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As a person in charge of workplace safety, you’re well aware of the impact that workers’ comp premiums have on businesses. What if you had to obtain similar coverage for someone taking care of a child or elderly relative?

That’s one of the provisions in the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights that has already cleared the California House and is being considered in the Senate.

The measure, being called the Babysitter Bill by critics, would require people who employ domestic workers to pay them minimum wage and overtime and provide workers’ comp coverage.

It would apply to all domestic workers, including nannies, housekeepers and caregivers over the age of 18.

And while all sorts of workers can use rest breaks to stay on their toes, this could put parents in tricky situations. The legislation would require a 10-minute break for every four hours worked and a 30-minute meal break after five hours.

Your relatives would be exempt.

Under current law, people employing domestic workers are exempted from requirements to provide workers’ comp if their employees don’t work full-time. This measure would remove that exemption.

There would be penalties for non-compliance: attorney’s fees, legal expenses and back pay up to a maximum of $4,000.

Some are saying that the bill gives new meaning to the phrase “nanny state.”

There’s a good chance that it will pass the California Senate. No word on whether Governor Jerry Brown would sign it.

What do you think about the bill? Let us know in the comments.

Tags: babysitters, Babysitters Bill, California, Domestic Workers Bill of Rights, Workers' comp