California Chamber Releases First 2013 List of "Job Killer" Bills

The California Chamber of Commerce released this week its first 2013 edition of pending legislation it considers to be "job killers" if passed by the California Legislature and signed by the Governor.

Among those listed bills most directly relating to the workplace are:

• AB 5 and SB 404, which would add homelessness and “familial status”, respectively, as protected characteristics under the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). SB 404, the familial status bill, would extend FEHA protections to family caregivers and those who are perceived to be – or are associated with – family caregivers;
• AB 10,which would provide for automatic minimum wage increases;
• AB 1138, which would increase civil penalties and liabilities for failure to post a notice and list of employees covered by workers' compensation insurance, updated quarterly, and maintain copies of each notice and list for five years;
• SB 626, which would revise 2012's workers' compensation reforms;
• SB 761, which would provide family leave as paid protected leave; and
• AB 1164, which would permit expanded use of wage liens (AB 1164).

In addition, Cal Chamber has listed six pieces of legislation, all of which would reduce the vote requirement to impose tax increases.

At this writing, of the proposals listed, only SB 404 has cleared its initial policy committee.