CalHR seeks multimillion-dollar outreach budget to recruit a more diverse state workforce

The California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) asked the Assembly Budget Subcommittee for funding to expand statewide recruitment outreach and paid media targeted to ethnic and community outlets.

Monica Erickson, chief deputy director of CalHR, said the department’s baseline budget for 2024-25 was roughly $132 million and 454 positions and that the 2025-26 request would add $7,000,000 and two positions, bringing CalHR’s proposed total to about $139 million and 456 positions. Erickson said the request includes one permanent position and $5,200,000 devoted to community advertising and outreach; she said the $5.2 million includes $5,000,000 in general fund contract dollars each year beginning in 2025-26 and continuing through 2028-29 to target ethnic and community media as called for by AB 1511.

Camille Travis, deputy director of communications, told members that CalHR currently has a modest advertising budget — about $250,000 — and that the requested funds would expand the agency’s ability to reach diverse communities and support recruitment and retention. Department of Finance staff had no comment and the LAO offered no recommendation during the hearing.

Why it matters: CalHR said the proposed contract dollars would be used to expand outreach to communities that statewide recruitment historically under-reaches, and that the funds are intended to invest back into local ethnic and community media outlets. Committee members noted the scale of the increase relative to the existing advertising budget and signaled they would evaluate the request alongside other budget priorities.

Ending: CalHR presented the BCP and answered questions; the subcommittee did not vote on the request during the hearing.