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SB 8

Pensions and Retirement Benefits - As enacted, enacts the "Fairness in Benefits Act." - Amends TCA Title 8, Chapter 27; Title 8, Chapter 34; Title 8, Chapter 35; Title 8, Chapter 36 and Title 8, Chapter 37.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Adam Lowe

Extends §4850 paid leave to full-time peace officers in eighth-class counties, granting full-salary leave up to one year for job-related injury/illness.

Comp. became Pub. Ch. 341
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Bill Summary · SB 8

SB 8 (Ashby) — Peace officers: injury or illness: leaves of absence (Labor Code §4850 amendment)

Main purpose

To expand California’s existing Labor Code §4850 paid leave protections so that certain full‑time peace officers employed by counties of the “eighth class” (as defined in Government Code §§28020 and 28029) are entitled to a leave of absence with full salary when disabled by a job‑related injury or illness.

Key provisions

  • Amends Labor Code §4850 to add: peace officers defined under subdivision (b) of Penal Code §830.31 who are employed on a regular, full‑time basis by a county of the eighth class are eligible for §4850 leave.
  • Entitlement: when a covered person is disabled (temporarily or permanently) by an injury or illness arising out of and in the course of duties, the person is entitled, regardless of length of service, to a leave of absence without loss of salary:
    • In lieu of workers’ compensation temporary disability payments or maintenance allowance payments;
    • For the period of disability not to exceed one year, or until earlier retirement on permanent disability pension and actually receiving disability pension payments or advanced disability pension payments under §4850.3.
  • Maintains existing exclusions (e.g., employees whose duties are strictly clerical/mechanical and not active law‑enforcement/firefighting).
  • If the employer is insured, the insurer may pay to the insured the payments the insurer would otherwise owe as disability indemnity.
  • Clarifies that a §4850 leave is not family care and medical leave under Gov. Code §12945.2 and does not reduce entitlement to that federal/state leave.
  • The section continues to exclude certain San Francisco employees and contains a retroactivity clause previously applied to related amendments.

Who is affected

  • Newly included: regular, full‑time peace officers under Penal Code §830.31 employed by counties of the eighth class (i.e., specified small‑population counties as defined in state law).
  • Employers affected: those counties (and their insurers) will be responsible for maintaining full salary for qualifying injured officers for the statutory period (subject to insurer arrangements).
  • No change for firefighters, probation officers and other existing §4850 categories except as noted.

Fiscal and procedural notes

  • Digest indicates MAJORITY vote; no state appropriation; fiscal committee: NO; local program: NO.
  • Status (from provided bill info): introduced Aug 15, 2025; Passed 1st Reading.
  • Potential local fiscal impact: increased payroll cost for affected counties while officers are on §4850 leave; in practice costs may be offset if insurers make payments to the employer/insured under workers’ compensation arrangements. No statewide fiscal estimate included in the digest.

Additional context

  • §4850 has long provided special leave protections to many California peace officers and firefighters; this bill narrows a prior geographic/employer limitation by adding a category of small (eighth‑class) counties to the list of eligible employers.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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