CA AB2588

Requires general acute care hospitals to pay for all employer-provided or employer-required educational programs and training for employees and applicants providing direct patient care, including residencies, orientations, and competency validations.

Excludes from this requirement costs for licenses, registrations, certifications necessary to legally practice in a specific employee classification, and voluntary education undertaken solely at employee discretion.

Prohibits employers from retaliating against applicants or employees who refuse to enter into contracts or agreements that violate these provisions.

Requires courts to award prevailing plaintiffs reasonable attorney's fees and costs in actions brought under this section.

States that these provisions clarify existing California Labor Code requirements that employers indemnify employees for necessary expenditures incurred in performing job duties.