Also, the state has (1) amended its law relating to fingerprints of certain financial institution workers (Ch. 176 (S. 1637), L. 2003, at CA ¶5-9000); and (2) enacted a law allowing the Department  of Justice to provide federal level criminal history information upon the showing of compelling need when specifically authorized; expanding the authorization for public utilities to receive state and federal criminal history information to permit cable corporations to receive that information; and allowing that information to be provided concerning current or prospective contract and subcontract employees (Ch. 570 (S. 1388), L. 2003, at CA ¶5-9000).

Whistleblower Protection Law
The state now requires employers to prominently display in lettering larger than size 14 point type (formerly, 14 pica type) a list of employees' rights and responsibilities under the whistleblower laws (Ch. 820 (A. 1127), L. 2003, at CA ¶5-3600).

Fair Employment and Housing Act
The term "developmentally disabled and mentally ill persons" has been changed to "mentally disabled persons." Title 2, Division 3, Part 2.8, Chapter 4, Section 12926, as amended by S.B. 1234, L. 2003, effective Jan. 1, 2005. ¶5-20,025.26.

Unruh Civil Rights Act
The act prohibits discrimination in California on the basis of race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, blindness, or physical disability and the provisions relating to damages and injunctive relief under the act have been amended. Civil Code, Division 1, Part 2, Sections 52.1, as amended by S.B. 1234, L. 2003, effective Jan. 1, 2005. ¶5-20,026.11.

Civil Rights, Criminal Penalties Law
The California Penal Code makes it a crime to interfere with the civil rights of any person because of that person's race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, gender or sexual orientation. Penal Code, Part 1, Title 11.6, Sections 422.6 and 422.7, as amended by Ch. 700 (S.B. 1234) and Ch. 780 (S.B. 2288), L. 2003, effective Jan. 1, 2005. ¶5-20,025.01 and ¶5-20,027.02.

Discrimination in State Employment Law
The bases on which discrimination is prohibited in employment, has been expanded to those covered under the state’s Fair Employment and Housing Act. Government Code, Title 2, Division 5, Part 2, Chapter 10, Article 2, Sections 19702 and 19704, as amended by A.B. 2900, L. 2003, effective Jan. 1, 2005. ¶5-20,028.03 and ¶5-20,028.10.

Exercise of Employee Rights Law
Amendment to the Act redistributes penalties so that 75 percent of the collected penalties will go to the agency for enforcement and education and 25 percent to the aggrieved employee, except that if the employer does not employ one or more employees then 100 percent of the penalties are to be distributed to the agency. Labor Code, Division 1, Chapter 4, Section 98.6, as amended by Ch. 221 (S.B. 1809), L. 2003, effective Jan. 1, 2004. ¶5-20,032.01.

Criminal Background Checks Law
Employees and volunteers of parks, playgrounds, recreation centers and beaches are required to undergo a criminal history check. Public Resources Code, Division 5, Chapter 2, Article 3, Section 5164, as amended by Ch. 184 (S.B. 1314), L. 2003, effective July 24, 2004. ¶5-23,602.51.

Criminal Background Checks Law
State and local government officials are authorized while conducting employment background checks to transmit fingerprint images and related information to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Penal Code, Part 4, Title 1, Chapter 1, Article 3, Sections 11105 and 11105.3, as amended by Ch. 184 (S.B. 1314), L. 2003, effective July 23, 2004. ¶5-23,604.01 and ¶5-23,604.08.

Criminal Background Checks Rules
Provisions pertaining to the licensing of community and the employment of their personnel have been adopted permanent. Title 22, Division 6, Chapter 1, Article 3, Sections 80019 through 80019.2, as adopted effective Aug. 20, 2004. ¶5-23,650.11 through ¶5-23,650.03.

Criminal Background Checks Rules
The regulations regarding criminal background checks of operators of residential care facilities caring for the elderly and their personnel have been adopted permanent. Title 22, Division 6, Chapter 8, Article 3, Sections 87219 and 87219.1, as adopted effective Aug. 20, 2004. ¶5-23,650.41 and ¶5-23,650.42.

Criminal Background Checks Rules
Operators and employees of residential care facilities caring for the chronically ill are required to undergo a criminal background check and submit a set of fingerprints. Title 22, Division 6, Chapter 8.5, Article 3, Sections 87819 and 87819.1, as adopted effective Aug. 20, 2004. ¶5-23,650.61 and ¶5-23,650.62.

Criminal Background Checks Rules
A criminal record clearance is required of all operators and their personnel. Title 22, Division 12, Chapter 1, Sections 101170 through 101170.2, as adopted effective Aug. 20, 2004. ¶5-23,650.81 through ¶5-23,650.83.

Fair Employment and Housing Act
Employers having 50 or more employees are required to provide two hours of sexual harassment training and education to supervisory employees by 2006, and again once every two years. Also employers are required to incorporate the training into the 80 hours of training provided to all new supervisory employees, using existing resources. Government Code, Title 2, Division 3, Part 2.6, Chapter 6, Section 12950.1, as enacted by Ch. 933 (A.B. 1825), L. 2003, effective Jan. 1, 2005. ¶5-20,025.501.

