COVID-19 emergency: small businesses: immunity from civil liability.

Existing law, the California Emergency Services Act, permits the Governor to proclaim a state of emergency during conditions of disaster or of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property, including epidemics. Existing law provides that the proclamation takes effect immediately, affords specified powers to the Governor, and terminates upon further proclamation by the Governor or by concurrent resolution of the Legislature. The Governor proclaimed a state of emergency March 4, 2020, related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Existing law generally provides that everyone is responsible, not only for the result of their willful acts, but also for an injury occasioned to another by that person's want of ordinary care or skill in the management of their property or person, except as specified. This bill would exempt a small business with 25 or fewer employees from liability for an injury or illness to a person due to coronavirus (COVID-19) based on a claim that the person contracted COVID-19 while at that small business, or due to the actions of that small business. The bill would require the small business, for this exemption to apply, to have implemented and abided by all applicable state and local health laws, regulations, and protocols. The bill would not permit this exemption to apply if the injury or illness resulted from a grossly negligent act or omission, willful or wanton misconduct, or unlawful discrimination by the business or an employee of the business. The bill would apply these provisions only during the timeframe in which the state of emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic is effective. The bill would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2023. The bill would include related legislative findings. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.