Section 634.5.
Cal. Unemployment Insurance Code - UIC § 634.5.
in effectNotwithstanding any other provision of law, a provision excluding service from “employment” does not apply to an entity defined by Section 605 or to a nonprofit organization described by Section 608, except as provided by this section. With respect to an entity defined by Section 605 or a nonprofit organization described by Section 608, “employment” does not include service excluded under Sections 629, 631, 635, and 639 to 648, inclusive, or service performed in any of the following:
(a)
In the employ of either of the following:
(1)
A church or convention or association of churches.
(2)
An organization that is operated primarily for religious purposes and which is operated, supervised, controlled, or principally supported by a church or convention or association of churches.
(b)
By a duly ordained, commissioned, or licensed minister of a church in the exercise of his or her ministry or by a member of a religious order in the exercise of duties required by the order.
(c)
In the employ of an entity defined by Section 605, if the service is performed by an individual in the exercise of his or her duties as any of the following:
(1)
An elected official.
(2)
A member of a legislative body or a member of the judiciary of a state or a political subdivision of a state.
(3)
A member of the tribal council of an Indian tribe as described by Section 3306(u) of Title 26 of the United States Code.
(4)
A member of a State National Guard or Air National Guard.
(5)
An employee serving on a temporary basis in case of fire, storm, snow, earthquake, flood, or other similar emergency.
(6)
An employee in a position that, under or pursuant to state or tribal law, is designated as either of the following:
(A)
A major nontenured policymaking or advisory position.
(B)
A policymaking or advisory position, the performance of the duties of which ordinarily does not require more than eight hours per week.
(7)
(A)
Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (B), an election official or election worker if the amount of remuneration reasonably expected to be received by the individual during the calendar year for services as an election official or election worker is less than one thousand dollars ($1,000).
(B)
This paragraph shall not take effect unless and until the service is excluded from service to which Section 3309(a)(1) of Title 26 of the United States Code applies by reason of exemption under Section 3309(b) of that act.
(d)
By an individual receiving rehabilitation or remunerative work in a facility conducted for the purpose of carrying out a program of either:
(1)
Rehabilitation for individuals whose earning capacity is impaired by age or physical or mental deficiency or
injury.
(2)
Providing remunerative work for individuals who because of their impaired physical or mental capacity cannot be readily absorbed in the competitive labor market.
(e)
By an individual receiving work relief or work training as part of an unemployment work relief or work training program assisted or financed in whole or in part by any of the following:
(1)
A federal agency.
(2)
An agency of a state or a political subdivision thereof.
(3)
An Indian tribe, as described by Section 3306(u) of Title 26 of the United States Code.
(f)
By a ward or an inmate of a custodial or penal institution pursuant to Article 1
(commencing with Section 2700), Article 4 (commencing with Section 2760), and Article 5 (commencing with Section 2780) of Chapter 5 of, and Article 1 (commencing with Section 2800) of Chapter 6 of, Title 1 of Part 3 of the Penal Code, Section 4649 and Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 4951) of Part 4 of Division 4 of the Public Resources Code, and Sections 883, 884, and 1768 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(g)
By an individual under the age of 18 years in the delivery or distribution of newspapers or shopping news, not including delivery or distribution to any point for subsequent delivery or distribution.
(h)
By an individual in the sale of newspapers or magazines to ultimate consumers, under an arrangement that includes the following conditions:
(1)
The newspapers or magazines are to be sold by the
individual at a fixed price.
(2)
The individual’s compensation is based on retention of the excess of the price over the amount at which the newspapers or magazines are charged to the individual, whether or not he or she is guaranteed a minimum amount of compensation for the service or is entitled to be credited with the unsold newspapers or magazines that he or she returns.
(i)
(1)
Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (2), as a substitute employee whose employment does not increase the size of the employer’s normal workforce, whose employment is required by law, and whose employment as a substitute employee does not occur on more than 60 days during the base period.
(2)
This subdivision shall not take effect unless and until the United States Secretary of Labor, or his or her designee,
finds that this subdivision is in conformity with federal requirements.
(j)
As a participant in a national service program carried out using assistance provided under Section 12571 of Title 42 of the United States Code.
References
referencesCal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 4951.
referencesCal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 883.
referencesCal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 884.
referencesCal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 1768.
referencesCal. Unemployment Insurance Code - UIC § 605.
referencesCal. Unemployment Insurance Code - UIC § 608.
referencesCal. Unemployment Insurance Code - UIC § 629.
referencesCal. Unemployment Insurance Code - UIC § 3306.
referencesCal. Unemployment Insurance Code - UIC § 3309.
referencesCal. Unemployment Insurance Code - UIC § 2700.
referencesCal. Unemployment Insurance Code - UIC § 2760.
referencesCal. Unemployment Insurance Code - UIC § 2780.
referencesCal. Unemployment Insurance Code - UIC § 2800.
referencesCal. Unemployment Insurance Code - UIC § 4649.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026