Child Support Enforcement Law
The state has enacted a law requiring certain employers to make child support payments by electronic fund transfer (Ch. 806 (A. 2358), L. 2003, at CA ¶5-5500).

Fair Employment Practices Law
Employers having 50 or more employees will be required to provide two hours of sexual harassment training and education to supervisory employees by 2006, unless already provided (since January 1, 2003), and again once every two years. The law also requires employers to incorporate the training into the 80 hours of training provided to all new supervisory employees, using existing resources (Ch. 933 (A. 1825), L. 2003, at CA ¶5-2500).

Overtime Pay Law
Effective January 1, 2005, the computer software employee's minimum hourly rate of pay exemption increases from $44.63 to $45.84, reflecting a 2.7 percent increase in the California Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers.

Likewise, based on the CPI changes, the minimum hourly rate of pay for licensed physicians and surgeons to qualify as exempt increases from $57.56 to $59.11, effective January 1, 2005 (CA ¶5-1100).

Recordkeeping/Posters Law
The state has enacted a law protecting the personal information of reproductive health services workers (Ch. 922 (S. 1590), L. 2003, at CA ¶5-9900).

Wage Payment Law
By January 1, 2008, employers will be required to display no more than the last four digits of an employee's social security number or an existing employee identification number other than a social security number on an employee's wage statement. Likewise, state and local government agencies will be required, by January 1, 2008, to use no more than the last four digits of an employee's social security number or an existing employee identification number other than a social security number on any check, draft or voucher used to pay employees (Ch. 860 (S. 1618), L. 2003, at CA ¶5-1200).

Disability Law
The Illinois Attorney General is now authorized to file civil action suits on behalf of Illinois 
individuals for pattern and practice violations of civil rights laws under the Illinois Human 
Rights Act (S. 2878, L. 2003, at IL ¶14-2600).

Preemployment Inquiries Law
The state has amended its law regarding expunged juvenile records (H. 4566, L. 2003, at IL ¶14-9000).

Recordkeeping/Posters Law
The state's Victims' Economic Security and Safety Act (VESSA) poster has been updated (IL ¶14-9900).

Fair Employment Practices Law
It is an unlawful practice for an employer, an employment agency, the commonwealth or any of its political subdivisions, by itself or its agents, to deny initial employment, reemployment, retention in employment, promotion or any benefit of employment to a person who is a member of, applies to perform, or has an obligation to perform, service in a uniformed military service of the United States, including the National Guard, on the basis of that membership, application or obligation. Part I, Title XXI, Chapter 151B, Section 4, as amended by h. 355 (H.B. 1053), L. 2003, effective Dec. 22, 2004. ¶22-20,026.04.

Recordkeeping/Posters Law
The state's minimum wage poster has been updated (MA ¶22-9900).

Michigan Criminal Background Checks Law
Provisions pertaining to access to criminal background information have been amended. Chapter 28, Section 28.273, as amended by P.A. 359 (H.B. 5864), L. 2004, effective Sept. 30, 2004. ¶23-23,601.01.

Whistleblower Protection Law
Employer notice and posting requirements under the Conscientious Employee Protection Act have been amended (Ch. 148 (S. 276), L. 2004, at NJ ¶31-3600).

Maximum Hours Law
New York's Transportation Law has been amended to exempt drivers engaged in the restoration of telephone service from hours of service restrictions affecting certain operators. Incidental drivers engaged in actual restoration or preservation of electric, telephone, gas or steam service are exempt from hours restrictions during an emergency. Corporations providing such services are to file with the Department of Transportation a plan of procedures to follow in emergencies to assure drivers do not drive if they have not had sufficient rest to safely drive, and the incidental drivers must have eight hours off duty following completion of the emergency work (A. 9661, L. 2003, at NY ¶33-1300).

Preemployment Inquiries Law
The state has amended its laws relating to background checks for certain providers of services to persons with mental impairments or developmental disabilities (S. 7562, L. 2003, at NY ¶33-9000).

Recordkeeping/Posters Law
The Cleveland living wage poster has been updated (OH ¶36-9900).

Discrimination in the University System Rule
Topic added. Discrimination on the basis of age, disability, national origin, race, marital status, religion, gender, gender identity, gender expression or sexual orientation and sexual harassment is prohibited. Chapter 571, Division 3, Section 571-003-0025, as amended by UO 5-2004, effective Sept. 14, 2004. ¶38-20,075.01.

Bureau of Labor Rules of Administrative Procedure
Amendments conform the agency’s rule to the provisions of ORS 659A.820(1) relating to administrative actions for unlawful discrimination, whereby, except as provided in ORS 654.062, a complaint filed for unlawful discrimination under this section must be filed no later than one year after the alleged unlawful practice. The amendments also make technical changes. Chapter 839, Division 3, Section 839-003-0025, as amended Oct. 25, 2004. ¶38-20,126.25.