Division of Labor Standards Enforcement: complaint.

(1) Existing law authorizes a person who believes they have 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. Existing law establishes specified exceptions to the 6-month deadline for certain violations relating to discrimination or retaliation for taking time off, imposing instead a one-year filing deadline. This bill, for a violation subject to that 6-month deadline, would extend the period to file a complaint to within 2 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 making, adopting, or enforcing a rule, regulation, or policy preventing an employee from disclosing information to certain entities or 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. Existing law also prohibits retaliation against an employee for prescribed reasons. 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. This bill would also make nonsubstantive and conforming changes to these provisions.