He Cites Conflict With Federal Law As Basis For His Veto.
As reported in our September 20, 2015 post, AB465—backed by labor unions–was a California bill designed to end mandatory workplace arbitration, applicable to agreements, modifications, renewals, or extensions on or after January 1, 2016. Among other things, it also had a proposed discretionary fee-shifting provision to a prevailing plaintiff seeking to enforce the proposed legislation if enacted.
AB465 passed the Legislature, but recently was vetoed by Governor Jerry Brown. In doing so, he called the bill “a far-reaching approach that has been consistently struck down in other states” for conflicts with federal law [we presume the Federal Arbitration Act],” according to a quote in an October 12, 2015 article carried in The Orange County Register by Juliet Williams (Associated Press).