Edhat Staff
By edhat staff
There are a ton of new laws on the books in California for 2021. Below is a recap of some of the most noteworthy laws, courtesy of Cap Radio.
COVID-19 Workplace Rules
AB 685: Requires employers to notify workers of potential worksite COVID-19 exposures, report outbreaks to public health departments and gives Cal/OSHA more teeth to enforce pandemic safety violations in the workplace.
COVID-19 Worker’s Compensation
SB 1159: Creates a disputable presumption that death or illness related to COVID-19 is an occupational injury eligible for workers’ compensation benefits.
County Oversight of Sheriff’s Offices
AB 1185: Would allow counties to implement sheriff’s review boards or an inspector general to oversee the department and launch investigations.
State Investigation of Police Shootings
AB 1506: Would require state-led investigations into police shootings of unarmed civilians and, starting in 2023, would require the state Department of Justice to review use of force policies upon request of local law enforcement agencies.
Equal Insurance Coverage for Mental Health
SB 855: This bill requires health plans to cover medically necessary treatment for all recognized mental health and substance abuse disorders. Before this law, Californian insurers were only required to cover treatments for nine specified mental health disorders.
Increase in Generic Prescription Drugs
SB 852: Requires the California Health and Human Services Agency to enter partnerships to produce and distribute affordable generic prescription drugs.
Expanded Family Leave
SB 1383: Gives workers at small businesses job protection if they take time to care for a family member, and expands the types of situations that are eligible for protected leave, including domestic partners, grandparents, grandchildren, siblings and parents-in-law.
Worker Classification Exemptions
AB 2257: Exempts certain professions — such as musicians, writers, landscape architects and a host of other professional services from AB 5, a law signed last year that required the reclassification of many contractors to employees.
Protections for Student Loan Borrowers
AB 376: Creates a Student Loan Borrower Bill of Rights, which sets minimum standards for student loan companies and a Student Loan Ombudsman to advocate for borrowers. It also enacts special protections for military families, teachers, other public service workers, borrowers who have disabilities and older Americans.
Employer Pay Gap Data
SB 973: Requires companies with 100 or more employees to report pay data by gender, race and ethnicity annually.
Underrepresented Communities on Boards of Directors
SB 979: This law requires publicly-held corporations whose principal executive office is in the state of California to include at least one director from underrepresented communities on its board by the end of 2021.
Hot Car Rules
It is now lawful for anyone to try and break into a car to rescue a child that was left inside unattended. The rescuer will be protected from civil or criminal liability for property damage or trespassing. (
Minimum Wage Increase
The state’s minimum wage has increased to $14 at companies with 26 or more employees and $13 at companies smaller than that. It’s part of the phased increases that will eventually make the state’s minimum wage $15.
Inmate Firefighters Get More Options
Anyone who worked on inmate fire crews while incarcerated can now petition the court upon release to have their records cleared. This makes it easier for them to get a job after release, including as a professional firefighter. Those convicted of sex offenses and certain violent felonies are exempt.
Menthol cigarettes can’t be sold anymore, but that actually works out because it’s cheaper to order them from other states.
For every new law we really need to start purging old/outdated laws.
Not to worry; the legislature will fix that next session by banning internet sales to CA., like they did with firearms ammunition. A democratic supermajority has given CA the feeling that they are Masters of the Universe. Like pot, if people want something, they will figure out a way to get it. The state decided legalizing pot – with taxes and regulation – would drive out the illegal sellers. Hasn’t turned out that way. Worst case people can grow their own, and pay no taxes. Ditto with ammo; people are manufacturing their own, or getting Uncle Billy in Arkansas or Texas, to send it to them. Same with menthol cigarettes and Vape; ads are already out there from all over the world.