Employment Law Commentary: A New Day in the California Legislature for Labor Legislation: A Governor Who Will Sign the Bills

During the eight years of the Wilson Administration, over 250 pieces of labor legislation passed by the Democratically controlled state Legislature were vetoed by Republican Governor Pete Wilson. During the prior eight years, Governor Deukmejian also vetoed many bills that were proposed by labor and other employee-oriented organizations and passed by the Democratic Legislature. In the aftermath of the 1998 elections, there is something of a frenzy of labor legislation in Sacramento as the Legislature continues to be controlled by the Democrats and now, for the first time in 16 years, a Democratic governor (Gray Davis) is in office who will sign labor-backed legislation. Not only can 16 years of vetoes be reversed, but 16 years of administrative policies and enforcement procedures implemented by the two Republican administrations can be modified.

Over the last few months, a number of labor-backed bills which are opposed by most of the employer associations that lobby in Sacramento have advanced in the Legislature. Following is a brief description of the most important bills and their current status. Most, if not all, of these bills are likely to pass in some form and will be signed by Governor Davis.