New California Laws in 2021

By edhat staff

There are a ton of new laws on the books in California for 2021. Below is a recap of some of the most noteworthy laws, courtesy of Cap Radio.

COVID-19 Workplace Rules

AB 685: Requires employers to notify workers of potential worksite COVID-19 exposures, report outbreaks to public health departments and gives Cal/OSHA more teeth to enforce pandemic safety violations in the workplace.

COVID-19 Worker’s Compensation

SB 1159: Creates a disputable presumption that death or illness related to COVID-19 is an occupational injury eligible for workers’ compensation benefits.

County Oversight of Sheriff’s Offices

AB 1185: Would allow counties to implement sheriff’s review boards or an inspector general to oversee the department and launch investigations.

State Investigation of Police Shootings

AB 1506: Would require state-led investigations into police shootings of unarmed civilians and, starting in 2023, would require the state Department of Justice to review use of force policies upon request of local law enforcement agencies.

Equal Insurance Coverage for Mental Health

SB 855: This bill requires health plans to cover medically necessary treatment for all recognized mental health and substance abuse disorders. Before this law, Californian insurers were only required to cover treatments for nine specified mental health disorders.

Increase in Generic Prescription Drugs

SB 852: Requires the California Health and Human Services Agency to enter partnerships to produce and distribute affordable generic prescription drugs.

Expanded Family Leave

SB 1383: Gives workers at small businesses job protection if they take time to care for a family member, and expands the types of situations that are eligible for protected leave, including domestic partners, grandparents, grandchildren, siblings and parents-in-law.

Worker Classification Exemptions

AB 2257: Exempts certain professions — such as musicians, writers, landscape architects and a host of other professional services from AB 5, a law signed last year that required the reclassification of many contractors to employees.

Protections for Student Loan Borrowers

AB 376: Creates a Student Loan Borrower Bill of Rights, which sets minimum standards for student loan companies and a Student Loan Ombudsman to advocate for borrowers. It also enacts special protections for military families, teachers, other public service workers, borrowers who have disabilities and older Americans.

Employer Pay Gap Data

SB 973: Requires companies with 100 or more employees to report pay data by gender, race and ethnicity annually.

Underrepresented Communities on Boards of Directors

SB 979: This law requires publicly-held corporations whose principal executive office is in the state of California to include at least one director from underrepresented communities on its board by the end of 2021.

Hot Car Rules

It is now lawful for anyone to try and break into a car to rescue a child that was left inside unattended. The rescuer will be protected from civil or criminal liability for property damage or trespassing. (

Minimum Wage Increase

The state’s minimum wage has increased to $14 at companies with 26 or more employees and $13 at companies smaller than that. It’s part of the phased increases that will eventually make the state’s minimum wage $15. 

Inmate Firefighters Get More Options

Anyone who worked on inmate fire crews while incarcerated can now petition the court upon release to have their records cleared. This makes it easier for them to get a job after release, including as a professional firefighter. Those convicted of sex offenses and certain violent felonies are exempt.