Legislation

Last week, in a decision of interest to California employers, a California judge denied Amazon’s request to dismiss a lawsuit that claims the company had no policy in place to reimburse employees for expenses incurred while working from home, in violation of state law.

Governor Newsom just signed new legislation amending B & P Code Section 17602 dealing with “Automatic Renewals.”  The section was originally added a few years ago and provided certain conditions if the contract automatically renewed for a period in excess of thirty (30) days.  Much has previously been written about the section.    

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has adopted “988” as a new 3-digit number to be used nationwide to reach the National Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Crisis Lifeline, starting July 16, 2022. Wireless customers may dial either 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to reach the Lifeline now. Landline customers must continue to dial 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to reach…

The Legislature has just one week before adjourning the 2021 session on September 10. Governor Newsom will have until October 10 to act on the hundreds of bills that are making their way to his desk this week and next. As we’ve reported previously, we expect that the Governor will defer much of this work until after his September 14 recall election.

The Legislature will return from its summer recess on August 16. Upon its return, it will have only three and a half weeks to complete its work before adjournment on September 10.

The Legislature adjourned for their summer recess on July 15. It has been an intensely busy year in Sacramento and recess couldn’t have come soon enough.

On June 28, Governor Newsom signed California’s $267 billion budget. However, as we’ve reported previously, the signed budget contains the appropriations to spend state funds, but much work continues to finalize the budget behind the scenes. The annual Budget Act is always accompanied by a number of “trailer bills” which enact policy changes needed to implement the budget.

Last Wednesday the Secretary of State sent a letter to the Department of Finance (DOF) that among other things said “The Secretary of State is hereby notifying the Department of Finance that the proponents of the recall effort against Governor Gavin Newsom have submitted a sufficient number of valid signatures to initiate a recall election.”