Laura Curtis
Laura E. Curtis served as a CalChamber policy advocate from December 2017 to March 4, 2020. She specialized in labor and employment, workers’ compensation, and regulatory reform issues. Before joining the CalChamber policy team, she was a labor and employment attorney counseling clients on subjects including wage-and-hour disputes, harassment, discrimination, retaliation, Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) claims, and administrative agency compliance. Curtis holds a B.A. in communications with a minor in political science from the University of California, San Diego. She earned a J.D. from Santa Clara University School of Law, where she worked on the International Law Journal.
Oh, What a Relief It Isn’t – AB 5 and the B2B Exemption
The new law governing independent contracting, AB 5, includes what can be described as a business-to-business (B2B) exemption. But a close examination of the...
Sweetened Beverage Bill Tabled, Workers’ Comp Bill Falls Short
Two more job killer bills failed to advance this week in the face of strong concern about their negative impacts.
• The author of AB 138...
Assembly Policy Committee to Hear Bills Expanding Leaves of Absence
The Assembly Labor and Employment Committee will consider two California Chamber of Commerce-opposed bills that would add another layer of burdens on employers and...
Senate Policy Committee to Consider Bills Increasing Litigation
Two California Chamber of Commerce-opposed bills that could expose employers to costly litigation will be heard in the Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement...
Assembly Committee to Consider CalChamber-Opposed Labor/Employment Bills
Three California Chamber of Commerce-opposed bills that could cause confusion, expand employer liability and increase litigation will be considered in the Assembly Labor and...
Assembly Committee to Hold Informational Hearing on Dynamex Today
The Assembly Labor and Employment Committee today will hold an informational hearing on the decision issued last April by the California Supreme Court that...
SB 1300 Expands FEHA Litigation
Last fall, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. signed SB 1300 (Jackson; D-Santa Barbara), a comprehensive bill that makes several changes in the law for litigating...
Agency Proceeds with Regulatory Amendments, Despite Employer Concerns
Despite concerns raised by a California Chamber of Commerce-led coalition that proposed regulations regarding harassment and discrimination prevention and training will cause legal inconsistencies,...
CalChamber-Led Coalition Continues to Seek Changes to Confusing Regulations
The California Chamber of Commerce continues to seek technical changes to state regulations proposed to implement the New Parent Leave Act (NPLA) and the...
CalChamber-Led Coalition: Overly Broad, Confusing Regulations Will Make It Difficult for Employers to Comply
The California Chamber of Commerce is leading a coalition seeking technical changes to state regulations proposed to implement two laws that went into effect...
Two Employment-Related Bills Headed to Governor’s Desk; CalChamber Urges Vetoes
Two California Chamber of Commerce-opposed employment-related bills that deal with harassment and discrimination claims, and create other legal predicaments for California companies have passed...
Job Killer Update: Employment-Related Bill Amended and Removed from List
A California Chamber of Commerce-opposed bill dealing with harassment and discrimination claims has been removed from the job killer list.
SB 1300 (Jackson; D-Santa Barbara)...
Job Killer Update: Pay Data Disclosure Bill Amended to Remove Job Killer Status
As a result of recent amendments, a California Chamber of Commerce-opposed bill dealing with pay data disclosure has been removed from the job killer...
Governor Signs CalChamber-Sponsored Bill Protecting Victims/ Employers from Serial Harassers
Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. yesterday signed a California Chamber of Commerce-sponsored job creator bill that protects sexual harassment victims and employers from being...
CalChamber-Sponsored Bill to Protect Harassment Victims Goes to Governor
A California Chamber of Commerce-sponsored job creator bill that protects sexual harassment victims and employers from being sued for defamation has been sent to...
Job Killer Update: Two Employment-Related Bills in Committee Today
The Assembly Judiciary Committee today will consider two California Chamber of Commerce-opposed job killers, one dealing with disclosing pay data and the other about...
Legislative Preview: Votes to be Cast Today on CalChamber-Sponsored Bill, CalChamber-Opposed Measures
Legislative committee hearings today will give lawmakers a chance to cast votes to protect sexual harassment victims and employers from being sued for defamation,...
Assembly Judiciary Passes Two CalChamber-Opposed Employment Bills
California Chamber of Commerce policy advocates yesterday highlighted for the Assembly Judiciary Committee problems with two employment-related bills. Even so, the committee approved, 7-3,...
High Court Decisions Leave Employers with Uncertainty
Labor Law Standards Subject to Interpretation
California employers are once again left with uncertainty regarding the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE) Enforcement Policies and Interpretations...
Is Worker an Employee or Independent Contractor?
Two Court Cases Review Complex Issue
Properly classifying an individual as an employee versus an independent contractor has always been a daunting task for any...