Assembly Labor and Employment Committee Records, 1945-2008

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Summary

Title:
Assembly Labor and Employment Committee records,
Dates:
1945-2008
Creators:
Assembly Industrial Relations Committee, 1945-1968 Assembly Labor Relations Committee, 1969-1976 Assembly Labor, Employment and Consumer Relations Committee, 1977-1978 Assembly Labor, Employment and Consumer Affairs Committee, 1979-1980 Assembly Labor and Employment Committee, 1981-2013
Abstract:
The Assembly Labor and Employment Committee Records consist of 56 cubic feet of material reflecting the activities of the committee. Although the name of the committee changed several times, its primary mandate remained the same: to introduce and investigate legislation on issues of labor and employment.
Extent:
56 cubic feet
Language:
English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], [Name of Committee] Records, LP[number]:[folder number], California State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Sacramento, California.

Background

Scope and content:

The Assembly Labor and Employment Committee Records consist of 56 cubic feet of material reflecting the activity of the committee (under various names) in introducing and investigating legislation related to the California Labor Code. The records cover the years 1945 - 2010. The records are organized into the following records series: Bill Files, Hearing Files, Subject Files, Administrative Files, History Reports, Correspondence and Agricultural Labor Relations Board (ALRB) Oversight Hearing Files. Although the committee began in the 1880s, the California State Archives did not receive records from the committee until 1945, and the bulk of the records are from 1968-2008.

Among the bill files, hearing files and subject files researchers will find information on labor related topics such as safety in the workplace, unemployment, fair wages, the underground economy, and industrial accident investigations. Other subjects of particular interest to researchers may include debates on immigration reform, the handling of toxic materials, regulation of labor unions and the rights of union members - especially the rights of public employees to unionize - and the treatment of agricultural workers. Beginning in the 1960s, the committee regularly contemplated remedies to gender, ethnic or racial discrimination by employers. At the same time, the committee considered programs that would help employ women, high school drop-outs, and minorities in more fields or better paying jobs. There is considerable material available in the hearing and subject files regarding Governor George Deukmejian's proposal to close Cal-OSHA in 1987, including many letters from union members and other constituents as well as newspaper editorials. In addition, the Agricultural Labor Relations Board Oversight Hearing Files contain reports, testimony and correspondence documenting the ALRB's handling of labor disputes.

Biographical / historical:

The first Assembly committee dedicated to legislation relating to issues of employment was created on Saturday, January 10, 1880. On that day, Assembly Member Braunhart "moved to amend Rule Nineteen by adding a subdivision, to be numbered thirty-eight, to read: A Committee on Labor and Capital." (Assembly Journal, January 10, 1880, p. 45). Although the name of the committee has changed several times, the basic mandate has remained the same for well over a century. In every legislative session since 1880, there has been an Assembly committee dedicated to the various issues of labor and employment.

After 1937, the committee's mandate included specific mention of legislation pertaining to the Labor Code that had been created by Chapter 90 of the Statutes of 1937. In 1945, legislators changed the name of the committee to the Assembly Industrial Relations Committee. The committee continued to be assigned all legislation relating to employment issues. According to the 1968 Assembly Journal, HR438 stated that the Assembly Industrial Relations Committee "is assigned the subject matter in the Labor Code, uncodified laws relating to labor and industrial relations, and other matters relating to industrial relations." (July 11, 1968, p. 5709).

In 1969, the name of the committee was again changed, to the Assembly Labor Relations Committee. According to the 1969 Legislative Handbook, HR414 stated that the committee "is assigned the subject matter in the Labor Code, uncodified laws relating to labor and industrial relations, and other matters relating to labor relations." (August 4, 1969, p. 7394) In 1977, the Committee changed its name - but not its basic purpose - to the Assembly Labor, Employment and Consumer Affairs Committee.

In 1981, legislators changed the name to the Assembly Labor and Employment Committee. The jurisdiction of the Labor and Employment Committee included discrimination in employment, industrial safety - including workplace dangers created by toxic substances, employment development, and public job programs.

For a complete list of standing committee chairs, please see Appendix A in Additional Information.

Acquisition information:
The State Archives received these records in accordance with California Government Code 9080(b) which requires legislative committees to transfer their records to the State Archives when they are no longer needed by the committee.
Accruals:

Further accruals expected.

Physical location:
California State Archives

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Processed by Laura Avedisian and Nicholas Jackson.
Date Prepared:
© 2013
Date Encoded:
Machine-readable finding aid created by Nicholas Jackson; derived from MS Word. Date of source: November 2011.

Access and use

Restrictions:

While the majority of the records are open for research, any access restrictions are noted in the record series descriptions.

Terms of access:

For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the California State Archives. Permission for reproduction or publication is given on behalf of the California State Archives as the owner of the physical items. The researcher assumes all responsibility for possible infringement which may arise from reproduction or publication of materials from the California State Archives collections.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], [Name of Committee] Records, LP[number]:[folder number], California State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Sacramento, California.

Location of this collection:
1020 "O" Street
Sacramento, CA 95814, US
Contact:
(916) 653-2246
reference@sos.ca.gov
Website