SB 1444 is an employment omnibus measure addressing several areas of public employment law. Existing law governs CalPERS retirement option elections, Labor Commissioner wage proceedings, independent-contractor misclassification penalties, workers’ compensation presumptions for specified first responders, and unemployment insurance reporting by school employers.
SB 1444 makes several changes. SB 1444 increases from 30 to 60 days the period in which a CalPERS member may make, revoke, or change specified retirement option elections after the first retirement payment. SB 1444 requires parties in Labor Commissioner proceedings to keep their electronic address current and generally requires represented parties to accept electronic service. SB 1444 clarifies enforcement of civil penalties for employee misclassification. For worker’s compensation, SB 1444 removes the requirement that certain airport firefighters be trained and certified under Fire Control 5 for specified cancer and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD) presumption to apply. SB 1444 also modifies unemployment insurance and reporting requirements applicable to school employers and the Employment Development Department.
Affected public employers should review CalPERS retirement communications, Labor Commissioner service procedures, workers’ compensation presumptions applicable to airport firefighters, and school-employer unemployment reporting practices for consistency with the new rules.
SB 1444 amends Government Code section 21472; Labor Code sections 98, 98.1, 226.8, 3212.1, 3212.15, 3212.6, 3212.8, 3212.85, and 3212.9; and Unemployment Insurance Code section 832 and 4902.
