California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) signed A.B. 1281 into law, extending the sunset date on critical exemptions for employment and business-to-business data from the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).
A.B. 1281 passed the Assembly on August 28, 2020. The Senate concurred on the amended version of the bill on August 30 and sent it to the governor, who signed it on September 29.
The legislation extends the sunset on the employment and B2B data exemptions until January 1, 2022, unless the voters approve the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) ballot initiative on election day (November 3, 2020). If CPRA is approved, the exemptions will also expire on January 1, 2022.
Prior to this bill’s passage, the exemptions were scheduled to expire on January 1, 2021.
The signing of A.B. 1281 ensures that, one way or another, the HR and B2B exemptions will be extended for another year, delaying any concerns that businesses would have to figure out how to incorporate such data into their compliance programs.
IA advocated for the extension of these exemptions this year and urged the passage of California A.B. 1281 continually with our California Chamber of Commerce coalition allies. We applaud Gov. Newsom for signing the bill into law and our California members who contacted the Governor in support of signature using our grassroots platform.
This information is not intended and should not be construed as or substituted for legal advice. It is provided for informational purposes only. It is advisable to consult with private counsel on the precise scope and interpretation of any laws/regulation/legislation and their impact on your particular business.
About the Author
Based in Washington, DC, Howard is the Insights Association's lobbyist for the marketing research and data analytics industry, focusing primarily on consumer privacy and data security, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), tort reform, and the funding and integrity of the decennial Census and the American Community Survey (ACS).
Howard has more than two decades of public policy experience. Before the Insights Association, he worked in Congress as senior legislative staffer for then-Representatives Christopher Cox (CA-48) and Cliff Stearns (FL-06). He also served more than four years with a science policy think tank, working to improve the understanding of scientific and social research and methodology among journalists and policymakers.
Howard is also co-director of The Census Project, a 900+ member coalition in support of a fair and accurate Census and ACS.
He has also served previously on the Board of Directors for the National Institute for Lobbying and Ethics and and the Association of Government Relations Professionals.
Howard has an MA International Relations from the University of Essex in England and a BA Honors Political Studies from Trent University in Canada, and has obtained the Certified Association Executive (CAE), Professional Lobbying Certificate (PLC) and the Public Policy Certificate (PPC).
When not running advocacy for the Insights Association, Howard enjoys hockey, NFL football, sci-fi and horror movies, playing with his dog, and spending time with family and friends.