By DOUGLAS W. MOTLEY
Senior Writer
In the past year, California legislators sent hundreds of bills proposing new laws to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk, 24 of which the governor gave his approval to by signing them into law. Some of these new state laws may have an effect on your everyday life.
Employment Laws
SB 252 – Minimum Wage: On Jan. 1, the state minimum wage will increase from $15.50 to $16 per hour. However, some cities and counties have a higher minimum wage. The minimum wage for healthcare workers will increase to $23 per hour, beginning on June 1, 2024.
AB 1228 – Fast-Food Workers: Beginning on April 1, 2024, fast-food workers who earn minimum wage in California will see their hourly wages jump from $16 per hour to $20 per hour.
SB 616 – Paid Sick Leave: Applies to employees who have been working for the same employer in California for 30 days or more. The bill, which goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2024, will require an employee to have no less than 40 hours or five days of accrued sick leave or paid time off by the 200th calendar day of employment.
SB 848 – Reproductive Leave: Requires employers to offer reproductive leave and makes it unlawful to refuse or grant a request by an employee to take up to five days upon the death of a family member. An employer may deny leave for more than one reproductive loss within 12 months. This bill goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2024.
SB 730 – Penalizing Cannabis: Makes it unlawful for an employer to discriminate against a person in hiring, termination or any term or condition of employment.
SB 731 – Work From Home: Requires an employer to provide a 30-day advance written notice before requiring remote employees to return to an in-person setting. The notice, which goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2024, would also explain the employee’s right to remain remote as an accommodation, if applicable, to their disabilities.
AB 635 – Agricultural Workers: Requires an employer to give an employee a written notice of the federal H-2A visa in English or Spanish, at the employee’s request. Other languages may be included. This law goes into effect on March 1, 2024.
AB 1346 – Gas Powered Equipment: Retailers are prohibited from selling gas-powered outdoor equipment, such as certain chainsaws, hedge trimmers and edgers, lawn mowers and leaf blowers. It does not include air compressors, portable generators and pressure washers.
Housing Laws
AB 12 – Security Deposits: Security deposits would be capped at one month’s rent, whether the unit is furnished or not. This new law, which goes into effect on July 1, 2024, will allow owners of two rental properties, or no more than four, to request up to two months of rent.
AB 1620 – Rent Control: Requires that tenants in rent-controlled units who have permanent disabilities related to mobility be allowed to relocate to an available and accessible unit at the same rental rate and terms. This requirement, which goes into effect on Jan. 1, applies to properties with five or more rental units.
SB 267 – Credit History: Prohibits the use of a person’s credit history as part of the application process for a rental housing accommodation. Applications must offer the option to provide reasonable evidence to pay such as government benefit payments, pay records and bank statements. This law goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2024.
Transportation and Traffic Laws
AB 1909 – Bicycle Signals: Beginning on Jan. 1, 2024, bicyclists are required to obey bicycle signals whenever an official traffic control signal exhibiting different colored bicycle symbols is shown concurrently with official traffic control signals or pedestrian control signals exhibiting different colored lights or arrows.
AB 643 – Speed Cameras: This bill would allow the cities of Long Beach, San Jose, Oakland, Glendale, Los Angeles and San Francisco to establish a Speed Safety System Pilot Program. The program would require the listed cities to engage in a 30-day public information campaign before implementation to determine where systems would be detecting violations. Violations captured by speed cameras will be subject to civil penalties up to $25. The pilot program is authorized until 2032.
AB 410 – Shared Mobility Devices: Beginning on Jan. 1, 2024, the definition of mobility devices is expanded to include electrically motorized board, motorized scooter, electric and non-electric bicycles. The new law would require a shared mobility service provider to place a tactile sign containing raised characters and accompanying braille, as specified, to identify the device for the purpose of reporting illegal or negligent activity.
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