Whistle-blower law takes immediate effect

the Capitol dome and across the country.

“No one should have to decide between keeping their job and reporting abuse,” Melendez said.

Lawmakers said the bill was the first of many steps needed to ensure employees in the Capitol and across the state have the protections needed to report sexual harassment and abuse in their workplace. Several Democratic lawmakers urged their colleagues to consider unionizing legislative staffers, who are at-will employees, to further protect them from employment abuses.

AB403 was released last month by Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de León, D-Los Angeles, from the Senate committee that had been holding it. De León said the bill was held because he felt the Senate’s existing anti-retaliation and sexual harassment policies were sufficient to protect legislative employees.

“In the wake of the #MeToo movement, I think it was appropriate to release the measure and make the bill a better bill,” he said, adding that he worked to beef up the bill to better protect sexual harassment victims.

Both the Senate and Assembly have been dealing with accusations against lawmakers, with Assemblymen Raul Bocanegra, D-San Fernando Valley, and Matt Dababneh, D-Encino (Los Angeles County), resigning late last year, while Sen. Tony Mendoza, D-Artesia (Los Angeles County), remains on paid leave pending an investigation into sexual misconduct allegations. All three have denied wrongdoing.

Melody Gutierrez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mgutierrez@ sfchronicle.com Twitter: @MelodyGutierrez