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One to Keep An Eye On: Unpaid Leave (California)


As with many employment and labor law related cases (and bills) being litigated around the country, there are always a few that stand out.

This is one to keep an eye on.


Senate Bill 63 (often derided as a "job killer" bill) which would provide 12 weeks of unpaid maternity and paternity leave, is on its way to California Governor Jerry Brown's desk for signature.  

Currently, businesses in the state that employ at least 50 workers are required to provide unpaid maternity and paternity leave.  State Senator Hannah-Beth Jenkins introduced a bill last year which would have required business with at least 20 workers to provide 6 weeks of unpaid protected leave.  After that bill cleared the State Legislature, Governor Brown vetoed it.  Not to be undone, Senator Jenkins came back to the table with Senate Bill 63 (which as noted, doubled the required unpaid leave that would be required of employers).

Last Tuesday, the Assembly floor voted 51 - 15 in favor of passage of the bill.  Last Wednesday, the Senate voted 25 - 13 in favor of the bill.  At this time, Senate Bill 63 is on Governor Brown's desk awaiting his signature or veto.  I have yet to hear any rumblings in regard to what Governor Brown will do with this version of unpaid leave.  While I could certainly see him again vetoing this bill, now that he is in his fourth and final term as Governor, he might feel less restrained and prohibited to veto this version of unpaid leave.


A copy of Senate Bill 63 can be found here:  http://hr.cch.com/ELD/CalifSB63.pdf

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