Article 2. Upward Mobility of California Government Code >> Division 5. >> Title 2. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 6. >> Article 2.

It is the intent of this article to establish and maintain an effective upward mobility program for state employees in low-paying occupations. An upward mobility program is one in which career opportunities are developed and published and assistance is provided which will allow employees in low-paying occupations to develop and advance to their highest potential.

All appointing authorities of state government shall establish an effective program of upward mobility for employees in low-paying occupational groups. In developing their upward mobility programs, appointing authorities shall endeavor to provide, to the greatest extent possible, the following opportunities for employees who meet criteria established by the appointing authority, demonstrate the aptitude or potential for advancement, and wish to participate in:
  (a) Career counseling using individual professional, administrative, and technical employees who can serve as career models, and a course in group career counseling. Each employee who wishes to participate in an upward mobility program should be required to develop a career development plan.
  (b) Appropriate academic counseling.
  (c) Training opportunities such as college programs related to special training programs. This training may include release time at reduced cost or no cost to the employee and may be offered in geographically remote areas through cooperative arrangements with other departments and colleges.
  (d) Training and development assignments.
  (e) On-the-job training.
  (f) Job restructuring, including the development of career ladders and lattices, and modifications of requirements where employment barriers exist.

All upward mobility programs shall include annual goals that include the number of employees expected to progress from positions in low-paying occupational groups to entry-level technical, professional, and administrative positions, and the timeframe within which this progress shall occur. The Department of Human Resources shall be responsible for approving each department's annual upward mobility goals and timetables. Any appointing authority that determines that it will be unable to achieve the goals may ask the department for a reduction in the goals. If the department determines that the appointing authority has not made a good faith effort to achieve the goals, the department shall hold public hearings to determine the reasons for the deficiencies and to establish a program to overcome these deficiencies.

The department shall, in cooperation with appointing authorities, establish bridging classifications and career ladders to provide upward mobility from jobs in low-paying occupations to technical, professional, and administrative jobs on an ongoing basis.

The department shall annually submit a report to the Legislature on the performance of each appointing authority and agency in state government in meeting its obligations under this article.

The State Personnel Board shall prepare written guidelines for implementation of the upward mobility program described in this article within six months from the effective date of this article. The board shall involve representatives from a cross section of groups and organizations representing state employees, including target groups, both in the initial discussion and in the subsequent preparation of the guidelines.