Gas Tax increase, Changes in Human Resource regulations for CA employers

SB 1 goes into effect this week

On Nov. 1, the 12 cent gas tax increase goes into effect to help fund $5.2 billion annually in road, bridge and highway infrastructure. The Chamber is working with CalTrans and other state partners to roll-out information on the immediate impacts the funds will have on our local communities.

Following the 2017 legislative session, here are upcoming California Human Resource changes

With the 2017 legislative session complete, there are a number of bills that your Human Resources manager should be aware of:

• The New Parent Leave Act (SB 63) requires small businesses with as few as 20 employees to provide up 12 work weeks of unpaid parental leave to bond with a new child.
• Assembly Bill 1008 is ban-the-box legislation that prohibits employers with five or more employees from asking about criminal history information on job applications and from inquiring about, or considering, criminal history at any time before a conditional offer of employment has been made.
• Assembly Bill 168 bans employers from asking about or considering a job applicant's prior salary history in determining whether to hire the applicant or how much to pay the applicant. An employer can also be penalized for not providing a pay scale for the position upon demand.
• Senate Bill 396 requires expansion of mandatory supervisor sexual harassment prevention training to include information on gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation.
• The Immigrant Worker Protection Act (AB 450) shields workers from immigration enforcement while on the job. The legislation prohibits employers from providing federal immigration enforcement agents access to a business without a warrant and requires employers to notify employees of Form I-9 inspections performed by federal immigration enforcement officials.