Useful summary of 2003 state labor legislation

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (”BLS”) has published a fine resource on state laws: “State labor legislation

enacted in 2003″ (by Richard R. Nelson and John J. Fitzpatrick, Jr.)(.pdf)

Many employers (and their attorneys) face additional challenges in remaining current and in compliance with employment laws because they have multi-state operations. State laws on a number of employment matters vary considerably. This is a nice publication for monitoring recent statutory developments in a variety of states.

A greater volume of labor legislation was enacted in 2003 than in recent years, despite the fact that budget concerns were a priority for many States.

California, Illinois, and Texas enacted particularly large numbers of laws.

Legislation enacted addressed several areas of employment standards and included many important measures: increased minimum wage rates; expanded coverage of family and medical leave laws; additional prohibitions on children working in hazardous occupations; and new measures addressing workplace security.

Additional States provided leave for employees who are crime victims; protected the earnings of children working in the entertainment industry; eased regulation of the private employment agency industry; and protected the jobs of reserve and guard members returning from military active duty.

New protections from discrimination were enacted for transgender individuals, prohibitions were enacted on the purchase of goods produced through forced labor, and a California law requires employers to provide healthcare benefits.

This article summarizes significant State labor legislation enacted in 2003. It does not, however, cover legislation on occupational safety and health, employment and training, labor relations, employee background clearance, economic development, and local living wage ordinances. Articles reporting on changes in unemployment insurance and workers’ compensation laws appear separately in this issue. Read more

This article is from the BLS publication Monthly Labor Review Online.

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