Removes the requirement that willful failure to appear after notice of scheduled appearances be persistent in order to revoke an order granting liberty to a defendant and to fix bail in such action or proceeding

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Marianne Buttenschon

DHS can waive standard civil service hiring to hire an ASL interpreter faster if CSC lists are delayed, with a written authorization and a working-test period.

REFERRED TO CODES

Summary of Assembly Bill A-5508

Note: The bill’s title references a separate criminal-bail provision, but the introduced text and stated purpose of A-5508 concern civil service hiring processes for an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter within the Department of Human Services (DHS).

Purpose and scope

The bill aims to expedite filling certain DHS interpreter positions by creating a waiver pathway that bypasses the Civil Service Commission’s (CSC) standard hiring process when timely eligible lists are not produced.

Specifically targeted is the hiring of American Sign Language interpreters to provide interpretation services.

Key provisions

1) Waiver of civil service hiring requirements when list is delayed or ineffective
- When DHS requests a certified eligible list from the Civil Service Commission to hire an ASL interpreter and:
- a list is not provided within 60 days, or
- an appointment does not result from the list,
- DHS may appoint an otherwise qualified candidate for the position.
- The DHS department head (or a designee) must obtain written authorization from the Commissioner of DHS to sign a waiver, designed and authorized by the CSC, exempting the candidate from the civil service hiring process.
- Upon accepting appointment, the candidate must satisfactorily complete a working test period to be considered qualified for the position and to have civil service status.
- The CSC cannot require DHS to replace the candidate when a subsequent certified eligible list is issued. This protection applies regardless of whether the candidate is listed on the new list.

2) Effective date and implementation
- The act takes effect on the first day of the second month after enactment.
- The CSC may take anticipatory administrative actions in advance to implement the act.
- The bill includes authority for CSC and DHS to coordinate on implementing the waiver process.

Affected parties

Department of Human Services (DHS): primary user of the waiver to fill interpreter vacancies faster.

Civil Service Commission (CSC): creates and approves the waiver framework and oversees civil service status for waived hires.

Prospective and current DHS interpreters: those hired under the waiver would still complete the required working test period.

American Sign Language interpreters: a targeted occupational group impacted by the expedited hiring pathway.

Legislative action and timeline

Introduced: March 24, 2025.

Referred to: Assembly State and Local Government Committee; also listed as referred to Codes on February 14, 2025.

Sponsor: Marianne Buttenschon (primary).

Related bills: S-3761 (companion); A-7065 (prior-session).

Potential impact

Pros: Potentially reduces DHS vacancies for interpreter services, improving access to interpretation and related services for recipients.

Cons/considerations: Introduces a civil service waiver pathway, which may raise concerns about consistency of hiring standards and protections for applicants not selected through the standard process. The bill provides a defined mechanism to mitigate those concerns via written authorization and a formal working-test period.

For readers seeking detail, the core change is a targeted, time-bound waiver mechanism allowing DHS to hire an otherwise qualified ASL interpreter without awaiting a timely CSC-certified eligible list, with safeguards to ensure ongoing qualification and non-replacement guarantees when new lists are issued.