BILL NUMBER:  SB 654
  VETOED	DATE: 09/30/2016




To the Members of the California State Senate:

I am returning Senate Bill 654 without my signature.

This bill establishes an unpaid, job protected parental leave
requirement that applies to businesses with 20 or more employees and
allows workers to take up to 6 weeks of parental leave to bond with a
new child.

It goes without saying that allowing new parents to bond with a child
is very important and the state has a number of paid and unpaid
benefit programs to provide for that leave. I am concerned, however,
about the impact of this leave particularly on small businesses and
the potential liability that could result. As I understand, an
amendment was offered that would allow an employee and employer to
pursue mediation prior to a lawsuit being brought. I believe this is
a viable option that should be explored by the author.

Sincerely,



Edmund G. Brown Jr.