§ 19853. — 19853. (Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 358, Sec. 8.)

(a)
All state employees shall be entitled to the following holidays: January 1, the third Monday in January, the third Monday in February, March 31, the last Monday in May, July 4, the first Monday in September, November 11, Thanksgiving Day, the day after Thanksgiving, December 25, the day chosen by an employee pursuant to Section 19854, and every day appointed by the Governor of this state for a public fast, thanksgiving, or holiday.
(b)
If a day listed in this subdivision falls on a Sunday, the following Monday shall be deemed to be the holiday in lieu of the day observed. If November 11 falls upon a Saturday, the preceding Friday shall be deemed to be the holiday in lieu of the day observed.
(c)
(1)
Any state employee who may be required to work on any of the holidays included in this section, and who does work on any of these holidays, shall be entitled to receive straight-time pay and eight hours of holiday credit.
(2)
Notwithstanding paragraph (1), an employee who is excluded from the definition of “state employee” in subdivision (c) of Section 3513 and who is required to work on January 1, the last Monday in May, July 4, the first Monday in September, Thanksgiving Day, or December 25 shall be subject to the following:
(A)
Excluded employees who are eligible for overtime payments under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act shall be paid one and one-half times their salary rate for all hours worked on the holiday and up to eight hours of holiday credit. This pay shall count toward any premium overtime compensation earned during the
same workweek. Part-time employees shall receive prorated amounts subject to department rules.
(B)
Excluded employees who are ineligible for overtime payments under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act shall receive up to eight hours of holiday credit and four hours of informal time off. Part-time employees shall receive prorated amounts of holiday credit and informal time off, subject to department rules.
(d)
For the purpose of computing the number of hours worked, time when an employee is excused from work because of holidays, sick leave, vacation, annual leave, compensating time off, or any other leave shall not be considered as time worked by the employee for the purpose of computing cash compensation for overtime or compensating time off for overtime.
(e)
Any state employee, as defined in subdivision (c) of
Section 3513, may elect to receive eight hours of holiday credit for the date corresponding with the new moon following the winter solstice, or the third new moon following the winter solstice should an intercalary month intervene, known as “Lunar New Year,” April 24, known as “Genocide Remembrance Day,” the 15th day of the month of Kartik in the Hindu lunar calendar of each year, known as “Diwali,” June 19, known as “Juneteenth,” or the fourth Friday in September, known as “Native American Day,” in lieu of receiving eight hours of personal holiday credit in accordance with Section 19854.
(f)
Persons employed on less than a full-time basis shall receive holidays in accordance with the Department of Human Resources rules.
(g)
If subdivision (a), (c), or (d) is in conflict with the provisions of a memorandum of understanding executed or amended pursuant to Section 3517.5 on or after
February 1, 2009, or the date that the act adding this section takes effect, whichever is later, the memorandum of understanding shall be controlling without further legislative action, except that if those provisions of the memorandum of understanding require the expenditure of funds, the provisions shall not become effective unless approved by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act.

Legislative History

Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 358, Sec. 8. (AB 268) Effective January 1, 2026.