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Assembly Bill 187 (Hurley – 1919)

Chapter 202, Statutes of 1919

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.

Chapter 202, Statutes of 1919 was entitled: 

An act to regulate the payment of wages or compensation for labor or service in private employments, establishing regular pay days, providing penalties for the violation of its provisions, authorizing the commissioner of the bureau of labor statistics to enforce this act, defining the duties of district attorneys relative to its enforcement, providing for the collection of certain penalties by civil action at the direction of said commissioner and for the disposition of penalties so collected; . . .
(See Exhibit A, #1d, page 294)

This Act, repealing prior wage Acts of 1911 and 1915, followed legislative passage of Assembly Bill 187.  (See Exhibit A, #1a)  We include, as a professional courtesy at no charge, the legislative history materials for 1911 and 1915 legislation in order to provide a complete understanding of the actions of the Legislature regarding this matter during this time period.  (See generally, Exhibits B and C)  Assembly Bill 187 was carried by Assembly member Edgar S. Hurley, a Republican from the Oakland area and an electrician by trade.  (See Exhibit A, #3) 

Assembly Bill 187 was heard in the Assembly and Senate Committees on Labor and Capital.  (See Exhibit A, #1 and #2)  Following legislative approval, the bill was sent to the Governor on April 22, 1919.  (See Exhibit A, #2)  Assembly Bill 187 was signed by Governor William D. Stephens on May 6, 1919 and was recorded on that date as Chapter 202 of the Statutes of 1919.  (See Exhibit A, #1d and #2) 

Since Assembly member Hurley was a member of the Assembly Committee on Labor and Capital, it is probable that he carried this measure due to that membership.  (See Exhibit A, #3)  This may also suggest that Assembly Bill 187 was introduced at the request of the Bureau of Labor Statistics.    Please consider the following historical information.

An excerpt from the Bureau’s Biennial Reports, issued in 1918 and 1920, referenced labor conditions of the time and their extensive efforts to assure wage issues between employers and employees were resolved fairly.  (See Exhibit A, #4 and #8)