Recap of Legislative Bill Activity Last Week – The following bills were acted upon this past week:

AB 326 (Salas) – Barbering and Cosmetology: Physical/Sexual Abuse Training – Passed the Assembly Judiciary Committee (11-0); now moves to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

AB 402 (Thurmond) – OSHA: Plume – Passed the Assembly Appropriations Committee (12-5); now moves to the Assembly Floor.

AB 889 (Stone) – “Secret” Settlements – Amendments were made to this bill that appear to clarify that it does not apply to employment claims.  However, business groups are still opposed because the standard required to obtain a protective order (such as to protect trade secrets) is too high and based only upon an allegation of a claim.  The bill passed the Assembly Judiciary Committee (8-3) and now moves to the Assembly Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection.

SB 63 (Jackson) – New Parent Leave – Passed the Senate Judiciary Committee (4-1); now moves to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

SB 158 (Monning) – Commercial Driver’s License: Education – Passed the Senate Transportation Committee (13-0); now moves to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

SB 295 (Monning) – Farm Labor Contractors – – Passed the Senate Judiciary Committee (5-0); now moves to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

SB 418 (Hernandez) – Public Works: “De Minimis” – Passed the Senate Appropriations Committee pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8 (negligible state costs); now moves to the Senate Floor.

SB 482 (Stone) – Sleep Time: Domestic Work Employees – Testimony was heard in the Senate Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations, but no vote was taken on the bill.  The bill may come back for a vote in a few weeks.

SB 490 (Bradford) – Hair Salons: Commission Pay – Passed the Senate Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations (5-0); now moves to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

SB 621 (Bradford) – Overtime Compensation: Private School Teachers - Passed the Senate Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations (5-0); now moves to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Transportation Deal

The Governor and Legislative Democrats announced a transportation deal on a proposal (Senate Bill 1) that would generate approximately $52.4 billion over a ten-year period.  Elements of the proposal include a 12 cent per gallon increase in the gasoline excise tax and a 20 cent per gallon increase in the diesel fuel excise tax.  Vehicle registration fees would also be raised $25 to $175, depending on the vehicle’s market value.

The bill required 2/3 vote of both houses of the Legislature for passage – which set off a week of flurried activity as the Governor and legislative leaders attempted to secure the necessary votes to pass by their self-imposed deadline of April 6 (when the Legislature adjourned for Spring Recess).

After hours of negotiations (including several “side deals” to woo necessary votes) and floor debate, SB 1 passed the Legislature late Thursday night with the bare minimum 2/3 votes needed for passage.  Governor Brown is expected to sign the measure.

Spring Recess – Rest Up!

Next week is Spring Recess in the Legislature, meaning there will be no committee hearings, and no action taken on bills.  The Legislature will reconvene on April 17, 2017.  California employers should rest while they can, because many of the most controversial labor bills will be up for committee hearing when the Legislature reconvenes.