Members Only

Welcome to information for Chamber Members Only!

Log in to Catalina Chamber Weblink Site

Visitor Count Reports (pdf files)

Through June 2010

Laws Affecting Business in 2010

The California Chamber of Commerce has released a list of new laws scheduled to take effect in 2010, which will have an effect on businesses in California.

• New I-9 Form:  Revised August 7, 2009, the new Form I-9 contains an updated list of acceptable documents that employees must present upon hiring.  The new form also bears a note that all documents presented to establish identity and/or ability to work in the United States must not be expired.
  
• E-Verify Required for Federal Contractors:  Federal contractors and subcontractors must use the E-Verify system when hiring employees.  Other employers may use the verification system if they wish to do so.  E-Verify compares Form I-9 document information against federal government databases to verify employment eligibility.
  
•  Increase in State Withholding:  State withholding increased on November 1, 2009.  There is a 10% mandatory increase on employee withholdings, a 0.6% increase in supplemental wage withholding and a 1.2% increase on wage stock options and bonus payments.
  
• Alternative Workweek Schedules:  The law regarding alternative workweek schedules was amended to permit an eight-hour day as a valid alternative schedule.  Additionally, the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE) issued an opinion letter stating that under some circumstances, an alternative workweek schedule may be in place for less than a full year  -  for example, during the summer months only.
  
• FMLA Amendments:  Federal legislation changed the definition of which service members are covered for leave under the "qualifying exigency" category.  For regular Armed Forces members, "covered active duty" means duty during the deployment with the Armed Forces to a foreign country.  Reservists are covered when they are on duty during deployment with the Armed Forces to a foreign country or notified of an impending call to active duty.
  
• Civil Air Patrol Leave:  Employers with more than 15 employees are subject to a new leave for employees who are volunteer members of the Civil Air Patrol.
  
• Minimum Wage for Exempt Computer Professionals and Licensed Physicians:  Rates for exempt computer professionals and licensed physicians do not change for 2010.  The current rates for these professionals are:
  
  • Computer Professionals:
    
    • $37.94/hour
      
    • $6,587.50/month
      
    • $79,050/year
      
  • Licensed Physicians:
    
    • $69.13/hour
      
• Safety:  AB 1083 (John A. Perez; D-Los Angeles) adds requirements to the Health and Safety Code requiring all licensed hospitals to annually conduct a safety and security assessment.  SB 188 (Runner; R-Lancaster) amends the Code of Civil Procedure to permit post-secondary education institutions to seek temporary restraining orders and an injunction on behalf of a student or students.  This requires written consent of the student(s).
  
• Workers' Compensation Cannot Be Denied:  Workers' compensation cannot be denied because an employee was killed by a third party in the course of the employee's work, no personal relationship existed between them and the injury/death was because of third party's personal belief relating to the employee's race, religion, color, national origin, age, gender, disability, sex or sexual orientation.