Division of Labor Standards Enforcement: complaint.

(1) Existing law authorizes a person who believes he or she has been discharged or otherwise discriminated against in violation of any law under the jurisdiction of the Labor Commissioner to file a complaint with the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement within 6 months after the occurrence of the violation. This bill would extend the period to file a complaint to within 3 years after the occurrence of the violation. (2) Existing law prohibits an employer, as defined, or any person acting on behalf of the employer, as defined, from, among other things, preventing an employee from providing information to, or testifying before, any public body conducting an investigation, hearing, or inquiry, if the employee has reasonable cause to believe that the information discloses a violation of a law, regardless of whether disclosing the information is part of the employee's job duties. This bill would authorize a court to award reasonable attorney's fees to a plaintiff who brings a successful action for a violation of these provisions.