahrens) and AB 2421 (Low, 2024). The prior measures were opposed by CSDA, and were defeated after they failed to advance out of the Senate Committee on Appropriations.

With limited exceptions, AB 1564 would prohibit public employer questioning of a public employee, a representative of a recognized employee organization, or an exclusive representative regarding communications made in confidence between a public employee and the representative in connection with representation relating to any matter within the scope of the recognized employee organization's representation.

CSDA and its coalition partners are opposing AB 1564 because it would restrict an employer’s ability to conduct internal investigations to the detriment of employees’ and the public’s safety and well-being, adding new costs and liability for public employers. Moreover, the bill would create restrictions mirroring a privilege.

AB 1564 was passed out of the Assembly Committee on Public Employment and Retirement on March 18. CSDA provided lead testimony opposing the bill at that hearing.