Gov. Brown signs historic legislation granting expanded overtime pay to farmworkers

With little fanfare or a signing message, Gov. Jerry Brown on Monday signed historic legislation that would expand overtime pay for California farmworkers.

AB 1066, authored by Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego), calls for a phase-in of new overtime rules over four years, beginning in 2019.

The measure would lower the current 10-hour-day threshold for overtime by half an hour each year until it reaches the standard eight-hour day by 2022. The legislation also would phase in a 40-hour standard workweek for the first time. The governor would be able to suspend any part of the process for a year depending on economic conditions.