A split government has certainly slowed down the former torrent of employment bills. Here’s an update on the selected bills tracked by CEL:
AB 1912: Would have forbidden an employer from terminating an employee who brought a firearm to work in his car. Status: apparently dead (second hearing in committee withdrawn by author).
AB 2095: Limits sexual harassment training requirement to supervisors in California. Status: Has cleared committee in Assembly, but has been amended in the Senate. It passed 78-0 on its third reading. Differences will need to be worked out in conference, but it’s on its way to passage.
AB 2186: This bill formerly stiffened penalties to misclassifying workers as independent contractors. It has been gutted to allow the EDD to seek $25,000 fines for misreporting employees (including as having independent contractor status). Status: returned to committee in Assembly, the originating house. Judiciary Committee has taken jurisdiction over this bill, but has not acted.
AB 2217: Individualized alternative work weeks. Status: rejected in committee. Reconsideration has been granted, but this bill is probably dead at this point.
AB 2327: Requires additional reporting on paystubs for farm labor contractors. Status: This bill passed the Assembly on its second attempt. It made it out of committee in the Senate by a 3-2 margin. A wide range of labor groups support this bill. There is, however, no registered opposition.
AB 2334: Would require janitorial service employers to register annually with the Labor Commissioner. Status: This bill’s first Senate committee hearing has been cancelled at the request of the author, after passing through the Assembly on an apparently party-line vote. Opposed by the California Chamber of Commerce.
AB 2371: Would invalidate arbitration clauses pertaining to FEHA violations. Status: dead. Failed passage in Assembly 38-39.
AB 2388: Status: amended to a non-employment-related bill.
AB 2536: 8/40 overtime would apply to personal attendants. Status: Needs a second reading in Senate, and then, assuming there are differences, third readings after conference. This appears to be a hotly contested bill, with many groups lining up on each side. This one will be worth watching.
SB 1188: Would require employers to issue checks that have a way of being turned into cash for free. (In other words, to undermine check cashing businesses.) Status: despite its passge in the Senate, this bill died in an Assembly committee, 1-5. SB 1189, a similar bill, has been withdrawn by the author.