New Changes To The Private Attorney General Act

coins

On June 15, 2016, the California Legislature passed SB 836, which contained numerous amendments to The Private Attorneys General Act of 2004 (“PAGA”). PAGA authorizes aggrieved employees to file lawsuits to recover civil penalties on behalf of themselves, other employees and the state of California for Labor Code violations. While not all of the original proposed amendments were enacted, SB 836 makes several significant changes to PAGA. These changes, to go in effect on June 27, 2016, provides:

• The Labor and Workforce Development Agency (“LWDA”), the agency which coordinates workforce programs by overseeing seven major departments that serve California businesses and workers now has 60 days to review a notice under Labor Code § 2699.3(a). Prior to the amendments, the LWDA had 30 days to review. Additionally, the time for the LWDA to investigate a claim is extended to 180 days (it was 120 days);

• A Plaintiff cannot file a civil action until 65 days after sending notice to the LWDA (previously 33 days);

• The LWDA must be provided with a copy of any proposed settlement of a PAGA action at the time it is submitted to the court;

• A copy of the court’s judgment and any other order that awards or denies PAGA penalties must be provided to LWDA;

• All items that are required to be provided to the LWDA must be submitted online, including PAGA claim notices and employer cure notices or other responses;

• A $75 filing fee is required for a new PAGA claim notice and also for any initial employer response to a new PAGA claim notice. The filing fee may be waived if the party on whose behalf the notice or response is filed is entitled to in forma pauperis status; and

• When a plaintiff files a new PAGA lawsuit in court, a filed-stamped copy of the complaint must be provided to LWDA. This requirement only applies to cases in which the initial PAGA claim notice was filed on or after July 1, 2016.