SB 272: Organ Donor/Bone Marrow Leave of Absence. This leave of absence already existed, but the new amendments make it clear that the 30 day leave for organ donation is 30 business days, not calendar days, and that during this leave seniority and benefits, including vacation, continue to accrue.
SB 299: Health Insurance Coverage for Pregnancy Disability Leave (“PDL”). Under the old law, if an employer had fewer than 50 employees, the employer did not have to pay for health insurance for employees out on PDL. Moreover, if an employer had 50 or more employees within a 75 mile radius, the employer had to pay for health insurance coverage for employees out on PDL, but only for 3 months, not 4. The new law provides that all employers with 5 or more employees must pay for health insurance coverage for employees out on PDL for the full duration of the PDL, which can be up to 4 months.
AB 22: Credit Checks. Under the old law, employers could use employee’s credit reports to make hiring decisions, as long as the potential employee was notified. Now, Employers may not use credit checks at all, except when hiring for certain specified positions, such as managers and persons who will have access to the employer’s trade secrets or funds.
–Adam K. Treiger