AB 542

Under current law, unless an exemption applies, if an individual quits his or her

job, the individual is generally ineligible to receive unemployment insurance (UI)

benefits until the individual earns wages or certain other amounts after the week in

which the individual quits equal to at least six times the individual's weekly UI

benefit rate. This bill creates an exemption for an individual who terminates his or

her work due to the employee's unwillingness, as a condition of continued

employment, to receive a vaccine against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus or furnish

proof of having done so.

Also under current law, an individual may be disqualified from receiving UI

benefits if he or she is terminated because of misconduct or substantial fault. The

bill specifically provides that an employee's unwillingness, as a condition of

continued employment, to receive a vaccine against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus

or furnish proof of having done so, does not constitute misconduct or substantial

fault.