California Labor Code §§ 230.8 and 233 (commonly referred to as The Family School Partnership Act) prohibit a California employer with 25 or more employees working at a single location from terminating or retaliating against an employee who is a parent, guardian, or grandparent of a child for taking up to 40 hours off of work each year for the purpose of participating in a school activity. A California employer with 25 or more employees may, however, require the employee to provide proof of the activity.

Effective January 1, 2016, SB 579 broadens the reasons for which an employee may lawfully take time off work for school related activities. SB 579 amends California Labor Code §§ 230.8 and 233 to specifically authorize time off from work to: (1) find, enroll, or re-enroll a child in school, or with a licensed child care provider; and (2) to address an emergency with either a school, or child care provider. The law requires the employee to use existing vacation, personal leave, or compensatory time off for purposes of the planned absence authorized by this section, but the employee may also take time off without pay for this purpose to the extent permitted by the employer.