The California legislature and Gavin Newsom have been busy in 2019. The following is a list of the new legislation impacting California employers. Most laws go into effect January 1, 2020, but a few go into effect immediately.

Thank you to Phyllis Cheng who does an amazing job sending out updates whenever new employment laws are signed into law and when courts issue decision impacting California workplaces.

  • AB 5 by Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego) – Worker status: employees and independent contractors. A signing message can be found here.
  • AB 9 by Assemblymember Eloise Gómez Reyes (D-Grand Terrace) – Employment discrimination: limitation of actions.
  • AB 34 by Assemblymember James Ramos (D-Highland) – Pupils: bullying and harassment prevention information.
  • AB 51 by Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego) – Employment discrimination: enforcement.
  • AB 118 by the Committee on Budget – State employment: State Bargaining Units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 11, 13, 14, 15, 17, 20, and 21.
  • AB 170 by Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego) – Worker status: employees and independent contractors.
  • AB 203 by Assemblymember Rudy Salas (D-Bakersfield) – Occupational safety and health: Valley Fever.
  • AB 241 by Assemblymember Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Los Angeles) – Implicit bias: medical profession continuing education: requirements.
  • AB 242 by Assemblymember Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Los Angeles) – Courts: attorneys: implicit bias: training.
  • AB 267 by Assemblymember Kansen Chu (D-San Jose) – Employment of infants: entertainment industry.
  • AB 332 by Assemblymember Tom Lackey (R-Palmdale) – Peace officers: training.
  • AB 330 by Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino) – Appointed legal counsel in civil cases.
  • AB 333 by Assemblymember Susan Talamantes Eggman (D-Stockton) – Whistleblower protection: county patients’ rights advocates.
  • AB 355 by Assemblymember Tom Daly (D-Anaheim) – Public Employment Relations Board: Orange County Transportation Authority.
  • AB 378, Monique Limόn (D-Santa Barbara) Childcare: family childcare providers: bargaining representative
  • AB 381 by Assemblymember Eloise Gómez Reyes (D-Grand Terrace) – Postsecondary education: sexual assault and sexual violence prevention training: intimate partner and dating violence.
  • AB 406 Monique Limόn (D-Santa Barbara) – Disability compensation: paid family leave: application in non-English languages.
  • AB 525 by Assemblymember Luz Rivas (D-Arleta) – Teacher credentialing.
  • AB 538 by Assemblymember Marc Berman (D-Palo Alto) – Sexual assault: medical evidentiary examinations and reporting.
  • AB 543 by Assemblymember Christy Smith (D-Santa Clarita) – Education: sexual harassment: written policy: posters.
  • AB 547 by Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego) – Janitorial workers: sexual violence and harassment prevention training.
  • AB 560 by Assemblymember Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles) – Public utilities: unionization.
  • AB 595 by Assemblymember Jose Medina (D-Riverside) – Community colleges: apprenticeship programs.
  • AB 640 by Assemblymember Jim Frazier (D-Discovery Bay) – Sex crimes: investigation and prosecution.
  • AB 644 by the Committee on Public Employment and Retirement – State teachers’ retirement: compensation.
  • AB 672 by Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes (D-Riverside) – Public employees’ retirement: disability retirement: reinstatement.
  • AB 673 by Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo (D-Los Angeles) – Failure to pay wages: penalties.
  • AB 706 by Assemblymember Evan Low (D-Campbell) – Community colleges: academic employees.
  • AB 711 by Assemblymember David Chiu (D-San Francisco) – Pupil records: name and gender changes.
  • AB 749 by Assemblymember Mark Stone (D-Scotts Valley) – Settlement agreements: restraints in trade.
  • AB 800 by Assemblymember Kansen Chu (D-San Jose) – Civil actions: confidentiality.
  • AB 894 by Assemblymember Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles) – Attorney General: directors and employees: exemption from civil service.
  • AB 988 by Assemblymember Marc Berman (D-Palo Alto) – Teacher credentialing: out-of-state prepared teachers: education specialist credential.
  • AB 1019 by Assemblymember Jim Frazier (D-Discovery Bay) – Apprenticeship: developmentally disabled persons.
  • AB 1033 by Assemblymember Jim Cooper (D-Elk Grove) – State employment: new employees: information.
  • AB 1152 by Assemblymember Chris Holden (D-Pasadena) – Vital records.
  • AB 1116 by Assemblymember Tim Grayson (D-Concord) — California Firefighter Peer Support and Crisis Referral; firefighters: peer support.
  • AB 1223 by Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula (D-Fresno) – Living organ donation.
  • AB 1320 by Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian (D-North Hollywood) – Public employee retirement systems: prohibited investments: Turkey.
