Beginning January 1, 2012, the Small Claims Court jurisdictional limit will increase from $7,500 to $10,000 for personal claims, other than bodily injury resulting from a car accident. For a claim of bodily injury resulting from a car accident, the increase to $10,000 will not occur until January 1, 2014.

It should be noted that the jurisdictional limit of the Small Claims Court for business related disputes and claims brought by a corporation shall remain at $5,000.

Effective January 1, 2012, S.B. 299 and A.B. 592 amend California's Fair Employment and Housing Act set forth in Government Code §12945 to require California employers with five (5) or more employees and who provide health insurance benefits to maintain and pay (for up to 4 months) the health insurance premiums for employees [...]

A.B. 1396 amends California Labor Code §2751 and imposes substantial new obligations on employers who pay their employees or independent contractors based in California in whole, or in part, a commission.

Effective January 1, 2013, California Labor Code §2751 will require all California and all out-of-state employers [...]

Labor Code Section 1174(d) sets forth California's payroll record-keeping requirements. At present, the current law reads:

"Keep, at a central location in the state or at the plants or establishments at which employees are employed, payroll records showing the [...]

S.B. 459 adds Labor Code §226.8 which increases the civil penalties for the willful (voluntary and knowing) misclassification of independent contractors.

Effective January 1, 2012, an employer who has willfully misclassified an employee as an independent contractor may be fined a minimum of $5,000 and up to $15,000 [...]