Unemployment Insurance Code, declared subset

Section 976§Sections

Employer contributions to the Unemployment Fund shall accrue and become payable by every employer, except an employer as defined by Section 676, for each calendar year with respect to wages paid for employment. The contributions are due and shall be paid to the department for the Unemployment Fund by each employer in accordance with this division and shall not be deducted in whole or in part from the wages of individuals in his employ.

(Amended by Stats. 1973, Ch. 394.)

Section 976.5§Sections

(a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), in addition to other contributions required by this division, every employer, except an employer to which subdivision (c) is applicable, may submit a voluntary unemployment insurance contribution for the purpose of redetermining its unemployment insurance contribution rate. No redetermination of a contribution rate shall be made unless the voluntary contribution is submitted as required in subdivision (c) of Section 1110. No redetermination shall reduce an employer’s unemployment insurance contribution rate by more than three rates as provided in Section 977.

(b) This section shall not be operative in calendar years in which Contribution Rate Schedules E and F in Section 977 are in effect, or in calendar years to which the emergency solvency surcharge provided in Section 977.5 is in effect.

(c) This section does not apply to any of the following:

(1) An employer not eligible for a contribution rate other than that provided pursuant to Section 982 or subdivision (c) of Section 977.

(2) An employer with a negative reserve account balance on the computation date.

(3) An employer who was notified prior to September 1 of any unpaid amount owed to the department which is not the subject of a timely petition for reassessment pending before the appeals board on September 30 preceding the year to which a contribution rate is applicable.

(Amended by Stats. 2004, Ch. 827, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2005.)

Section 976.6§Sections

In addition to other contributions required by this division, every employer, except an employer defined by Section 676, 684, or 685, and except an employer that has elected an alternate method of financing its liability for unemployment compensation benefits pursuant to Article 5 (commencing with Section 801), or Article 6 (commencing with Section 821) of Chapter 3, shall pay into the Employment Training Fund contributions at the rate of 0.1 percent of wages specified in Section 930. The contributions shall be collected in the same manner and at the same time as any contributions required under Sections 977 and 977.5.

(Amended by Stats. 2001, Ch. 111, Sec. 18. Effective July 30, 2001.)

Section 976.8§Sections

(a) Section 976.6 does not apply to any employer who has a negative reserve account balance on the computation date.

(b) Subdivision (a) does not apply to an employer assigned the maximum rate pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 977.

(Amended by Stats. 2004, Ch. 827, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2005.)

Section 977§Sections

(a) Except as provided in subdivision (c), if, as of the computation date, the employer’s net balance of reserve equals or exceeds that percentage of his or her average base payroll which appears on any line in column 1 of the following table, but is less than that percentage of his or her average base payroll which appears on the same line in column 2 of that table, his or her contribution rate shall be the figure appearing on that same line in the appropriate schedule, as defined in subdivision (b), which shall be a percentage of the wages specified in Section 930.

(b) (1) Whenever the balance in the Unemployment Fund on September 30 of any calendar year is greater than 1.8 percent of the wages (as defined by Section 940) in employment subject to this part paid during the 12-month period ending upon the computation date, employers shall pay into the Unemployment Fund contributions for the succeeding calendar year upon all wages with respect to employment at the rates specified in Schedule AA.

(2) Whenever the balance in the Unemployment Fund on September 30 of any calendar year is equal to or less than 1.8 percent and greater than 1.6 percent of the wages (as defined by Section 940) in employment subject to this part paid during the 12-month period ending upon the computation date, employers shall pay into the Unemployment Fund contributions for the succeeding calendar year upon all wages with respect to employment at the rates specified in Schedule A.

(3) Whenever the balance in the Unemployment Fund on September 30 of any calendar year is equal to or less than 1.6 percent and greater than 1.4 percent of the wages (as defined by Section 940) in employment subject to this part paid during the 12-month period ending upon the computation date, employers shall pay into the Unemployment Fund contributions for the succeeding calendar year upon all wages with respect to employment at the rates specified in Schedule B.

(4) Whenever the balance in the Unemployment Fund on September 30 of any calendar year is equal to or less than 1.4 percent and greater than 1.2 percent of the wages (as defined by Section 940) in employment subject to this part paid during the 12-month period ending upon the computation date, employers shall pay into the Unemployment Fund contributions for the succeeding calendar year upon all wages with respect to employment at the rates specified in Schedule C.

(5) Whenever the balance in the Unemployment Fund on September 30 of any calendar year is equal to or less than 1.2 percent and greater than 1.0 percent of the wages (as defined by Section 940) in employment subject to this part paid during the 12-month period ending upon the computation date, employers shall pay into the Unemployment Fund contributions for the succeeding calendar year upon all wages with respect to employment at the rates specified in Schedule D.

(6) Whenever the balance in the Unemployment Fund on September 30 of any calendar year is equal to or less than 1.0 percent and greater than or equal to 0.8 percent of the wages (as defined by Section 940) in employment subject to this part paid during the 12-month period ending upon the computation date, employers shall pay into the Unemployment Fund contributions for the succeeding calendar year upon all wages with respect to employment at the rates specified in Schedule E.

(7) Whenever the balance in the Unemployment Fund on September 30 of any calendar year is less than 0.8 percent and greater than or equal to 0.6 percent of the wages (as defined by Section 940) in employment subject to this part paid during the 12-month period ending upon the computation date, employers shall pay into the Unemployment Fund contributions for the succeeding calendar year upon all wages with respect to employment at the rates specified in Schedule F.

(c) For each rating period beginning on or after January 1, 2005, in which an employer obtains or attempts to obtain a more favorable rate of contributions under this section due to deliberate ignorance, reckless disregard, fraud, intent to evade, misrepresentation, or willful nondisclosure, the director shall assign the maximum contribution rate plus 2 percent for each applicable rating period, the current rating period, and the subsequent rating period.

(Amended by Stats. 2004, Ch. 827, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 2005.)

Section 977.5§Sections

Whenever the balance in the Unemployment Fund on September 30 of any calendar year is less than 0.6 percent of the wages (as defined by Section 940) in employment, subject to this part, paid during the 12-month period ending on the computation date, employers shall pay into the Unemployment Fund contributions for the succeeding calendar year upon all wages with respect to employment at an emergency solvency surcharge rate. The emergency solvency surcharge rate shall be 1.15 times the rate the employer would have paid in Schedule F of subdivision (a) of Section 977, rounded to the nearest one-tenth of 1 percent.

(Amended by Stats. 1992, Ch. 446, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 1993.)

Section 979§Sections

On or before January 10 of each calendar year, the director shall prepare a statement based on records of the department declaring which of the employer tax schedules contained in Section 977 shall be in effect for that calendar year and whether the emergency solvency surcharge pursuant to Section 977.5 shall be added. The statement shall be a public record and shall be final and binding for that calendar year. The statement shall include the official tabulation of wages in subject employment made by the department for the purpose of Sections 977 and 977.5, a summary of the data upon which that tabulation was based, and the sources from which those data were obtained, and shall further include a summary of the data upon which the computation of the balance in the Unemployment Fund was based, and their source. The director’s action under Sections 977, 977.5, and this section shall not constitute an authorized regulation.

(Amended by Stats. 1984, Ch. 1275, Sec. 9. Effective September 19, 1984.)

Section 980§Sections

(a) In determining the balance in the Unemployment Fund for the purpose of Sections 977 and 977.5, there shall be excluded all of the following:

(1) Any amount credited to this state’s account in the Unemployment Trust Fund pursuant to Section 903 of the federal Social Security Act, as amended, which has been appropriated for expenses of administration other than for capital assets, whether or not that amount has been withdrawn from that fund.

(2) Any unexpended advance from the federal unemployment account in the Unemployment Trust Fund received in accordance with Section 323 of this division and Title XII of the federal Social Security Act, as amended.

(3) Any amount paid in advance into the Unemployment Fund by an employer under any type of coverage pursuant to which reimbursement of benefits is permitted or required in lieu of the contributions required of employers.

(4) Any amount paid in advance into the Unemployment Fund by the federal government under any federal law that requires or permits this state to pay benefits from the Unemployment Fund and provides for advances by the federal government for reimbursement of all or part of those benefits.

