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New Laws Will Impact Public Work Projects

Governor Gavin Newsom has signed two laws that will impact public works contracts in California. Assembly Bill (AB) 456 extends the operative date for the current contractor claims resolution process to January 1, 2027.

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California Expands Definition Of Domestic Partners To Include Opposite Sex Couples

In California, registered domestic partners have "the same rights, protections, and benefits, and shall be subject to the same responsibilities, obligations, and duties under the law" as spouses.

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State Clarifies Compliance Timeline For Employer Harassment Prevention Training

Senate Bill (SB) 1343, enacted in September 2018, required employers with five or more employees to provide two hours of interactive sexual harassment prevention training to supervisory employees, and at least one hour of interactive sexual harassment training to nonsupervisory employees by January 1, 2020.

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Law Enforcement Agencies May Disclose Officer Information To Prosecutors

The California Supreme Court has decided the case of Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs v. Superior Court, concluding that the Pitchess statutes permit law enforcement agencies to disclose information to the prosecutor about an officer who is a witness in a prosecution case, where the officer has exonerating or impeaching material in their personnel file.

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New Law Will Significantly Impact Local Agencies' Disposition Of Property; Impact On School Districts Is Limited

On October 9, 2019, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law a bill that will have sweeping effects on local agencies disposing of real property under the California Surplus Land Act.

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PERB Articulates Duties Of Employer When Faced With Internal Union Strife

In City of Arcadia (2019) PERB Dec. No. 2648-M, the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) grappled with a variety of issues surrounding a public employer's duties in the face of warring factions within one of its unions, as well as the propriety of "exploding" offers-an offer or proposal that expires on a given date-in the context of labor negotiations.

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AB 392 Changes Use of Force Standards

Governor Gavin Newsom has signed the California Act to Save Lives (AB 392) into law. AB 392 modifies the standards surrounding the use of deadly force by Police and other peace officers in the line of duty.

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Significant New Developer Fee Cases

As part of an uptick of cases in recent years regarding school impact fees, two recent cases argued by Lozano Smith on behalf of school districts have been decided by the California Sixth District Court of Appeal, with mixed results.

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California Supreme Court Holds Firefighting Immunity Under California's Government Claims Act Is A Waivable Affirmative Defense

As part of an uptick of cases in recent years regarding school impact fees, two recent cases argued by Lozano Smith on behalf of school districts have been decided by the California Sixth District Court of Appeal, with mixed results.

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