Bill Targets Discrimination Against California's Unemployed
SACRAMENTO (CBS / AP) -- Lawmakers have sent Gov. Jerry Brown a bill that would end what supporters say is an increasingly prevalent form of discrimination against unemployed job seekers.
The state Assembly on Thursday approved legislation that would prohibit employers from saying in job postings that they will consider only applicants who are already employed.
Labor groups say the long-term unemployed are finding that companies only want to hire those who already have a job. Democratic Assemblyman Mike Allen said he wrote AB1450 to protect vulnerable job seekers from that catch-22.
The California Chamber of Commerce initially placed the bill on its "job killer" list but removed it after the bill was amended to allow employers to inquire into employment status.
The bill passed the Assembly 45-23.
(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
