New Labor Laws To Take Effect In 2002
Following is a list of the most important employment law bills signed by Gov. Davis. The laws will take effect Jan. 1, 2002.
* *Domestic Partnerships (AB 25)*: Allows a person to collect unemployment insurance if he or she leaves a job to relocate with a domestic partner; allows domestic partners to use kin care (sick leave) to care for the other partner or the other partner’s child.
* *English-Only Policies (AB 800)*: Limits an employer’s ability to adopt or enforce a policy requiring employees to speak only English in the workplace.
* *Lactation Accommodation (AB 1025)*: Requires employers to reasonably accommodate employees who wish to express breast milk at work, including increased break time and privacy.
* *At-Will Exception (SB 20)*: Prohibits at-will termination of janitors and building maintenance personnel under certain circumstances.
* *Unemployment Insurance (SB 40)*: Increases UI benefits, expands eligibility to workers who are available only part-time, keeps WARN Act payments from affecting UI eligibility, and changes base period calculation.
* *Overtime Exemption (SB 1208)*: Creates an overtime exemption for doctors paid on an hourly basis.
* *Drug Testing (SB 871)*: Places new requirements and penalties on motor carrier employers who are subject to federal Department of Transportation drug and alcohol testing requirements, including triple damages if a driver injures someone.
* *Garnishments (AB 1426)*: Adds a new penalty for failure to comply with child support garnishments, and allows court-ordered electronic transfer of garnishments from the employer’s bank account.
* *Temporary Nursing Staff (AB 1643)*: Places new requirements on employment agencies that provide temporary certified nurse assistants or licensed nursing staff for long-term health care facilities, including background checks.
Detailed information about these and other new laws, regulations and cases will be covered in the California Chamber’s 2002 California Labor Law Digest, available in hardcopy or CD-ROM. The information also will be available online at HRCalifornia.com.