(b) In determining the balance in the Unemployment Fund for the purpose of Sections 977 and 977.5, there shall also be excluded any estimated or other contributions not legally due and payable with respect to the final calendar quarter of the calendar year, except any payment of contributions made under Sections 976.5 and 1137 and except any payment of contributions by employers terminating business during any calendar quarter.

(Amended by Stats. 1989, Ch. 1146, Sec. 6.)

Section 980.5§Sections

In determining the balance in the Unemployment Fund for the purpose of Sections 977 and 977.5, there shall be included both of the following:

(a) The unreimbursed balance of all benefits paid from the Unemployment Fund to claimants when those benefits are based upon wages in employment under any type of coverage pursuant to which reimbursement of benefits is permitted or required in lieu of the contributions required of employers, whether or not the director has certified the benefits to the employer as due or payable.

(b) The unreimbursed balance of all benefits paid from the Unemployment Fund to claimants when, and to the extent that, the benefits are subject to reimbursement by the federal government under any federal law that requires or permits this state to pay benefits from the Unemployment Fund and provides for reimbursement by the federal government of all or part of those benefits.

(Amended by Stats. 1984, Ch. 1275, Sec. 11. Effective September 19, 1984.)

Section 981§Sections

In determining wages in employment, for the purpose of Sections 977 and 977.5, there shall be excluded all wages paid in employment under any type of coverage pursuant to which reimbursement of benefits is permitted or required in lieu of the contributions required of employers.

(Amended by Stats. 1984, Ch. 1275, Sec. 12. Effective September 19, 1984.)

Section 982§Sections

(a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), no employer shall be eligible for a contribution rate of more or less than 3.4 percent for any rating period unless his or her reserve account has been subject to benefit charges during the period of 12 complete consecutive calendar quarters ending on the computation date for that rating period and he or she is qualified under Sections 977 and 977.5.

(b) No new employer shall be eligible for a contribution rate of more or less than 3.4 percent unless his or her reserve account has been subject to benefit charges during the period of 12 complete consecutive calendar months ending on the computation date and the new employer is qualified under Sections 977 and 977.5.

(c) For the purposes of this section “new employer” means any of the following:

(1) An employer who first qualifies as an employer after the 1969 calendar year, and whose account is continuously subject to benefit charges from the date of first chargeability, except that a successor employer under Section 1051 is not a new employer if the successor applies for or obtains the transfer of the reserve account or part thereof of a predecessor who is not a new employer.

(2) An employer whose entire reserve account has been transferred to a successor under Article 5 (commencing with Section 1051) of Chapter 4 of this part.

(3) An employer whose reserve account has been canceled pursuant to Section 1029.

(d) Section 905 applies to a new employer, except that for the purposes of this section “average base payroll” means:

(1) The payroll in the calendar year immediately preceding the computation date for a new employer with a payroll only in that calendar year.

(2) The quotient obtained by dividing by two the total amount of taxable wages paid by a new employer during the most recent period of two consecutive calendar years immediately preceding the computation date, for a new employer with a payroll only in each of, or only in the first of, the two consecutive calendar years.

(e) The contribution rate of an employer, for any period prior to January 1, 1988, shall not be changed, other than by the provisions of Sections 977 and 977.5, when the director makes a determination, pursuant to Section 135.1 or 135.2, because of arrangements entered into or business activities conducted between January 1, 1984, and January 1, 1986.

(f) This section does not apply to an employer assigned the maximum rate pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 977.

(Amended by Stats. 2004, Ch. 827, Sec. 5. Effective January 1, 2005.)

Section 984§Sections

(a) (1) Each worker shall pay worker contributions at the rate determined by the director pursuant to this section with respect to wages, as defined by Sections 926, 927, and 985. On or before October 31 of each calendar year, the director shall prepare a statement, which shall be a public record, declaring the rate of worker contributions for the calendar year and shall notify promptly all employers of employees covered for disability insurance of the rate.

(2) (A) Except as provided in paragraph (3), the rate of worker contributions for calendar year 1987 and for each subsequent calendar year shall be 1.30 times the amount disbursed from the Disability Fund during the 12-month period ending September 30 and immediately preceding the calendar year for which the rate is to be effective, less the amount in the Disability Fund on that September 30, with the resulting figure divided by total wages paid pursuant to Sections 926, 927, and 985 during the same 12-month period, and then rounded to the nearest one-tenth of 1 percent.

(B) The director shall increase the rate of worker contributions by .08 percent for the 2004 and 2005 calendar years to cover the initial cost of family temporary disability insurance benefits provided in Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 3300) of Part 2.

(3) The rate of worker contributions shall not exceed 1.5 percent or be less than 0.1 percent. The rate of worker contributions shall not decrease from the rate in the previous year by more than two-tenths of 1 percent.

(b) Worker contributions required under Sections 708 and 708.5 shall be at a rate determined by the director to reimburse the Disability Fund for unemployment compensation disability benefits paid and estimated to be paid to all employers and self-employed individuals covered by those sections. On or before November 30th of each calendar year, the director shall prepare a statement, which shall be a public record, declaring the rate of contributions for the succeeding calendar year for all employers and self-employed individuals covered under Sections 708 and 708.5 and shall notify promptly the employers and self-employed individuals of the rate. The rate shall be determined by dividing the estimated benefits and administrative costs paid in the prior year by the product of the annual remuneration deemed to have been received under Sections 708 and 708.5 and the estimated number of persons who were covered at any time in the prior year. The resulting rate shall be rounded to the next higher one-hundredth percentage point. The rate may also be reduced or increased by a factor estimated to maintain as nearly as practicable a cumulative zero balance in the funds contributed pursuant to Sections 708 and 708.5. Estimates made pursuant to this subdivision may be made on the basis of statistical sampling, or another method determined by the director.

(c) The director’s action in determining a rate under this section shall not constitute an authorized regulation.

(d) (1) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), and except as provided in paragraph (2), the director may, at the director’s discretion, increase or decrease, by not to exceed 0.1 percent, the rate of worker contributions determined pursuant to subdivision (a), up to a maximum worker contribution rate of 1.5 percent, if the director determines the adjustment is necessary to reimburse the Disability Fund for disability benefits paid or estimated to be paid to individuals covered by this section or to prevent the accumulation of funds in excess of those needed to maintain an adequate fund balance.

(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), for the 2004, 2005, and 2006 calendar years, the director may not decrease the rate of worker contributions, regardless of whether the director determines that a decrease is necessary to prevent the accumulation of funds in excess of those needed to maintain the adequacy of the Disability Fund during program implementation.

(e) The amendment to this section by the act adding this subdivision shall become operative on July 1, 2019.

(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 24, Sec. 35. (SB 83) Effective June 27, 2019. Section operative July 1, 2019, by its own provisions.)

Section 984.5§Sections

(a) Effective January 1, 1994, the director shall prepare a statement on or before November 30 of each calendar year, which shall be a public record, declaring the rate of contributions of the succeeding calendar year for all employers and self-employed individuals covered under Section 708 or 708.5 and shall notify promptly the employers and self-employed individuals of the rate. For calendar years 1994 to 1996, inclusive, worker contributions required under Section 708 or 708.5 shall be at a rate determined by the director to reimburse the Disability Fund for the sum of estimated administrative costs due to those sections and unemployment compensation disability benefits estimated to be paid to all employers and self-employed individuals covered by those sections. The rate shall be determined by dividing the sum of the benefits expected to be paid in the following calendar year and the administrative costs expected to be incurred under Section 708 or 708.5 during that calendar year by earnings estimated to be reported under those sections for that same calendar year. The resulting rate shall be rounded to the next higher one-hundredth percentage point. This rate may also be reduced or increased by a factor estimated to maintain as nearly as practicable a cumulative zero balance in funds contributed pursuant to Section 708 or 708.5.

