California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill late on Thursday that will ensure film and TV workers who are operating out of state for their jobs will have full access to California’s unemployment insurance, disability insurance and paid family leave.
The bill, SB 271, will become law beginning in January 2020 and helps address tax and benefit uncertainties for California-based production workers who often must travel out-of-state for their various projects.
“The bill would provide, for purposes of determining employment of a motion picture production worker when the service is not localized in the state but some of the service is performed in the state, that the worker’s entire service qualifies as employment if their residence is in the state,” the bill states.
“We can now protect thousands of our members and their families who depend upon these benefit programs, often in times of great need and economic stress because they are unexpectedly or suddenly out of work, disabled as a result of an injury or illness, or are responsible for the care of family members,” the California International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Council and Entertainment Union Coalition, which co-sponsored the bill, said in a statement.
The council represents over 50,000 members of the entertainment industry, while the coalition has roughly 150,000 members and comprises 17 local unions, including SAG-AFTRA.