California Labor Code GENERAL PROVISIONS

• Section 1.
  This act shall be known as the Labor Code.(Enacted By Stats. 1937, Ch. 90.)
• Section 2.
  The provisions of this code, in so far as they are substantially the same as existing provisions relating to the same subject matter, shall be...
• Section 3.
  All persons who, at the time this code goes into effect, hold office under any of the acts repealed by this code, which offices are...
• Section 4.
  No action or proceeding commenced before this code takes effect, and no right accrued, is affected by the provisions of this code, but all procedure...
• Section 5.
  Unless the context otherwise requires, the general provisions hereinafter set forth shall govern the construction of this code.(Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 90.)
• Section 6.
  Division, part, chapter, article, and section headings contained herein shall not be deemed to govern, limit, modify or in any manner affect the scope, meaning,...
• Section 7.
  Whenever, by the provisions of this code, an administrative power is granted to a public officer or a duty imposed upon such an officer, the...
• Section 8.
  Writing includes any form of recorded message capable of comprehension by ordinary visual means. Whenever any notice, report, statement or record is required by this...
• Section 9.
  Whenever any reference is made to any portion of this code or of any other law of this State, such reference shall apply to all...
• Section 10.
  “Section” means a section of this code unless some other statute is specifically mentioned.(Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 90.)
• Section 11.
  The present tense includes the past and future tenses; and the future, the present.(Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 90.)
• Section 12.
  The masculine gender includes the feminine and neuter.(Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 90.)
• Section 12.1.
  The Legislature hereby declares its intent that the terms “man” or “men” where appropriate shall be deemed “person” or “persons” and any references to the...
• Section 12.2.
  “Spouse” includes “registered domestic partner,” as required by Section 297.5 of the Family Code.(Added by Stats. 2016, Ch. 50, Sec. 62. (SB 1005) Effective January...
• Section 13.
  The singular number includes the plural, and the plural the singular.(Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 90.)
• Section 14.
  “County” includes “city and county.”(Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 90.)
• Section 15.
  “Shall” is mandatory and “may” is permissive.(Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 90.)
• Section 16.
  “Oath” includes affirmation.(Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 90.)
• Section 17.
  “Signature” or “subscription” includes mark when the signer or subscriber can not write, such signer’s or subscriber’s name being written near the mark by a...
• Section 18.
  “Person” means any person, association, organization, partnership, business trust, limited liability company, or corporation.(Amended by Stats. 1994, Ch. 1010, Sec. 178. Effective January 1, 1995.)
• Section 18.5.
  “Agency” means the Labor and Workforce Development Agency.(Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 859, Sec. 9. Effective January 1, 2003.)
• Section 19.
  “Department” means Department of Industrial Relations.(Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 90.)
• Section 19.5.
  “Secretary” means the Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development.(Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 859, Sec. 10. Effective January 1, 2003.)
• Section 20.
  “Director” means Director of Industrial Relations.(Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 90.)
• Section 21.
  “Labor Commissioner” means Chief of the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement.(Amended by Stats. 1976, Ch. 746.)
• Section 22.
  “Violation” includes a failure to comply with any requirement of the code.(Enacted by Stats. 1937, Ch. 90.)
• Section 23.
  Except in cases where a different punishment is prescribed, every offense declared by this code to be a misdemeanor is punishable by imprisonment in a...
• Section 24.
  If any provision of this code, or the application thereof to any person or circumstances, is held invalid the remainder of the code, and the...
• Section 25.
  “Sheriff” includes “marshal.”(Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 872, Sec. 102. Effective January 1, 1997.)
• Section 26.
  Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, no person who has not previously obtained a license regulated by this code shall be denied a license...
• Section 27.
  Whenever the term “workers’ compensation judge” or “workers’ compensation referee” is used in this code in connection with the workers’ compensation law, the term shall...
• Section 28.
  For injuries occurring on and after January 1, 1991, whenever the term “independent medical examiner” is used in this code, the term shall mean “qualified...
• Section 29.
  “Medical director” means the physician appointed by the administrative director pursuant to Section 122.(Amended by Stats. 2003, Ch. 639, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2004.)
• Section 29.5.
  The Governor shall annually issue a proclamation declaring April 28 as Workers’ Memorial Day in remembrance of the courage and integrity of American workers, and...

Last modified: October 22, 2018