For calendar year 1997, and each calendar year thereafter, the rate established each November 30 shall be determined by multiplying the current year’s rate by the ratio of 1.10 times the current year disbursements divided by contributions for the same period, under Sections 708 and 708.5. If in any calendar year the cumulative balance of contributions minus disbursements equals or exceeds 20 percent of annual disbursements, the contribution rate for the succeeding year shall be adjusted to a level necessary to maintain revenues at no more than 20 percent over annual disbursements. If legislation is enacted necessitating adjustments in the benefit levels for employers and self-employed individuals covered under Section 708 or 708.5, the rate may be adjusted by a factor estimated to provide that funds contributed pursuant to Section 708 or 708.5 cover disbursements pursuant to these sections.

For the purpose of this subdivision, disbursements are defined as the sum of unemployment compensation disability benefits paid to employers and self-employed individuals covered under Section 708 or 708.5, plus administrative costs related to those sections. Estimates made pursuant to this subdivision shall be available for public inspection.

(b) The director’s action in determining a rate under this section shall not constitute an authorized regulation.

(Added by Stats. 1993, Ch. 747, Sec. 7.5. Effective January 1, 1994.)

Section 985§Sections

(a) Section 984 shall not apply to that part of the remuneration which, after remuneration with respect to employment equal to four times the maximum weekly benefit for each calendar year specified in Section 2655 multiplied by 13 and divided by 55 percent has been paid to an individual by an employer, is paid to the individual by the employer.

(b) This section shall not apply with respect to wages paid on or after January 1, 2024.

(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 196, Sec. 25. (SB 143) Effective September 13, 2023.)

Section 986§Sections

(a) Notwithstanding any provision of law in this state to the contrary, each employer shall:

(1) Except as provided in subdivision (a)(2) of this section, withhold in trust the amount of his workers’ contributions from their wages at the time the wages are paid, shall show the deduction on his payroll records, and shall furnish each worker with a statement in writing showing the amount which has been deducted, in such form and at such times as may be prescribed.

(2) Hold in trust the amount of his workers’ contributions, at the time their wages are paid, where he undertakes or agrees to pay without deduction from the wages of his workers the amount of worker contributions required of his workers under this division.

(b) Each employer shall transmit all such contributions withheld or held in trust to the department for the Disability Fund, in addition to his own contributions for the Unemployment Fund, pursuant to authorized regulations.

(Amended by Stats. 1965, Ch. 624.)

Section 1085§Sections

Every employing unit shall keep a true and accurate work record of:

(a) All his workers and their status, i.e., employed, on layoff or leave of absence.

(b) The wages paid by him to each worker.

(c) Such other information as the director deems necessary to proper administration of this division.

(Amended by Stats. 1986, Ch. 248, Sec. 230.)

Section 1086§Sections

(a) Each employing unit within 15 days after becoming an employer as defined in this part shall register with the department on a form prescribed by the department.

(b) (1) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), an Indian tribe (as described by Section 3306(u) of Title 26 of the United States Code) that employed one or more workers on or after December 21, 2000, and prior to the operative date of the statute adding this subdivision at the 2001 portion of the 2001–02 Regular Session of the Legislature that has not registered with the department by the operative date of the statute, shall register with the department within 15 days of that operative date.

(2) The subject date for employers who register with the department under the provisions of paragraph (1) shall be December 21, 2000, or the date that employer first hired an employee, whichever is later.

(Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 303, Sec. 515. (AB 731) Effective January 1, 2016.)

Section 1087§Sections

Any officer or employee of the Sales and Use Tax Division of the Board of Equalization who is authorized to accept an application for a seller’s permit under Section 6066 of the Revenue and Taxation Code or authorized to register a retailer under Section 6226 of the Revenue and Taxation Code is a duly authorized agent of the Employment Development Department for purposes of accepting registration of employers as required in this part.

The department shall reimburse the Board of Equalization for any additional costs incurred by reason of services by any of its officers or employees to the department pursuant to this section.

(Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 29, Sec. 10. Effective January 1, 2003.)

Section 1088§Sections

(a) (1) Each employer shall file with the director within the time required by subdivision (a) or (d) of Section 1110 for payment of employer contributions, a report of contributions, a quarterly return, and a report of wages paid to the employer’s workers in the form and containing any information as the director prescribes. An electronic funds transfer of contributions pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 1110 shall satisfy the requirement for a report of contributions. The quarterly return shall include the total amount of wages, employer contributions required under Sections 976 and 976.6, worker contributions required under Section 984, the amounts required to be withheld under Section 13020, or withheld under Section 13028, and any other information as the director shall prescribe. The report of wages shall include individual amounts required to be withheld under Section 13020 or withheld under Section 13028.

(2) (A) In order to enhance efforts to reduce tax fraud and to reduce the personal income tax reporting burden, effective January 1, 1997, the report of wages shall also include the full first name of the employee and total wages, as defined in Section 13009, paid to each employee. This paragraph shall apply to reports of wages for all periods ending on or before December 31, 1999.

(B) For all periods beginning on or after January 1, 2000, the report of wages shall also include total wages subject to personal income tax, as defined in Section 13009.5, paid to each employee.

(b) Each employer shall file with the director within the time required by subdivision (b) or (d) of Section 1110 for payment of worker contributions, a report of contributions containing the employer’s business name, address, and account number, the total amount of worker contributions due, and any other information as the director shall prescribe. The director shall prescribe the form for the report of contributions. An electronic funds transfer of contributions pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 1110 shall satisfy the requirement for a report of contributions.

(c) In addition to the report of contributions, quarterly return, and report of wages required by employers under subdivision (a), an individual who has elected coverage under subdivision (a) of Section 708 is also required to file a separate report of contributions, and quarterly return, subject to Part 2 (commencing with Section 2601).

(d) Any employer making an election under subdivision (d) of Section 1110 shall submit the report of wages described in subdivision (a), within the time required for submitting employer contributions under subdivision (a) of Section 1110.

(e) For purposes of making a report of wages under subdivision (a), employers that are required under Section 6011 of the Internal Revenue Code and authorized regulations thereunder to file magnetic media returns, shall, within 90 days of becoming subject to this requirement, do one of the following:

(1) File any subsequent reports of wages electronically.

(2) Establish to the satisfaction of the director that there is a lack of automation, a severe economic hardship, a current exemption from submitting magnetic media or electronic information returns for federal purposes, or other good cause for not complying with this subdivision. Approved waivers shall be valid for one year or longer, at the discretion of the director.

(f) The Franchise Tax Board shall be allowed access to the information filed with the department pursuant to this section.

(g) The requirement in subdivision (a) to file a quarterly return shall begin with the first calendar quarter of the 2011 calendar year.

(h) (1) Notwithstanding subdivision (e), effective January 1, 2017, an employer with 10 or more employees shall file the report of contributions, quarterly return, and report of wages electronically.

(2) Notwithstanding subdivision (e), effective January 1, 2018, all employers shall file the report of contributions, quarterly return, and report of wages electronically.

(3) Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), an employer may request a waiver from the electronic filing requirements of this subdivision. The department may grant the waiver when the employer has established to the satisfaction of the director that there is a lack of automation, a severe economic hardship, a current exemption from filing electronically for federal purposes, or other good cause. An approved waiver shall be valid for one year or longer, at the discretion of the director.

(Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 222, Sec. 1. (AB 1245) Effective January 1, 2016.)

Section 1088.5§Sections

(a) In addition to information reported in accordance with Section 1088, effective July 1, 1998, each employer shall file, with the department, the information provided for in subdivision (b) on new employees.

(b) Each employer shall report the hiring of any employee who works in this state and to whom the employer anticipates paying wages, and also shall report the hiring of any employee who previously worked for the employer but had been separated from that prior employment for at least 60 consecutive days.

(c) (1) This section shall not apply to any department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States.

(2) State agency employers shall not be required to report employees performing intelligence or counterintelligence functions, if the head of the agency has determined that reporting pursuant to this section would endanger the safety of the employee or compromise an ongoing investigation or intelligence mission.

(d) (1) Employers shall submit a report as described in paragraph (4) within 20 days of hiring any employee whom the employer is required to report pursuant to this section.

(2) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), employers transmitting reports magnetically or electronically shall submit the report by two monthly transmissions not less than 12 days and not more than 16 days apart.

