Labor Code Private Attorneys General Act of 2004.

The Labor Code Private Attorneys General Act of 2004 authorizes an aggrieved employee to bring a civil action to recover specified civil penalties, that would otherwise be assessed and collected by the Labor and Workforce Development Agency, on behalf of the employee and other current or former employees for the violation of certain provisions affecting employees. Under the act, an employee is authorized to bring an action for such an alleged violation only after the agency notifies the employer and the aggrieved employee or representative that it does not intend to investigate the alleged violation, if the agency proceeds with an investigation and no citation is issued, or the agency fails to provide notification as prescribed. This bill would revise those procedural provisions to require the agency, after receiving notification of an alleged violation, to investigate the alleged violation and determine if there is a reasonable basis for a civil action. The bill would authorize an aggrieved employee to commence an action upon receipt of notice from the agency that there is a reasonable basis for a civil action, or if the agency fails to provide the prescribed notification.