  • AB 1349 by Assemblymember Jay Obernolte (R-Big Bear Lake) – Civil actions: discovery.
  • AB 1353 by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland) – Classified employees: probationary period.
  • AB 1400 by Assemblymember Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Los Angeles) – Employment safety: firefighting equipment: mechanics.
  • AB 1452 by Assemblymember Patrick O’Donnell (D-Long Beach) – State teachers’ retirement.
  • AB 1510 by Assemblymember Eloise Gómez Reyes (D-Grand Terrace) – Sexual assault and other sexual misconduct: statutes of limitations on civil actions.
  • AB 1518 by Assemblymember Kansen Chu (D-San Jose) – Student athletes: contracts.
  • AB 1554 by Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego) – Employers: dependent care assistance program: notice to employees.
  • AB 1651 by Assemblymember Jose Medina (D-Riverside) – Licensed educational psychologists: supervision of associates and trainees.
  • AB 1607 by Assemblymember Tasha Boerner Horvath (D-Encinitas) – Gender discrimination: notification.
  • AB 1735 by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda) – Evidence: privileges: human trafficking caseworker-victim privilege.
  • AB 1748 by Assemblymember Rob Bonta (D-Alameda) – California Family Rights Act: flight crews.
  • AB 1768 by Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo (D-Los Angeles) – Prevailing wage: public works.
  • AB 1805 by the Committee on Labor and Employment – Occupational safety and health.
  • AB 1820 by the Committee on Judiciary – Personal rights: civil liability and enforcement.
  • SB 17 by Senator Thomas Umberg (D-Santa Ana) – Civil discovery: sanctions.
  • SB 30 by Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) – Domestic partnership.
  • SB 41 by Senator Robert Hertzberg (D-Van Nuys) – Civil actions: damages.
  • SB 103 by the Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review – State employees: memorandum of understanding.
  • SB 142 by Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) – Employees: lactation accommodation.
  • SB 173 by Senator Bill Dodd (D-Napa) – CalFresh: postsecondary student eligibility: work-study.
  • SB 188, Mitchell. CROWN Act: Discrimination: hairstyles.
  • SB 206 by Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) – Pay to Play Act, Collegiate athletics: student athlete compensation and representation.
  • SB 229 by Senator Robert Hertzberg (D-Van Nuys) – Discrimination: complaints: administrative review.
  • SB 271 by Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) – Employment: motion picture production workers.
  • SB 322 by Senator Steven Bradford (D-Gardena) – Health facilities: inspections: employee reporting.
  • SB 366 by Senator Ling Ling Chang (R-Diamond Bar) – Public postsecondary education: mandatory orientation for students.
  • SB 370 by Senator Thomas Umberg (D-Santa Ana) – Discovery: response to inspection demands.
  • SB 438 by Senator Robert Hertzberg (D-Van Nuys) –  Emergency medical services: dispatch.
  • SB 530 by Senator Cathleen Galgiani (D-Stockton) – Construction industry: discrimination and harassment prevention.
  • SB 534 by Senator Steven Bradford (D-Gardena) – Insurers: minority, women, LGBT, veteran, and disabled veteran business enterprises.
  • SB 542 by Senator Henry Stern (D-Canoga Park) – Trauma Treatment Act; workers’ compensation.
  • SB 544 by Senator Thomas Umberg (D-Santa Ana) – State Bar: admission: license: moral character review: mental health medical records.
  • SB 616 by Senator Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) – Enforcement of money judgments: exemptions.
  • SB 671 by Senator Robert Hertzberg (D-Van Nuys) – Employment: payment of wages: print shoot employees.
  • SB 688 by Senator Bill Monning (D-Carmel) – Failure to pay wages: penalties.
  • SB 698 by Senator Connie Leyva (D-Chino) – Employee wages: payment.
  • SB 707 by Senator Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) – Arbitration agreements: enforcement.
  • SB 778 by the Committee on Labor, Public Employment and Retirement – Employers: sexual harassment training: requirements.
  • SB 782 by the Committee on Labor, Public Employment and Retirement – Public employees’ and judges’ retirement: administration.

Information provided by Robert Nuddleman of the Nuddleman Law Firm, P.C.

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The Nuddleman Law Firm, P.C. represents employers and employees in a wide range of employment law matters. Much of his practice focuses on wage and hour issues, such as unpaid overtime, meal and rest break violations, designing or enforcing commission plans, and other wage-related claims. He also advises employers on how to avoid harassment and wrongful termination claims and represents employees who have been victims of unlawful discrimination, retaliation or harassment. The Nuddleman Law Firm, P.C. helps employers develop good employment policies, and helps employers and employees with disability accommodation issues.