Governor Vetoes Expansion of Medical Leave

On Sunday, October 11, the Governor vetoed SB 406, which would have expanded the California Family Rights Act (CFRA). SB 406 would have allowed an employee to use CFRA leave to care for a sibling, grandparent, grandchild, domestic partner, or parent-in-law with a serious health condition. The current law does not include these family members. SB 406 would also allow parents working for the same employer to each take 12 weeks of leave for the birth of a child. The CFRA only allows parents to take a combined 12 week leave.

The Governor's veto message stated that he was open to allowing workers to take leave for additional family members. The bill failed, however, because it could require employers to provide up to 24 weeks on family leave in a 12 month period. Had SB 406 limited the leave period to a total of 12 weeks under both the CFRA and FMLA, it is likely it would have passed.

State Legislature Approves Workers' Compensation Bills Benefiting Peace Officers

Both houses of the state legislature passed two workers' compensation bills benefiting peace officers. The legislature passed AB 2052, expanding the classes of peace officers eligible for presumptions. Also, the legislature passed AB 2378, declaring that salary continuation payments to peace officers under Labor Code 4850 do not count towards the two-year cap on temporary disability benefits. This would allow for two full years of temporary disability payments to peace officers in addition to the one year of 4850 benefits. The bills will now go to Governor Jerry Brown to sign, approve without signing, or veto.