Employment & Worker Protection · California
California Paid Sick Leave + Paid Family Leave
AB 1522 / SB 3 - enacted in California.
- Enacted
- Status
- 2023
- Enacted
- 51
- States with employment & worker protection laws
- 100/100
- California strictness
The bottom line
California Paid Sick Leave + Paid Family Leave is an enacted law in California, part of a mature, broadly-adopted employment & worker protection landscape.
- Enacted
- effective 2024-01-01
- 51
- states have employment & worker protection laws
- 107/107
- employment & worker protection laws enacted nationally
- 100/100
- California strictness score
Data compiled 2026-03-18 from the official California legislative record linked below; laws can be amended or repealed after this date.
Regulatory Snapshot: California Paid Sick Leave + Paid Family Leave
California Paid Sick Leave + Paid Family Leave (AB 1522 / SB 3) is an enacted law in California under the Employment & Worker Protection category. It was enacted on 2023-10-04 and becomes effective on 2024-01-01. California currently reports 12 tracked regulations with 12 already in force, giving the state a regulatory strictness score of 100/100 relative to the national baseline. PlainRegWatch compiled this entry's data on 2026-03-18; consult the linked official source for the current, authoritative text.
Nationally, 107 employment & worker protection statutes have been enacted and 0 additional bills remain pending - 51 distinct jurisdictions have codified rules in this area so far. That places California within a mature and broadly adopted employment & worker protection landscape where compliance programs typically hinge on definitions in AB 1522 / SB 3 itself.
Applicability under California Paid Sick Leave + Paid Family Leave: All CA employees after 30 days. Penalty exposure is documented as: DLSE enforcement. Back pay + $250/day administrative penalties. Notable exemptions: Certain union employees (if CBA provides equivalent). Outside salespeople..
Summary
California employees accrue 5 paid sick days/year. State-run Paid Family Leave (PFL) provides 8 weeks at 70-90% wages for family/medical leave.
Key Requirements
Paid sick: 5 days/year (Jan 2024). PFL: 8 weeks for bonding, caregiving. SDI: covers own illness. All employers regardless of size.
Penalties
DLSE enforcement. Back pay + $250/day administrative penalties.
Applicability
All CA employees after 30 days.
Exemptions
Certain union employees (if CBA provides equivalent). Outside salespeople.
Official Source
https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/paid_sick_leave.htmHow California compares on employment & worker protection
51 states regulate employment & worker protection - California ranks #1 by overall regulatory strictness. Bar = state strictness score (0–100).
| # | State | Strictness |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California (this state) | 100 |
| 2 | Colorado | 76 |
| 3 | Texas | 69 |
| 4 | Connecticut | 62 |
| 5 | Illinois | 62 |
| 6 | Minnesota | 62 |
| 7 | New York | 62 |
| 8 | Oregon | 62 |
| 9 | Washington | 62 |
| 10 | Delaware | 59 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which states have employment & worker protection regulations?
As of the last verification, 51 states have enacted employment & worker protection regulations, with 0 additional bills pending across other states. California is among the states that has enacted such legislation. Browse all employment & worker protection regulations at plainregwatch.com for the complete state-by-state comparison.
When was California Paid Sick Leave + Paid Family Leave enacted?
California Paid Sick Leave + Paid Family Leave was enacted on 2023-10-04 and became effective on 2024-01-01. It was introduced as AB 1522 / SB 3.
What are the penalties for violating California Paid Sick Leave + Paid Family Leave?
DLSE enforcement. Back pay + $250/day administrative penalties. Note that enforcement mechanisms and penalty structures may vary. Consult the official statute and qualified legal counsel for specific compliance requirements.
Does California Paid Sick Leave + Paid Family Leave apply to small businesses?
All CA employees after 30 days. Many state regulations include thresholds or exemptions for smaller organizations. Review the full applicability criteria and consult legal counsel to determine your obligations.
How does California compare to other states on employment & worker protection?
California has a regulatory strictness score of 100/100, based on 12 enacted regulations out of 12 tracked. Nationally, 51 states have enacted employment & worker protection laws. Visit our state comparison page for a full ranking.
Where can I read the full text of California Paid Sick Leave + Paid Family Leave?
The official text of California Paid Sick Leave + Paid Family Leave (AB 1522 / SB 3) is available from the California legislature. PlainRegWatch links to the official source for every tracked regulation. We recommend reviewing the full statute alongside qualified legal counsel for compliance planning.
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Disclaimer: This summary is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Regulation details may have changed since this data was compiled (2026-03-18). Always consult official sources and qualified legal counsel for compliance guidance.
More California Regulations
The bottom line
This law is already in force - here's what matters for employment & worker protection compliance.
- California Paid Sick Leave + Paid Family Leave is enacted in California, effective 2024-01-01. Official source
- 51 states now regulate employment & worker protection; California ranks #1 by strictness - compare requirements before you operate across state lines. Compare states
- See every regulation California tracks across all five policy areas. California profile
Summaries are general information, not legal advice; always confirm against the official statute and qualified counsel.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Verify with the official California source →
Every figure on PlainRegWatch is rendered directly from state source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal and state source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.