(3) For purposes of this section, an employer that has employees in two or more states and that transmits reports magnetically or electronically may designate one state in which the employer has employees to which the employer will transmit the report described in paragraph (4). Any employer that transmits reports pursuant to this paragraph shall notify the Secretary of Health and Human Services in writing as to which state the employer designates for the purpose of sending reports.

(4) The report shall contain the following:

(A) The name, address, and social security number of the employees.

(B) The employer’s name, address, state employer identification number (if one has been issued), and identifying number assigned to the employer under Section 6109 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

(C) The first date the employee worked.

(5) Employers may report pursuant to this section by submitting a copy of the employee’s W-4 form, a form provided by the department, or any other hiring document transmitted by first-class mail, magnetically, or electronically.

(e) For each failure to report the hiring of an employee, as required and within the time required by this section, unless the failure is due to good cause, the department may assess a penalty of twenty-four dollars ($24), or four hundred ninety dollars ($490) if the failure is the result of conspiracy between the employer and employee not to supply the required report or to supply a false or incomplete report.

(f) (1) On and after January 1, 2013, and before January 1, 2019, information collected pursuant to this section may be used for the following purposes:

(A) Administration of this code, including, but not limited to, providing employer or employee information to participating members of the Joint Enforcement Strike Force on the Underground Economy pursuant to Section 329 for the purposes of auditing, investigating, and prosecuting violations of tax and cash-pay reporting laws.

(B) Locating individuals for purposes of establishing paternity and establishing, modifying, and enforcing child support obligations.

(C) Administration of employment security and workers’ compensation programs.

(D) Providing employer or employee information to the Franchise Tax Board and the State Board of Equalization for the purpose of tax or fee enforcement.

(E) Verification of eligibility of applicants for, or recipients of, the public assistance programs listed in Section 1320b-7(b) of Title 42 of the United States Code.

(F) Providing employer or employee information to the Contractors’ State License Board and the State Compensation Insurance Fund for the purpose of workers’ compensation payroll reporting.

(G) Providing employer or employee information to the State Department of Health Care Services, the California Health Benefit Exchange, the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board, and county departments and agencies for the purpose of:

(i) Verifying or determining the eligibility of an applicant for, or a recipient of, state health subsidy programs, limited to the Medi-Cal program, provided pursuant to Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 14000) of Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, the Healthy Families Program, provided pursuant to Part 6.2 (commencing with Section 12693) of Division 2 of the Insurance Code, and the Access for Infants and Mothers Program, provided pursuant to Part 6.3 (commencing with Section 12695) of Division 2 of the Insurance Code, where the verification or determination is directly connected with, and limited to, the administration of the state health subsidy programs referenced in this clause.

(ii) Verifying or determining the eligibility of an applicant for, or a recipient of, federal subsidies offered through the California Health Benefit Exchange, provided pursuant to Title 22 (commencing with Section 100500) of the Government Code, including federal tax credits and cost-sharing assistance pursuant to the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, (Public Law 111-148), as amended by the federal Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-152), where the verification or determination is directly connected with, and limited to, the administration of the California Health Benefit Exchange.

(iii) Verifying or determining the eligibility of employees and employers for health coverage through the Small Business Health Options Program, provided pursuant to Section 100502 of the Government Code, where the verification or determination is directly connected with, and limited to, the administration of the Small Business Health Options Program.

(2) On and after January 1, 2019, information collected pursuant to this section may be used for the following purposes:

(A) Administration of this code.

(B) Locating individuals for purposes of establishing paternity and establishing, modifying, and enforcing child support obligations.

(C) Administration of employment security and workers’ compensation programs.

(D) Providing employer or employee information to the Franchise Tax Board and to the State Board of Equalization for the purposes of tax or fee enforcement.

(E) Verification of eligibility of applicants for, or recipients of, the public assistance programs listed in Section 1320b-7(b) of Title 42 of the United States Code.

(F) Providing employer or employee information to the State Department of Health Care Services, the California Health Benefit Exchange, the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board, and county departments and agencies for the purpose of:

(i) Verifying or determining the eligibility of an applicant for, or a recipient of, state health subsidy programs, limited to the Medi-Cal program, provided pursuant to Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 14000) of Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, the Healthy Families Program, provided pursuant to Part 6.2 (commencing with Section 12693) of Division 2 of the Insurance Code, and the Access for Infants and Mothers Program, provided pursuant to Part 6.3 (commencing with Section 12695) of Division 2 of the Insurance Code, where the verification or determination is directly connected with, and limited to, the administration of the state health subsidy programs referenced in this clause.

(ii) Verifying or determining the eligibility of an applicant for, or a recipient of, federal subsidies offered through the California Health Benefit Exchange, provided pursuant to Title 22 (commencing with Section 100500) of the Government Code, including federal tax credits and cost-sharing assistance pursuant to the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, (Public Law 111-148), as amended by the federal Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-152), where the verification or determination is directly connected with, and limited to, the administration of the California Health Benefit Exchange.

(iii) Verifying or determining the eligibility of employees and employers for health coverage through the Small Business Health Options Program, provided pursuant to Section 100502 of the Government Code, where the verification or determination is directly connected with, and limited to, the administration of the Small Business Health Options Program.

(g) For purposes of this section, “employer” includes a labor union hiring hall.

(h) This section shall become operative on July 1, 1998.

(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 815, Sec. 3.3. (AB 174) Effective January 1, 2013.)

Section 1088.6§Sections

Each employer, pursuant to authorized regulations, shall furnish a written statement to the worker showing the excess of the worker contributions required with respect to wages included in Section 927 and subdivision (n) of Section 13009 over the worker contributions withheld pursuant to Sections 984 and 13020, and shall file a copy of this statement with the director. If the employer fails to furnish the statement, as required by this section and authorized regulations, he or she shall be liable for the excess of the worker contributions.

(Added by Stats. 1993, Ch. 402, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1994.)

Section 1088.8§Sections

(a) Effective January 1, 2001, any service-recipient, as defined in subdivision (b), who makes or is required to make a return to the Internal Revenue Service, in accordance with subdivision (a) of Section 6041A of the Internal Revenue Code (relating to payments made to a service-provider as compensation for services) shall file with the department information as required under subdivision (c).

(b) For purposes of this section:

(1) “Service-recipient” means any individual, person, corporation, association, or partnership, or agent thereof, doing business in this state, deriving trade or business income from sources within this state, or in any manner in the course of a trade or business subject to the laws of this state. “Service-recipient” also includes the State of California or any political subdivision thereof, including the Regents of the University of California, any charter city, or any political body not a subdivision or agency of the state, and any person, employee, department, or agent thereof.

(2) “Service-provider” means an individual who is not an employee of the service-recipient for California purposes and who received compensation or executes a contract for services performed for that service-recipient within or without the state.

(c) Each service-recipient shall report all of the following information to the department, within 20 days of the earlier of first making payments that in the aggregate equal or exceed six hundred dollars ($600) in any year to a service-provider, or entering into a contract or contracts with a service-provider providing for payments that in the aggregate equal or exceed six hundred dollars ($600) in any year:

(1) The full name, address, and social security number of the service-provider.

(2) The service-recipient’s name, business name, address, and telephone number.

(3) The service-recipient’s federal employer identification number, California state employer account number, social security number, or other identifying number as required by the Employment Development Department in consultation with the Franchise Tax Board.

(4) The date the contract is executed, or if no contract, the date payments in the aggregate first equal or exceed six hundred dollars ($600).

(5) The total dollar amount of the contract, if any, and the contract expiration date.

(d) The department shall retain information collected pursuant to this section until November 1 following the tax year in which the contract is executed, or if no contract, the tax year in which the aggregate payments first equal or exceed six hundred dollars ($600).

(e) For each failure to fully comply with subdivision (c), unless the failure is due to good cause, the department may assess a penalty of twenty-four dollars ($24), or four hundred ninety dollars ($490) if the failure is the result of conspiracy between the service recipient and service provider not to supply the required report or to supply a false or incomplete report.

(f) Information obtained by the department pursuant to this section may be released only for purposes of establishing, modifying, or enforcing child support obligations under Section 17400 of the Family Code and for child support collection purposes authorized under Article 5 (commencing with Section 19271) of Chapter 5 of Part 10.2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, or to the Franchise Tax Board for tax enforcement purposes or for the administration of this code.

