With California’s unemployment rate hovering around 11%, both employees and employers are sensitive to proposed legislature that could further increase the burdens on businesses and hamper economic growth. With these concerns in mind,the California Chamber of Commerce has released it’s annual a list of “Job Killer Bills,” which consists of 23 proposed laws that could negatively impact economic and job growth in California.

Included in the 2012 list are statutes that would remove the existing overtime exemption for agricultural employers; expand employment discrimination to cover unemployment status; expand the scope of the Fair Employment and Housing Act to include a protected classification for any person who is, perceived, or associated with a family caregiver; expand Protected Leave requirements for California Employers to include caring for grandchildren, parents-in-law, grandparents, and siblings; and overturning Howell v. Hamilton Meats ((2011) 52 Cal.4th 541) by allowing plaintiffs to recover for medical expenses never actually paid or owed by the injured person.

“Businesses are clamoring for commonsense proposals and a return to reason in California. In a state where we need to do everything possible to improve the economy, it is imperative that legislators stop introducing and passing bills that cost jobs and erode the quality of life for all Californians,” said Allan Zarember, President and CEO of the California Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber of Commerce also revealed their new “Job Killers” website — www.CAJobKillers.com — containing updates on the bills listed and any new bills that may pose a threat to California’s ability to retain and create jobs.

The full 2012 “job killer” bill list is available here.

Special thanks to Jes Carmichael for her assistance with this post.