Health and Safety Code section 1596.881

No employer shall discharge, demote, or suspend, or threaten to discharge, demote, or suspend, or in any manner discriminate against any employee who takes any of the following actions:

(a)

Makes any good faith oral or written complaint of the violation of any licensing or other laws by the employer to the State Department of Social Services or other agency having statutory responsibility for enforcement of the law or to the employer or representative of the employer.

(b)

Institutes, or causes to be instituted, any proceeding against the employer in relation to the violation of any licensing or other laws.

(c)

Is, or will be, a witness or testify in a proceeding in relation to the violation of any licensing or other laws.

(d)

Refuses to perform work in violation of a licensing law or regulation after notifying the employer of the violation.
Employees shall be notified in writing at the time of employment of their rights under this chapter, as evidenced by their signature on a notification form outlining actions protected by this section. Forms to be utilized for this purpose shall be kept on file at the facility. The department shall provide each facility with the notification forms, which shall include information regarding enforcement pursuant to relevant Labor Code sections.
“Other laws” for the purposes of this section, includes, but is not limited to, laws relating to staff-child ratios, transportation of children, or child abuse.

Source: Section 1596.881, https://leginfo.­legislature.­ca.­gov/faces/codes_displaySection.­xhtml?lawCode=HSC§ionNum=1596.­881.­ (updated Jan. 1, 1987; accessed Jul. 14, 2025).

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Verified:
Jul. 14, 2025

§ 1596.881's source at ca​.gov