Proposed Bill Would Raise Bar on California Workers’ Fitness Benefits
Assembly member Lloyd Levine (D-Van Nuys) has introduced legislation that would require companies that bid on state contracts to provide fitness benefits to employees in California, the Los Angeles Daily News reports.
The mandate would apply to companies with more than 10 workers in California that bid on state contracts worth at least $1 million.
The bill does not specify a minimum level of benefits employers would have to offer to comply, but Levine said he expects that the bill would reduce health care costs, as well as overtime and workers' compensation expenses.
State officials say the bill would affect about 1,000 contracts annually.
Jennifer McDaniel, a spokesperson for the California Republican Caucus, said she expects Republican lawmakers to oppose the bill.
Business groups also have come out against the bill.
A spokesperson for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) said the governor has not taken a position on the bill (Lowrey, Los Angeles Daily News, 4/7).