Discrimination

AB 1127 - Chapter 04-820

Subject: Whistleblower protection

Author: Horton, S.

Sections Affected: This technical clean-up bill changes from 14-pica to 14-font the size of lettering on the whistleblower protection poster that must be posted by employers.

Public Works

AB 2690 - Chapter 04-330

Subject: Public works: funds

Author: Hancock

Sections Affected: An act to repeal and add Section 1720.4 of the Labor Code, relating to public works, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately.

Summary: This bill replaces the existing Labor Code section that allows the use of volunteers on public works projects in limited circumstances with new language that defines "volunteers" and expands the circumstances in which volunteers may be used. This bill contains an urgency clause.

Public Works

AB 3020 - Chapter 04-685

Subject: Employment

Author: Koretz

Sections Affected: An act to amend Sections 106, 1742, and 1742.1 of the Labor Code, and to amend Section 329 of the Unemployment Insurance Code, relating to employment.

Summary: This bill eliminates the sunset date on the Joint Enforcement Strike Force on the Underground Economy. This bill also extends the sunset date to January 1, 2006 for the Department of Industrial Relations to hire Administrative Law Judges to hear civil wage and penalty assessment cases against contractors and subcontractors that fail to pay prevailing wages on public works projects.

Wages, Hours, and Working Conditions

SB 1134 - Chapter 04-151

Subject: Employment of Minors: agricultural packing plants

Author: Chesbro

Sections Affected: An act to amend Section 1393.5 of the Labor Code, relating to employment.

Summary: This bill extends from January 1, 2005 to January 1, 2008, the sunset date for a provision of the Labor Code that allows 16- and 17-year-old minors in the Lake County pear packing industry to work up to 60 hours per week during peak packing season.

Wages, Hours, and Working Conditions

SB 1618 - Chapter 04-860

Subject: Employee compensation

Author: Battin

Sections Affected: An act to amend Section 226 of the Labor Code, relating to employee compensation.

Summary: This bill amends existing law to specify that, commencing January 1, 2008, an employee's paycheck shall display no more than the last four digits of the social security number, or an existing employee identification number other than the social security number.

Wages, Hours, and Working Conditions

SB 1809 - Chapter 04-221

Subject: Labor code Private Attorneys General Act of 2004

Author: Dunn

Sections Affected: An act to amend Sections 98.6 and 2699 of, to add Sections 2699.3 and 2699.5 to, and to repeal Section 431 of, the Labor Code, relating to private employment, making an appropriation therefor, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately.

Summary: This bill amends the Private Attorneys General Act by enacting administrative and procedural requirements on behalf of an alleged aggrieved employee and the Labor and Workforce Development Agency prior to bringing a private action to recover civil penalties for Labor Code violations.