California’s New Laws for 2024
California lawmakers passed hundreds of new laws that took effect on January 1. Here’s a breakdown of the ones that impact our Castro Valley community.
Working for minimum wage? It’s now $16 an hour in California. That’s a 50-cent bump from last year. Of course, it depends on where you work and what you do for a living. Cities like San Francisco and Berkeley pay $18.07 per hour, while Oakland pays $17.94 per hour with health benefits. Healthcare workers in the state must be paid a $23 per hour minimum starting June 1, according to Senate Bill 252. Also, if you partake of cannabis when you are not on the clock, Senate Bill 700 makes it illegal for your employer to discriminate against you in hiring, firing, or any condition of employment.
Working from home? Many employers are asking workers to return to the office. Senate Bill 731 says your employer must give you a 30-day advance written notice before requiring you to return to in-person settings. Of course, employees have the right to work virtually as accommodation, if applicable, to their disabilities.
Having a baby? Senate Bill 848 requires employers to offer reproductive leave within three months of the event, which must be separate from your other time-off benefits. Additionally, you now have five days off for a death in the family. If you are feeling sick, Senate Bill 616 says your boss must give you at least 40 hours or five days of accrued sick leave or paid time off in a 12-month period if you have worked for them at least 30 days.
Renting? There are a batch of new laws protecting tenants, including capping security deposits at one month’s rent, even if the unit is furnished or not (Assembly Bill 12), prohibiting the use of a person’s credit history as part of the application process (Senate Bill 267), and protections for tenants in rent-controlled units who have permanent disabilities related to mobility. With the passage of Assembly Bill 1620, these tenants can relocate to an available and accessible unit at the same rental rate and terms. This only applies to housing with five or more units.
Ride a bike? A new section to Assembly Bill 1909 (the OmniBike Bill) allows you and your bike to cross an intersection if the “WALK” or “Walking Person” appears in your direction. Cars and trucks must now completely change lanes before passing you if the lane change can be done safely. This adds to the requirement that motorists stay at least three feet away from cyclists.
Camping at a State Park? You could be charged fees, including the cost of the first night, if you cancel your reservation somewhere between two and six days of your stay, according to Assembly Bill 618.
Creation of an Ebony Alert. Like an Amber Alert for abducted minors and Silver Alert for lost seniors, Senate Bill 673 creates a new emergency alert used to help locate missing Black women and youth.
Public safety changes. According to Senate Bill 2, you are prevented from concealed carrying of a firearm in some public spaces, including sidewalks and school zones. Law enforcement will also increase the potential prison sentences for criminals convicted of dealing high amounts of fentanyl with the passage of Assembly Bill 701. Senate Bill 14 now classifies child sex trafficking as a serious felony. It includes harsher penalties if you are convicted of such crimes.
LGBTQ support. The California Department of Social Services will need to make sure LGBTQ youth are placed with supportive and gender-affirming foster parents, according to Senate Bill 407. The law requires a family to demonstrate the ability and willingness to meet a child's needs, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. Also, if a department store has at least 500 employees in California, they are required to have a gender-neutral section of children's toys, thanks to Assembly Bill 1084.