BILL NUMBER: AB 2535	CHAPTERED  09/08/00

	CHAPTER   361
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE   SEPTEMBER 8, 2000
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR   SEPTEMBER 7, 2000
	PASSED THE SENATE   AUGUST 18, 2000
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY   MAY 25, 2000
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   MAY 22, 2000
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   APRIL 25, 2000

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Oller

                        FEBRUARY 24, 2000

   An act to add Section 230.4 to the Labor Code, relating to
volunteer firefighters.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2535, Oller.  Volunteer firefighters.
   Existing law provides that no employer shall discharge or in any
manner discriminate against an employee for taking time off to
perform emergency duty as a volunteer firefighter.
   This bill, in addition, would provide that an employee who is a
volunteer firefighter and who works for an employer employing 50 or
more employees shall be permitted to take leaves of absence, not to
exceed an aggregate of 14 days per calendar year, for the purpose of
engaging in fire or law enforcement training.
   The bill would also provide that an employee subject to the bill
who is discharged, threatened with discharge, demoted, suspended, or
otherwise discriminated against by the employer for taking time off
as authorized by the bill is entitled to reinstatement and
reimbursement for lost wages and work benefits pursuant to specified
remedies under existing law.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Section 230.4 is added to the Labor Code, to read:
   230.4.  (a) An employee who is a volunteer firefighter, and works
for an employer employing 50 or more employees, shall be permitted to
take temporary leaves of absence, not to exceed an aggregate of 14
days per calendar year, for the purpose of engaging in fire or law
enforcement training.
   (b) An employee who works for an employer employing 50 or more
employees who is discharged, threatened with discharge, demoted,
suspended, or in any other manner discriminated against in the terms
and conditions of employment by his or her employer because the
employee has taken time off to engage in fire or law enforcement
training as provided in subdivision (a), is entitled to reinstatement
and reimbursement for lost wages and work benefits caused by the
acts of the employer.
   (c) An employee seeking reinstatement and reimbursement pursuant
to this section may file a complaint with the Division of Labor
Standards Enforcement in accordance with Section 98.7, and upon
receipt of such a complaint, the Labor Commissioner shall proceed as
provided in that section.