(g) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2001.

(Amended by Stats. 2000, Ch. 808, Sec. 115. Effective September 28, 2000. Section initially operative January 1, 2001, by its own provisions.)

Section 1088.9§Sections

(a) Commencing with the first calendar quarter of calendar year 2026, a motion picture payroll services company shall file with the director, within the same time required by subdivision (a) of Section 1110 for payment of employer contributions, a report of payments made to a loan-out company pursuant to subdivision (b).

(b) The report shall include all of the following information:

(1) The total amount of payments made to the loan-out company.

(2) The business name, address, and telephone number of the loan-out company.

(3) The federal employer identification number, California employer account number, or other identifying number of the loan-out corporation, as required by the Employment Development Department, in consultation with the Franchise Tax Board.

(4) The full name, address, and social security number of any individual whose services were provided through the loan-out company.

(5) The name, address, and federal employer identification number, California employer account number, or other identifying number of the motion picture payroll services company, as required by the Employment Development Department, in consultation with the Franchise Tax Board.

(6) Any other information as the director shall prescribe.

(c) The Franchise Tax Board may access the information filed with the department pursuant to this section.

(d) A lack of access to the information required to be reported under this section does not relieve any obligation on a motion picture payroll services company to continue to timely pay a loan-out company all payments due.

(e) (1) For each failure to fully comply with subdivisions (a), (b), and (d), unless the failure is due to good cause, the department may assess a penalty of twenty-four dollars ($24), or, if the failure is willful or fraudulent, the department may assess a penalty of four hundred ninety dollars ($490).

(2) A failure to fully comply with subdivisions (a) and (b) shall be deemed to be for good cause pursuant to paragraph (1) if a motion picture payroll services company has requested that a loan-out company provide information required by subdivision (b) and the loan-out company does not provide the requested information, or provides incorrect or incomplete information.

(f) For purposes of this section, the definitions in Section 679 shall apply, as applicable.

(Added by Stats. 2024, Ch. 1011, Sec. 3. (SB 422) Effective January 1, 2025.)

Section 1089§Sections

(a) Each employer shall post and maintain, in places readily accessible to individuals in the employer’s service, printed statements concerning benefit rights and other matters as may be prescribed by authorized regulations.

(b) Each employer shall, pursuant to authorized regulations, supply each individual at the time they become unemployed with copies of printed statements or materials relating to claims for benefits, or if the individual opts into receipt of electronic statements or materials, electronic statements or materials relating to claims for benefits.

(c) Each employer shall immediately notify each employee of any change in the employee’s relationship with that employer.

(d) Printed statements shall be supplied by the director to each employer without cost to them.

(e) (1) The employer may provide the notification required by subdivision (a) or (b) via email to an email account of the employee’s choosing in PDF, JPEG, or other digital image file type format, if an employee affirmatively, and in writing, by email, or by some form of electronic acknowledgment, opts into receipt of electronic statements or materials.

(2) (A) In the case of electronic acknowledgment, the acknowledgment form shall do all of the following:

(i) Fully explain that the employee is agreeing to electronic delivery of the notification required by this section.

(ii) Provide the employee with information about how they can revoke consent to electronic receipt.

(iii) Create a record of the employee’s agreement to electronic delivery of the notification required by this section.

(B) The employee may revoke the agreement at any time in writing, by email, or by some form of electronic acknowledgment.

(f) An employer may not discharge an employee or in any manner discriminate, retaliate, or take any adverse action against an employee who does not affirmatively, in writing or by electronic acknowledgment, opt into receipt of electronic statements or materials.

(g) Failure to comply with this section by an employer shall constitute a misdemeanor.

(h) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2029, and as of that date is repealed.

(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 277, Sec. 3. (AB 1355) Effective January 1, 2024. Repealed as of January 1, 2029, by its own provisions. See later operative version added by Sec. 4 of Stats. 2023, Ch. 277.)

Section 1089-printing-2§Sections

(a) Each employer shall post and maintain in places readily accessible to individuals in their service such printed statements concerning benefit rights and other matters as may be prescribed by authorized regulations. Each employer shall, pursuant to authorized regulations, supply each individual at the time they become unemployed with copies of printed statements or materials relating to claims for benefits. Each employer shall immediately notify each employee of any change in their relationship with the employer. Failure to comply with this section by an employer shall constitute a misdemeanor. Such printed statements shall be supplied by the director to each employer without cost to them.

(b) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2029.

(Repealed (in Sec. 3) and added by Stats. 2023, Ch. 277, Sec. 4. (AB 1355) Effective January 1, 2024. Operative January 1, 2029, by its own provisions.)

Section 1090§Sections

(a) Every assignee, receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, or other representative of an insolvent employing unit, and every administrator or executor of the estate of a deceased employing unit, shall within 30 days after assuming office send notice in writing of the name and address of the employing unit, his own name and address, and such other information as may be required by the director.

(b) Within four months after the mailing of the notice required of every administrator or executor of the estate of a deceased employing unit under subdivision (a), the director shall file or present his claim for contributions, penalty, and interest based upon wages paid by the employing unit during his lifetime. The administrator or executor of the estate of a deceased employing unit shall succeed to all the rights and obligations of the deceased employing unit under this division.

(Amended by Stats. 1968, Ch. 1299.)

Section 1092§Sections

Every employing unit shall furnish to the director, administrative law judge, or deputy, upon demand, a sworn statement of the matters contained in the records required by Section 1085. If such records are kept pursuant to contract with a financial institution as defined in Section 7465 of the Government Code, the employing unit shall also furnish to the director or the director’s authorized representative an authorization for disclosure of such account or accounts. The authorization for disclosure shall be that provided for in Section 7473 of the Government Code. Such records shall be open to inspection and shall be subject to being copied by the director or his authorized representative at any time during the business hours of the employing unit. Any claimant or his authorized representative at a hearing before a deputy or administrative law judge or the appeals board shall be supplied with information from such records to the extent necessary for the proper presentation of his claim.

(Amended by Stats. 1984, Ch. 537, Sec. 14.)

Section 1093§Sections

In the event any employer shall fail to keep and furnish to the director, upon notice, any required records or reports necessary for a full determination, decision on appeal, or other proper disposition of any claim for benefits in any proceeding under this division, within such reasonable time as the director may by rule, regulation, or procedure prescribe, it shall be conclusively presumed that the claimant is entitled to the maximum total amount of benefits payable under this division unless it is established by other evidence which the director deems sufficient that a lesser total amount of benefits is properly due and owing to the claimant. If so established by other evidence upon default of the employer, after notice, such lesser total amount of benefits thus determined shall be conclusive. In all cases in which such presumptions shall apply, if the claimant has earned wages in employment for more than one employer during his base period, the accounts of the employer or employers who have properly kept and furnished the required records or reports shall not be charged with benefits in an amount exceeding that which such accounts would have been charged had the claimant been entitled only to benefits determined by the total of the wages earned and the number of calendar quarters worked for them and all benefits paid in excess thereof shall be charged solely against the accounts of the employer or employers who have failed to keep or furnish the required records or reports.

(Enacted by Stats. 1953, Ch. 308.)

Section 1094§Sections

(a) Except as otherwise specifically provided in this code, the information obtained in the administration of this code is confidential, not open to the public, and shall be for the exclusive use and information of the director in discharge of his or her duties.

(b) The information released to authorized entities pursuant to other provisions of the code shall not be admissible in evidence in any action or special proceeding, other than one arising out of the provisions of this code or one described in Section 1095.

(c) The information may be tabulated and published in statistical form for use by federal, state, and local governmental departments and agencies, and the public, except that the name of the employing unit or of any worker shall never be divulged in the course of the tabulation or publication.

(d) Wages as defined by Section 13009 and amounts required to be deducted and withheld under Section 13020 shall not be disclosed except as provided in Article 2 (commencing with Section 19542) of Chapter 7 of Part 10.2 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.

(e) Any employee or his or her representative may receive his or her wage information upon written request by the employee. The information shall be provided without charge.

(f) Any person who knowingly accesses, uses, or discloses any confidential information without authorization is in violation of this section and is guilty of a misdemeanor.

(Amended by Stats. 1998, Ch. 766, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1999.)

Section 1095§Sections

The director shall permit the use of any information in the director’s possession to the extent necessary for any of the following purposes, and may require reimbursement for all direct costs incurred in providing any and all information specified in this section, except information specified in subdivisions (a) to (e), inclusive:

(a) To enable the director or the director’s representative to carry out their responsibilities under this code.

(b) To properly present a claim for benefits.

(c) To acquaint a worker or their authorized agent with the worker’s existing or prospective right to benefits.

(d) To furnish an employer or their authorized agent with information to enable the employer to fully discharge their obligations or safeguard their rights under this division or Division 3 (commencing with Section 9000).

(e) To enable an employer to receive a reduction in contribution rate.

(f) To enable federal, state, or local governmental departments or agencies, subject to federal law, to verify or determine the eligibility or entitlement of an applicant for, or a recipient of, public social services provided pursuant to Division 9 (commencing with Section 10000) of the Welfare and Institutions Code, or Part A of Subchapter IV of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 601 et seq.), and state or federal subsidies offered through the California Health Benefit Exchange provided pursuant to Title 22 (commencing with Section 100500) of the Government Code, when the verification or determination is directly connected with, and limited to, the administration of public social services.

(g) To enable county administrators of general relief or assistance, or their representatives, to determine entitlement to locally provided general relief or assistance, when the determination is directly connected with, and limited to, the administration of general relief or assistance.

(h) To enable state or local governmental departments or agencies to seek criminal, civil, or administrative remedies in connection with the unlawful application for, or receipt of, relief provided under Division 9 (commencing with Section 10000) of the Welfare and Institutions Code or to enable the collection of expenditures for medical assistance services pursuant to Part 5 (commencing with Section 17000) of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(i) To provide any law enforcement agency with the name, address, telephone number, birth date, social security number, physical description, and names and addresses of present and past employers, of any victim, suspect, missing person, potential witness, or person for whom a felony arrest warrant has been issued, when a request for this information is made by any investigator or peace officer as defined by Sections 830.1 and 830.2 of the Penal Code, or by any federal law enforcement officer to whom the Attorney General has delegated authority to enforce federal search warrants, as defined under Sections 60.2 and 60.3 of Title 28 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as amended, and when the requesting officer has been designated by the head of the law enforcement agency and requests this information in the course of and as a part of an investigation into the commission of a crime when there is a reasonable suspicion that the crime is a felony and that the information would lead to relevant evidence. The information provided pursuant to this subdivision shall be provided to the extent permitted by federal law and regulations, and to the extent the information is available and accessible within the constraints and configurations of existing department records. Any person who receives any information under this subdivision shall make a written report of the information to the law enforcement agency that employs the person, for filing under the normal procedures of that agency.

(1) This subdivision shall not be construed to authorize the release to any law enforcement agency of a general list identifying individuals applying for or receiving benefits.

(2) The department shall maintain records pursuant to this subdivision only for periods required under regulations or statutes enacted for the administration of its programs.

(3) This subdivision shall not be construed as limiting the information provided to law enforcement agencies to that pertaining only to applicants for, or recipients of, benefits.

(4) The department shall notify all applicants for benefits that release of confidential information from their records will not be protected should there be a felony arrest warrant issued against the applicant or in the event of an investigation by a law enforcement agency into the commission of a felony.

(j) To provide public employee retirement systems in California with information relating to the earnings of any person who has applied for or is receiving a disability income, disability allowance, or disability retirement allowance, from a public employee retirement system. The earnings information shall be released only upon written request from the governing board specifying that the person has applied for or is receiving a disability allowance or disability retirement allowance from its retirement system. The request may be made by the chief executive officer of the system or by an employee of the system so authorized and identified by name and title by the chief executive officer in writing.

(k) To enable the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement in the Department of Industrial Relations to seek criminal, civil, or administrative remedies in connection with the failure to pay, or the unlawful payment of, wages pursuant to Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 200) of Part 1 of Division 2 of, and Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 1720) of Part 7 of Division 2 of, the Labor Code.

(l) To enable federal, state, or local governmental departments or agencies to administer child support enforcement programs under Part D of Title IV of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 651 et seq.).

(m) To provide federal, state, or local governmental departments or agencies with wage and claim information in its possession that will assist those departments and agencies in the administration of the Victims of Crime Program or in the location of victims of crime who, by state mandate or court order, are entitled to restitution that has been or can be recovered.

(n) To provide federal, state, or local governmental departments or agencies with information concerning any individuals who are or have been:

(1) Directed by state mandate or court order to pay restitution, fines, penalties, assessments, or fees as a result of a violation of law.

(2) Delinquent or in default on guaranteed student loans or who owe repayment of funds received through other financial assistance programs administered by those agencies. The information released by the director for the purposes of this paragraph shall not include unemployment insurance benefit information.

(o) To provide an authorized governmental agency with any and all relevant information that relates to any specific workers’ compensation insurance fraud investigation. The information shall be provided to the extent permitted by federal law and regulations. For purposes of this subdivision, “authorized governmental agency” means the district attorney of any county, the office of the Attorney General, the Contractors State License Board, the Department of Industrial Relations, and the Department of Insurance. An authorized governmental agency may disclose this information to the State Bar of California, the Medical Board of California, or any other licensing board or department whose licensee is the subject of a workers’ compensation insurance fraud investigation. This subdivision shall not prevent any authorized governmental agency from reporting to any board or department the suspected misconduct of any licensee of that body.

(p) To enable the Director of Consumer Affairs, or the director’s representative, to access unemployment insurance quarterly wage data on a case-by-case basis to verify information on school administrators, school staff, and students provided by those schools who are being investigated for possible violations of Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 94800) of Part 59 of Division 10 of Title 3 of the Education Code.

(q) To provide employment tax information to the tax officials of Mexico, if a reciprocal agreement exists. For purposes of this subdivision, “reciprocal agreement” means a formal agreement to exchange information between national taxing officials of Mexico and taxing authorities of the State Board of Equalization, the Franchise Tax Board, and the Employment Development Department. Furthermore, the reciprocal agreement shall be limited to the exchange of information that is essential for tax administration purposes only. Taxing authorities of the State of California shall be granted tax information only on California residents. Taxing authorities of Mexico shall be granted tax information only on Mexican nationals.

(r) To enable city and county planning agencies to develop economic forecasts for planning purposes. The information shall be limited to businesses within the jurisdiction of the city or county whose planning agency is requesting the information, and shall not include information regarding individual employees.

(s) To provide the State Department of Developmental Services with wage and employer information that will assist in the collection of moneys owed by the recipient, parent, or any other legally liable individual for services and supports provided pursuant to Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 4775) of Division 4.5 of, and Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 7200) and Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 7500) of Division 7 of, the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(t) To provide the State Board of Equalization with employment tax information that will assist in the administration of tax programs. The information shall be limited to the exchange of employment tax information essential for tax administration purposes to the extent permitted by federal law and regulations.

(u) This section shall not be construed to authorize or permit the use of information obtained in the administration of this code by any private collection agency.

(v) The disclosure of the name and address of an individual or business entity that was issued an assessment that included penalties under Section 1128 or 1128.1 shall not be in violation of Section 1094 if the assessment is final. The disclosure may also include any of the following:

(1) The total amount of the assessment.

(2) The amount of the penalty imposed under Section 1128 or 1128.1 that is included in the assessment.

(3) The facts that resulted in the charging of the penalty under Section 1128 or 1128.1.

(w) To enable the Contractors State License Board to verify the employment history of an individual applying for licensure pursuant to Section 7068 of the Business and Professions Code.

(x) To provide any peace officer with the Division of Investigation in the Department of Consumer Affairs information pursuant to subdivision (i) when the requesting peace officer has been designated by the Chief of the Division of Investigation and requests this information in the course of and as part of an investigation into the commission of a crime or other unlawful act when there is reasonable suspicion to believe that the crime or act may be connected to the information requested and would lead to relevant information regarding the crime or unlawful act.

(y) To enable the Labor Commissioner of the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement in the Department of Industrial Relations to identify, pursuant to Section 90.3 of the Labor Code, unlawfully uninsured employers. The information shall be provided to the extent permitted by federal law and regulations.

(z) To enable the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, in accordance with the requirements of Section 84754.5 of the Education Code, to obtain quarterly wage data, commencing January 1, 1993, on students who have attended one or more community colleges, to assess the impact of education on the employment and earnings of students, to conduct the annual evaluation of district-level and individual college performance in achieving priority educational outcomes, and to submit the required reports to the Legislature and the Governor. The information shall be provided to the extent permitted by federal statutes and regulations.

(aa) To enable the Public Employees’ Retirement System to seek criminal, civil, or administrative remedies in connection with the unlawful application for, or receipt of, benefits provided under Part 3 (commencing with Section 20000) of Division 5 of Title 2 of the Government Code.

(ab) To enable the State Department of Education, the University of California, the California State University, and the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, pursuant to the requirements prescribed by the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5), to obtain quarterly wage data, commencing July 1, 2010, on students who have attended their respective systems to assess the impact of education on the employment and earnings of those students, to conduct the annual analysis of district-level and individual district or postsecondary education system performance in achieving priority educational outcomes, and to submit the required reports to the Legislature and the Governor. The information shall be provided to the extent permitted by federal statutes and regulations.

(ac) To provide the Agricultural Labor Relations Board with employee, wage, and employer information, for use in the investigation or enforcement of the Alatorre-Zenovich-Dunlap-Berman Agricultural Labor Relations Act of 1975 (Part 3.5 (commencing with Section 1140) of Division 2 of the Labor Code). The information shall be provided to the extent permitted by federal statutes and regulations.

(ad) (1) To enable the State Department of Health Care Services, the California Health Benefit Exchange, the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board, and county departments and agencies to obtain information regarding employee wages, California employer names and account numbers, employer reports of wages and number of employees, and disability insurance and unemployment insurance claim information, for the purpose of:

(A) Verifying or determining the eligibility of an applicant for, or a recipient of, state health subsidy programs, limited to the Medi-Cal program provided pursuant to Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 14000) of Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, and the Medi-Cal Access Program provided pursuant to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 15810) of Part 3.3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, when the verification or determination is directly connected with, and limited to, the administration of the state health subsidy programs referenced in this subparagraph.

(B) Verifying or determining the eligibility of an applicant for, or a recipient of, state or federal subsidies offered through the California Health Benefit Exchange, provided pursuant to Title 22 (commencing with Section 100500) of the Government Code, including federal tax credits and cost-sharing assistance pursuant to the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148), as amended by the federal Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-152), when the verification or determination is directly connected with, and limited to, the administration of the California Health Benefit Exchange.

(C) Verifying or determining the eligibility of employees and employers for health coverage through the Small Business Health Options Program, provided pursuant to Section 100502 of the Government Code, when the verification or determination is directly connected with, and limited to, the administration of the Small Business Health Options Program.

(2) The information provided under this subdivision shall be subject to the requirements of, and provided to the extent permitted by, federal law and regulations, including Part 603 of Title 20 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

(ae) To provide any peace officer with the Investigations Division of the Department of Motor Vehicles with information pursuant to subdivision (i), when the requesting peace officer has been designated by the Chief of the Investigations Division and requests this information in the course of, and as part of, an investigation into identity theft, counterfeiting, document fraud, or consumer fraud, and there is reasonable suspicion that the crime is a felony and that the information would lead to relevant evidence regarding the identity theft, counterfeiting, document fraud, or consumer fraud. The information provided pursuant to this subdivision shall be provided to the extent permitted by federal law and regulations, and to the extent the information is available and accessible within the constraints and configurations of existing department records. Any person who receives any information under this subdivision shall make a written report of the information to the Investigations Division of the Department of Motor Vehicles, for filing under the normal procedures of that division.

(af) Until January 1, 2020, to enable the Department of Finance to prepare and submit the report required by Section 13084 of the Government Code that identifies all employers in California that employ 100 or more employees who receive benefits from the Medi-Cal program (Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 14000) of Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code). The information used for this purpose shall be limited to information obtained pursuant to Section 11026.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code and from the administration of personal income tax wage withholding pursuant to Division 6 (commencing with Section 13000) and the disability insurance program and may be disclosed to the Department of Finance only for the purpose of preparing and submitting the report and only to the extent not prohibited by federal law.

(ag) To provide, to the extent permitted by federal law and regulations, the Student Aid Commission with wage information in order to verify the employment status of an individual applying for a Cal Grant C award pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 69439 of the Education Code.

(ah) To enable the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to obtain quarterly wage data of former inmates who have been incarcerated within the prison system in order to assess the impact of rehabilitation services or the lack of these services on the employment and earnings of these former inmates. Quarterly data for a former inmate’s employment status and wage history shall be provided for a period of one year, three years, and five years following release. The data shall only be used for the purpose of tracking outcomes for former inmates in order to assess the effectiveness of rehabilitation strategies on the wages and employment histories of those formerly incarcerated. The information shall be provided to the department to the extent not prohibited by federal law.

(ai) To enable federal, state, or local government departments or agencies, or their contracted agencies, subject to federal law, including the confidentiality, disclosure, and other requirements set forth in Part 603 of Title 20 of the Code of Federal Regulations, to evaluate, research, or forecast the effectiveness of public social services programs administered pursuant to Division 9 (commencing with Section 10000) of the Welfare and Institutions Code, or Part A of Subchapter IV of Chapter 7 of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 601 et seq.), when the evaluation, research, or forecast is directly connected with, and limited to, the administration of the public social services programs.

(aj) (1) To enable the California Workforce Development Board, the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Department of Rehabilitation, the State Department of Social Services, the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education, the Department of Industrial Relations, the Division of Apprenticeship Standards, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the California Correctional Training and Rehabilitation Authority, the Employment Training Panel, and a chief elected official, as that term is defined in Section 3102(9) of Title 29 of the United States Code, to access any relevant quarterly wage data necessary for the evaluation and reporting of their respective program performance outcomes as required and permitted by various local, state, and federal laws pertaining to performance measurement and program evaluation, including responsibilities arising under Sections 14013, 14033, and 14042 of this code and Sections 2032 and 2038 of the Streets and Highways Code; the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (Public Law 113-128); the workforce metrics dashboard pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (i) of Section 14013; the Adult Education Block Grant Program consortia performance metrics pursuant to Section 84920 of the Education Code; the economic and workforce development program performance measures pursuant to Section 88650 of the Education Code; and the California Community Colleges Economic and Workforce Development Program performance measures established in Part 52.5 (commencing with Section 88600) of Division 7 of Title 3 of the Education Code. Disclosures under this subdivision shall comply with federal and state privacy laws that require the informed consent from program participants of city and county departments or agencies that administer public workforce development programs for the evaluation, research, or forecast of their programs regardless of local, state, or federal funding source.

(2) The department shall do all of the following:

(A) Consistent with this subdivision, develop the minimum requirements for granting a request for disclosure of information authorized by this subdivision regardless of local, state, or federal funding source.

(B) Develop a standard application for submitting a request for disclosure of information authorized by this subdivision.

(C) Approve or deny a request for disclosure of information authorized by this subdivision, or request additional information, within 20 business days of receiving the standard application. The entity submitting the application shall respond to any request by the department for additional information within 20 business days of receipt of the department’s request. Within 30 calendar days of receiving any additional information, the department shall provide a final approval or denial of the request for disclosure of information authorized by this subdivision. Any approval, denial, or request for additional information shall be in writing. Denials shall identify the reason or category of reasons for the denial.

(D) Make publicly available on the department’s internet website all of the following:

(i) The minimum requirements for granting a request for disclosure of information authorized by this subdivision, as developed pursuant to subparagraph (A).

(ii) The standard application developed pursuant to subparagraph (B).

(iii) The timeframe for information request determinations by the department, as specified in subparagraph (C).

(iv) Contact information for assistance with requests for disclosures of information authorized by this subdivision.

(v) Any denials for requests of disclosure of information authorized by this subdivision, including the reason or category of reasons for the denial.

(ak) (1) To provide any peace officer with the Enforcement Branch of the Department of Insurance with both of the following:

(A) Information provided pursuant to subdivision (i) that relates to a specific insurance fraud investigation involving automobile insurance fraud, life insurance and annuity fraud, property and casualty insurance fraud, and organized automobile insurance fraud. That information shall be provided when the requesting peace officer has been designated by the Chief of the Fraud Division of the Department of Insurance and requests the information in the course of, and as part of, an investigation into the commission of a crime or other unlawful act when there is reasonable suspicion to believe that the crime or act may be connected to the information requested and would lead to relevant information regarding the crime or unlawful act.

(B) Employee, wage, employer, and state disability insurance claim information that relates to a specific insurance fraud investigation involving health or disability insurance fraud when the requesting peace officer has been designated by the Chief of the Fraud Division of the Department of Insurance and requests the information in the course of, and as part of, an investigation into the commission of a crime or other unlawful act when there is reasonable suspicion to believe that the crime or act may be connected to the information requested and would lead to relevant information regarding the crime or unlawful act.

(2) To enable the State Department of Developmental Services to obtain quarterly wage data and unemployment insurance claim data of consumers served by that department for the purposes of monitoring, program operation and evaluation, and evaluating employment outcomes, of the Employment First Policy, established pursuant to Section 4869 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(3) The information provided pursuant to this subdivision shall be provided to the extent permitted by federal statutes and regulations.

(al) To provide the CalSavers Retirement Savings Board with employer tax information for use in the administration of, and to facilitate compliance with, the CalSavers Retirement Savings Trust Act (Title 21 (commencing with Section 100000) of the Government Code). The information should be limited to the tax information the director deems appropriate, and shall be provided to the extent permitted by federal laws and regulations.

(am) (1) To enable the Joint Enforcement Strike Force as established by Section 329, and the Labor Enforcement Task Force, as established pursuant to Assembly Bill 1464 of the 2011–12 Regular Session (Chapter 21 of the Statutes of 2012), to carry out their duties.

(2) To provide an agency listed in subdivision (a) of Section 329 intelligence, data, including confidential tax and fee information, documents, information, complaints, or lead referrals pursuant to Section 15925 of the Government Code.

(an) To enable the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education to access and use any relevant quarterly wage data necessary to perform the labor market outcome reporting data match pursuant to Section 94892.6 of the Education Code. The information provided pursuant to this subdivision shall be provided to the extent permitted by state and federal laws and regulations.

(ao) To enable the Civil Rights Department to carry out its duties, including ensuring compliance with Section 12999 of the Government Code. Conduct related to information provided pursuant to this subdivision shall not be subject to the criminal sanctions set forth in subdivision (f) of Section 1094.

(ap) To enable the Cradle-to-Career Data System, as established by Article 2 (commencing with Section 10860) of Chapter 8.5 of Part 7 of Division 1 of Title 1 of the Education Code, to receive employment and earnings data and, as required by the director pursuant to Section 10871 of the Education Code, to provide information to the data system, to the extent permissible by federal laws and regulations.

(aq) (1) To enable the State Air Resources Board to receive unpaid final tax assessment information issued to a port drayage motor carrier or short-haul trucking service for misclassification of a commercial driver, for use in the administration of, and to facilitate compliance with, Chapter 3.6 (commencing with Section 39680) of Part 2 of Division 26 of the Health and Safety Code. The information shall be limited to the tax information the director deems appropriate for disclosure and shall be provided only to the extent permitted by federal laws and regulations.

(2) For purposes of this subdivision, the following definitions apply:

(A) “Commercial driver” has the same meaning as defined in Section 2810.4 of the Labor Code.

(B) “Port drayage motor carrier” has the same meaning as defined in Section 2810.4 of the Labor Code.

(C) “Short-haul trucking service” has the same meaning as defined in Section 39682 of the Health and Safety Code.

(ar) To enable the California Health Benefit Exchange to do all of the following:

(1) Notify an employer that an employee has been determined eligible for advance payments of the premium tax credit and cost-sharing reductions and has enrolled in a qualified health plan through the California Health Benefit Exchange, as required pursuant to Section 155.310(h) of Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations. The information shall include available employer contact information, including addresses, email addresses, and telephone numbers.

(2) Assist the California Health Benefit Exchange or the State Department of Health Care Services in determining eligibility for the insurance affordability programs administered by those state agencies. The determination of eligibility or entitlement shall include efforts by either the California Health Benefit Exchange or the State Department of Health Care Services to assist those individuals in obtaining that coverage, including informing those individuals potentially eligible for health coverage of the availability of that coverage.

(3) Verify if a consumer has been offered affordable comprehensive employer-sponsored health care coverage pursuant to Title 22 (commencing with Section 100500) of the Government Code and the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148). The information shall include available employer contact information, including addresses, email addresses, and telephone numbers.

(4) Upon the request of either the California Health Benefit Exchange or the State Department of Health Care Services, the department shall also provide to the relevant state agency information on new applicants for unemployment insurance, state disability insurance, and paid family leave. The California Health Benefit Exchange and the State Department of Health Care Services shall at all times request from the department the minimum amount of information necessary from the information listed in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 100503.9 of the Government Code, to accomplish the purposes of Section 100503.9 of the Government Code. The information shall be sent in a manner that is encrypted or otherwise complies with government data security best practices, as specified by the California Health Benefit Exchange. This information shall only be used for the purposes of outreach and marketing.

(5) This subdivision shall become operative no later than September 1, 2023.

(as) To enable the office of the Chancellor of the California State University, the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, and the office of the President of the University of California to access any relevant quarterly wage data necessary for students who have attended their respective systems to assess the impact of education on the employment and earnings of those students and demonstrate compliance with the federal and state Workforce Pell Grant requirements pursuant to Public Law 119-21 to determine Workforce Pell Grant program eligibility. Disclosures and redisclosures under this subdivision shall be provided to the extent permitted by federal laws and regulations.

(Amended by Stats. 2026, Ch. 79, Sec. 32. (SB 135) Effective July 13, 2026.)

Section 1095.5§Sections

(a) (1) The director shall permit the use of any information in their possession to the extent necessary to enable the Behavioral Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission to receive quarterly wage data of individuals with a mental health disorder or a substance use disorder, or both, served by the California public mental health and substance use disorder system for the purpose of monitoring and evaluating employment outcomes to determine the effectiveness of those services.

(2) The director may require reimbursement for all direct costs incurred in providing any information specified in this section.

(3) The information shall be provided to the extent permitted under applicable federal statute and regulation.

(b) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2025, if amendments to the Mental Health Services Act are approved by the voters at the March 5, 2024, statewide primary election.

(Repealed (in Sec. 9) and added by Stats. 2023, Ch. 790, Sec. 10. (SB 326) Effective October 12, 2023. Operative January 1, 2025, by its own provisions.)

Section 1096§Sections

Where a number of workers are normally employed in employment in the course of a year by several employers, such employers, with the approval of the director, may appoint an agent. The agent may maintain records and prepare and file returns and reports required under this division with respect to such workers, including returns and reports of wages paid to the workers, and may pay the employers’ and workers’ contributions levied under this division with respect to wages paid to such workers and perform such other acts on behalf of such employers as the director may authorize all in the same manner as though the agent were the employer of the workers.

(Enacted by Stats. 1953, Ch. 308.)

Section 1097§Sections

The manner of crediting to each employer the employment experience of the group of employers who have appointed an agent pursuant to Section 1096, for the purpose of any classification of employers made pursuant to this division for the determinations of future rates of employers’ contributions, may be prescribed by authorized regulations. Employers who operate or do business in more than one place may, with the approval of the director, appoint a separate agent in each such place.

(Enacted by Stats. 1953, Ch. 308.)

Section 1098§Sections

Nothing contained in Sections 1096 or 1097 shall be construed to make the agent the employer of the workers, or relieve any employer of his obligations to comply with this division, except to the extent that his obligations are discharged by the agent.

(Enacted by Stats. 1953, Ch. 308.)