Unions Support California Governor's Payroll Law

California Governor Jerry Brown approved a law that allows production companies to use payroll firms to perform their duties, including  providing workers' compensation and paying union dues, reported The Wrap. Assemblyman Mike Gatto sponsored the bill, which also received support from Entertainment Partners, The Motion Picture Association of America, and the Screen Actors Guild. Normally, production companies form to create single projects, but shut down once their work is completed, which may leave crew members stranded.

For example, if a worker from a movie wishes to ask a question about health care after production has ended, there may be no one to answer him. This law tries to prevent such an occurrence by having payroll firms assume the legal obligations a production company would usually perform. The firms will inform the producers on standard practices, such as which workers are union, the proper payment due, when to begin overtime. There is no expiration date on this new law.

Pictured: California Governor Jerry Brown (Photo: Getty Images)