Consistent with last week’s announcement from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, at 12.01 AM today the county lifted the requirement that masks be worn outdoors at K-12 schools and childcare facilities as well as outdoor “mega” events, such as those held at the Hollywood Bowl and SoFi Stadium. The change is due to the drop in hospitalizations for COVID-19, as well as new COVID-19 cases, which have declined significantly over the last few weeks. 

However, unlike most other areas of California and, indeed, the United States, Angelenos will still be required to wear ...

Following Governor Newsom’s announcement that California’s indoor mask mandate would end on February 15, 2022 for all vaccinated persons, the Los Angeles County Department today issued a statement clarifying when the county’s own mask requirements would be eased. Specifically, when COVID daily hospitalizations drop below 2,500 for 7 consecutive days, masking will not be required at outdoor mega-events or in outdoor spaces at childcare facilities and K-12 schools. In addition, the masking requirement for indoor spaces will continue until:

• Los Angeles County has two ...

On February 7, 2022, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that the state’s indoor mask mandate would expire on February 15, 2022, for vaccinated people.

New face covering guidance from the California Department of Public Health (“DPH”) will go into effect on February 16, 2022. Under the guidance, universal masking is only required in specified settings. These settings where masks will continue to be mandatory include:

• Public transit;
• Indoors in K-12 schools;
• Emergency shelters;
• Healthcare settings;
• State and local correctional facilities and detention centers;

On January 31, 2022, FDA released a list of draft and final guidance topics that are a priority for the FDA Foods Program to complete during the next 12 months.

The guidance topics include several focused on plant-based labeling, so companies making these products should pay close attention to developments. Several topics are focused on food safety and risk reduction so are specific to developing guidance on action levels for lead and arsenic in juice and prevention of some specific foodborne illnesses. Other topics could have a significant effect on product labeling and claims.

Some ...

The California Legislature expanded the Breaking Barriers to Employment Initiative by passing Assembly Bill 628, which amends Section 14033 of the Unemployment Insurance Code. 

AB 628 builds on the 2017 California Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, which made programs and services available to assist individuals with employment barriers with finding opportunities to join the workforce. Specifically, AB 628 seeks to enhance racial and economic justice, in addition to promoting employment. In doing so, AB 628 revises the 2017 grant selection criteria requirements, the ...

Q: I am a creditor of an entity that is now in receivership. I have contacted the receiver, and her attorney, a number of times requesting information about what is going on, especially the proposed sale of the entity’s assets. The receiver and her attorney have stated they don’t have to provide me with information and the receiver’s duty is only to the court and the parties in the case giving rise to the receivership. Is this correct? I want to make sure any sale is on the up and up so I get paid, as I don’t trust the owners of the entity, one of which sought the receiver’s appointment. 

In January 2022, FDA announced new initiatives focused on food safety, indicating that the agency will continue to prioritize that area. Several of these programs are designed to provide more transparency and more information on foodborne illnesses and food safety hazards directly to consumers. Others, including a new egg regulatory program and a proposed rule on pre-market notification for food contact substances, are more technical and industry-focused.

• On January 5, FDA announced its new public-facing reportable food registry. The RFR public data dashboard contains 10 ...

Continuing the trend of legislation in response to headline news, California passed SB 362 prohibiting the use of quotas at chain community pharmacies. This bill modifies California’s Pharmacy Law, which regulates all pharmacy licensees.

SB 362 applies to chain community pharmacies, which are defined as chains of 75 or more stores in California under the same ownership. Chain community pharmacies are distinct from independent community pharmacies (four pharmacies or less under the same ownership).

The bill adds Section 4113.7 to the Business and Professions Code. That ...

Governor Newsom and the California Legislature have agreed to enact new legislation that will revive COVID-19 paid sick leave. The prior law created by Senate Bill 95, expired on September 30.  The new law is included in the state budget process and should be complete in a matter of weeks.

The proposal is still being worked on, but it is likely that it will apply to all businesses with 26 or more employees. It is also probable that the bill will be retroactive to January 1, 2022 and will continue until September 30, 2022. The qualifying reasons will be the same as in SB 95 and will cover any ...

In an effort to support the Me Too movement, California previously enacted Code of Civil Procedure section 1001 to prohibit any provision in a settlement agreement that prevents the disclosure of an act of sexual harassment, discrimination or assault related to a claim filed in a civil or administrative action.  In addition, Government Code section 12964.5 was created to make it unlawful to require an employee to sign a nondisparagement or nondisclosure agreement to deny the employee the right to disclose information about unlawful acts in the workplace, including sexual ...