California § 49110.5 - The week of each year that includes April 28 shall be known as

§ 49110.5. The week of each year that includes April 28 shall be known as

(a) The week of each year that includes April 28 shall be known as “Workplace Readiness Week.” All public high schools, including charter schools, shall annually observe that week by providing information to pupils on their rights as workers. The topics covered shall include, but are not limited to, all the following: (1) Local, state, and federal laws regarding each of the following issues: (A) Prohibitions against misclassification of employees as independent contractors. (B) Child labor. (C) Wage and hour protections. (D) Worker safety. (E) Workers’ compensation. (F) Unemployment insurance. (G) Paid Sick Leave, Paid Family Leave, State Disability Insurance, and the California Family Rights Act. (H) The right to organize a union in the workplace. (I) Prohibitions against retaliation by employers when workers exercise these or any other rights guaranteed by law. (2) The labor movement’s role in winning the protections and benefits described in subparagraphs (A) to (I), inclusive, of paragraph (1). (3) An introduction to state-approved apprenticeship programs in California, how to access them, the variety of programs available, and how they can provide an alternative career path for those who do not attend college. (b) For pupils in grades 11 and 12, the observances required by this section shall be integrated into the regular school program, consistent with the history-social science framework, but may also include special events after regular school hours. This integration is encouraged, but not required, to occur during Workplace Readiness Week. (c) (1) Beginning August 1, 2024, any minor seeking the signature of a verifying authority on a Statement of Intent to Employ a Minor and Request for a Work Permit-Certificate of Age under this chapter shall be issued, before or at the time of receiving the signature of the verifying authority, a document clearly explaining basic labor rights extended to workers. (2) Topics covered in this document shall include, but are not limited to, those identified in subparagraphs (A) to (I), inclusive, of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a). (3) The University of California Berkeley Center for Labor Research and Education is encouraged to produce, with input from bona fide labor organizations, a draft template for the document to be provided to minors, including translations into other languages, including, but not limited to, Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, Vietnamese, and Korean. (4) The document shall express these labor rights in plain, natural terminology easily understood by the pupil. (5) The document shall be in a physical form in English and shall include both a Uniform Resource Locator for, and a quick response code linked to, an internet website with electronic versions of the document, and any translated versions of the document, produced by the University of California Berkeley Center for Labor Research and Education pursuant to paragraph (3). (d) The Superintendent shall annually send a written notice, detailing requirements of Workplace Readiness Week and how teachers may access related instructional materials and other resources, to every public high school, including charter schools, at least one month before Workplace Readiness Week.