Store Research
Assembly Bill 450 (Williamson – 1931)
Chapter 878, Statutes of 1931
Some bill research does not include the Governor's file because at the time we researched the bill, the sitting Governor had not released his chaptered bill file. If the Governor's file is not included with this particular research, please contact our office (1-530-666-1917 or quote@legintent.com) and we will be happy to provide this file at no charge if it is available. Please Note: Governor files did not exist prior to 1943.
Former uncodified sections 7 and 8 of the 1919 Act to regulate payment of wages or compensation in private employments, etc., were amended in 1931 following legislative passage of Assembly Bill 450. (See Exhibit #1d) These were the only sections amended. (Id.) Assembly member Ray Williamson of San Francisco introduced Assembly Bill 450 on January 19, 1931. (See Exhibit #1a)
Assembly Bill 450 was heard by the Assembly Committee on Revision and Printing. (See Exhibit #2) On the Senate side, the measure was before the Senate Committee on Labor and Capital. (Id.) Assembly Bill 450 was amended twice in the Senate. (See Exhibits #1b, #1c, and #2) Subsequent to legislative approval, Assembly Bill 450 was signed by Governor James Rolph, Jr., and was recorded by the Secretary of State as Chapter 878 of the Statutes of 1931. (See Exhibits #1d and #2)
Unfortunately, the committees from 1931 have left no materials documenting legislative consideration of Assembly Bill 450. The same is true for the author as well as the Governor for that year. We have undertaken an exhaustive research effort of legislative journals and other materials that might shed light on this legislative action. The most substantive documents located seem to be the Biennial Report to the Governor and Legislature by the Department of Industrial Relations. (See Exhibits #5 and #6) Both of these discuss the historical circumstances or frame-work within which this legislation was adopted and may be useful to you in your effort to construe and apply the section. (Id.)
The Department of Industrial Relations' First Biennial Report, dated October 31, 1930, recommended that the State wage law be amended “leaving the worker the full right to take action in court for any additional balance he may claim.” (See Exhibit #5, page 60)