SACRAMENTO — Ride-share company Uber and on-demand meal delivery service Postmates sued Monday to block a broad new California law aimed at giving wage and benefit protections to people who work as independent contractors. The lawsuit filed in U.S. court in Los Angeles argues that the law set to take...
Should Therapists Be Mandatory Child Porn Reporters?
SACRAMENTO — The California Supreme Court revived a long-running debate Thursday when it reinstated a lawsuit over whether psychotherapists must tell authorities when patients report they are attracted to child pornography. Lower courts had tossed out the lawsuit by three therapists who argued that California's mandatory reporting law violates patient...
Women in Boardroom Law: Are Fresno Companies Complying?
California's women in the boardroom law goes into effect Jan. 1. Authored by Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara), it mandates that the boards of publicly traded companies have women directors. Three such companies in Fresno County, all banks, qualify and have already met the first step — one woman by...
Opponents Drop Bid to Block California Vaccination Law
SACRAMENTO — Opponents on Monday dropped their attempt to block California’s new law cracking down on doctors who write fraudulent medical exemptions for school children's vaccinations. They had floated two measures that could have put the Jan. 1 law on hold until voters considered overturning it next year, but did...
Supreme Court Leaves Kentucky's Ultrasound Law in Place
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Monday left in place a Kentucky law requiring doctors to perform ultrasounds and show fetal images to patients before abortions. The justices did not comment in refusing to review an appeals court ruling that upheld the law. The American Civil Liberties Union had challenged...
California Sued Again for Requiring Women on Company Boards
SACRAMENTO — California's first-in-the-nation law requiring publicly held companies to put women on their boards of directors is facing a second legal challenge. The law requires publicly traded companies to have at least one woman on their boards by the end of this year. By 2021, boards with five members...
State Lawmakers Block Expansion of Data Privacy Law
SACRAMENTO — California lawmakers blocked an effort to expand the state's sweeping new data privacy law Thursday, handing a victory to the tech industry as it faces mounting scrutiny over how it collects, stores and sells consumers' information. The California Consumer Privacy Act will be the first of its kind...
Walters: A Crackdown on Misuse of Taxpayer Money?
As documented in this space on several occasions, local government officials throughout California have been thumbing their noses at a state law that prohibits them from using taxpayer funds for political campaigns. Officials in cities, counties, school districts and special purpose districts routinely hire campaign management firms, often with multi-million-dollar...
California Bill Would Seal 8 Million Criminal Convictions
SAN FRANCISCO — A Northern California lawmaker and district attorney announced Thursday a proposed law that would automatically clear some 8 million criminal convictions eligible for sealing but that remain public records. San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon and state Democratic Assemblyman Phil Ting of San Francisco said the bill...
May I Please Have a Straw for Me & a Soda for the Kid?
SACRAMENTO — If you want a straw with your drink or a soda with a kids' meal at a California restaurant, you'll need to ask for them starting next year. A law signed Thursday by Gov. Jerry Brown makes California the first state to bar full-service restaurants from automatically giving...