The State Personnel Board on September 14 heard a significant appeal from AFSCME Local 2620, which is challenging the ongoing reliance by California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS) on personal services contracts for staffing vital roles within the state’s prison system. The union's appeal specifically targeted the continued use of contractors for pharmacy and allied health work, raising questions about compliance with prior directives and the efficient use of state resources.
According to information detailed in the board’s meeting summary and its official entity record, AFSCME Local 2620 argued that a previous decision issued by the State Personnel Board, specifically PSC 19-0015B, had clearly mandated that the California Correctional Health Care Services cease contracting out these particular services by April 30, 2020. The union contended that CCHCS had not adhered to this established deadline. Furthermore, the appeal highlighted a substantial financial concern: the state, through CCHCS, had reportedly spent more than $10 million on employing registry staff to fill these roles. This considerable expenditure occurred even as official vacancies for these critical positions within the department itself remained unfilled, suggesting a costly reliance on temporary solutions rather than permanent staffing.
California Correctional Health Care Services, represented during the hearing by its Office of Legal Affairs, mounted a defense of its continued use of these contracts. As documented in the meeting summary, CCHCS asserted that these contractual arrangements remained a necessary component for the delivery of medical care within the state’s correctional facilities. The department elaborated on its efforts to recruit permanent staff, pointing to a range of initiatives undertaken to address staffing needs. These included the establishment of a dedicated workforce unit specifically tasked with personnel matters, as well as extensive outreach efforts conducted through prominent online platforms like CalCareers and LinkedIn. CCHCS also cited its active participation in various hiring fairs as evidence of its commitment to attracting qualified individuals to fill these positions. The department's argument centered on the necessity of these contracts to help maintain adequate and consistent prison medical care, implying that without them, the continuity and quality of care could be jeopardized.
Following the presentation of arguments from both AFSCME Local 2620 and California Correctional Health Care Services, the State Personnel Board proceeded to take the entire matter under submission. This action signifies that the board requires additional time for deliberation and review of the evidence and arguments presented before it will issue a formal ruling. Consequently, the board did not announce a decision or any immediate resolution to the contested appeal at the conclusion of the September 14 hearing.
The hearing on September 14 was part of a broader session for the State Personnel Board, which also included discussions and actions on other personnel and classification items. However, the appeal concerning the contracting-out of health care services within prisons was a focal point of the day's proceedings, distinguished as one of only two contested matters formally heard by the board on that date. The board's decision, when it is eventually announced, will determine whether California Correctional Health Care Services must alter its current staffing practices for pharmacy and allied health roles within the state's correctional institutions, and how the state proceeds with filling these positions in the future, impacting both departmental policy and financial outlays. This pending decision holds implications for state employee unions, the correctional health care system, and the overall management of state resources.
