Recently enacted Legislation, SB 525 (Chapter 890, Statutes of 2023), SB 828 (Chapter 12, Statutes of 2024), and SB 159 (Chapter 40, Statutes of 2024), added sections 1182.14, 1182.15, and 1182.16 to the Labor Code, increasing the minimum wage for workers of certain health care employers.

Implementation of this minimum wage increase has been contingent on triggers based on either state revenues or after the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) notifies the Legislature that it has initiated the data retrieval related to hospital quality assurance fees for the program period commencing January 1, 2025.

DHCS on October 1, 2024, submitted a notice to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee that the data retrieval was initiated. Thus, pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 1182.16, the health care minimum wage increases shall be effective 15 days after the date of this notification, on October 16, 2024.

Beginning on October 16th, 2024, health care workers are eligible to receive the higher minimum wage. These workers must, (1) work for certain “health care facilities” that are covered in the new law and (2) provide health care services or support the provision of health care. 

Details on eligibility can be found on the FAQs posted here: