Store Research
Assembly Bill 295 (Gannon – 1943)
Chapter 1027, Statutes of 1943, AB 295
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Assembly Bill 295 was a single section bill that only proposed the adoption of Labor Code section 226. (See Exhibit #1e) Assembly Bill 295 was introduced on January 13, 1943 by Assembly member Chester F. Gannon, an attorney from the Sacramento area and a member of the Assembly Committee on Labor and Capital. (See Exhibits #1a and #7) His position on this committee may explain his authorship of the bill. (Id.)
While before the Legislature, Assembly Bill 295 was heard by the Assembly Committee on Labor and Capital and the Senate Committee on Labor. (See Exhibit #2) Three amendments were made to the bill, all by the Senate. (See Exhibits #1b, #1c, #1d, and #2) Subsequent to unanimous approval by the Legislature, Assembly Bill 295 was signed by Governor Earl Warren on June 7, 1943. (See Exhibits #1e and #2) Assembly Bill 295 was recorded as Chapter 1027 of the Statutes of 1943. (Id.)
Neither of the committees hearing this bill nor its author has left documentation on its consideration which has survived the passage of time. Given these circumstances, we found that the post-enrollment legislative bill file and the personal papers of Governor Warren regarding this legislation provide the most useful documents. (See generally, Exhibits #5 and #8) Through the materials located in the Governor’s files we are able to gain some insight into the intent of the legislation. (Id.) The information in these materials, in particular those in the post-enrollment file, was presumably presented to the Legislature by the writers who were participants in the legislative process. (See Exhibit #5)
The State Labor Commissioner wrote to Governor Warren on May 10, 1943 describing Assembly Bill 295 as follows:
This bill, concerning which you have asked for a recommendation, requires an employer to furnish semi-monthly, or at the time of each payment of wages, each of his employees an itemized statement in writing showing all deductions made from wages of the employee.
The majority of employers at the present time supply their employees with statements of deductions, and this statute will affect but a small percentage of employers.
It is to the advantage of the employee to know exactly how much is deducted from his wages, and with the increasing deductions required by law and voluntary deductions authorized by him, it becomes difficult for the employee to determine the exact amount which is due him. Such a statement as required by this statute will tend to eliminate disputes between the employer and the employee as to the correctness of deductions and wage payments.
(See Exhibit #5a, document PE-4)