Perhaps the California legislature passed fewer laws this past year due to the pandemic or the general election, but here are the major new laws coming to the Golden State in 2021.
Image Source: ppic.org
More Employees Will Have Guaranteed 12 Weeks of Unpaid Family Leave. Currently, the California Family Rights Act (“CFRA”) requires companies with 50 or more employees to offer 12 weeks of unpaid family leave. In 2021, companies with just 5 or more employees must grant the same amount of unpaid family leave. SB 1383.
Due to the passage of Prop 19, beginning on February 16, 2021, parents or grandparents can no longer transfer primary residential properties to their children or grandchildren without the property tax resetting to market value. However, if a child or grandchild chooses to keep the inherited real property and use it as their primary residence, then up to $1 million of the reassessed value will be excluded from the new property-tax basis.
The minimum wage in California increases to $14/hour on January 1, 2021, for employers with 26 or more employees. Businesses with 25 or fewer employers must increase minimum wage to $13 per hour.
From 2021 to 2023, a new CA law will require businesses to notify employees and the general public of a coronavirus exposure at the workplace within a day of exposure.
Forcing diversity in corporate boards of directors. By the end of 2021, any corporate board with at least five members must also now have at least two women, and any board with six members has to have three women. In addition, boards must also appoint at least one director from an “underrepresented community” who self-identifies as Black, African American, Hispanic, Latino, Asian, Pacific Islander, Native American, Native Hawaiian or Alaska Native, or gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender.
AB 1196 prohibits police in California from using chokeholds and carotid holds.
Law enforcement in California will no longer be allowed to wear uniforms that have camouflage or otherwise resemble military uniforms.
The new California Racial Justice Act prohibits state prosecutors from using discriminating means to seek or to obtain a conviction or sentence. AB 2542 states that if a suspect can show racial bias in case, they may be entitled to new trial or sentence.
What do you think of these new laws? More reasons to stay in or leave California? Are there any news laws you wished were passed?
