The point of gardening leave is that it is mandatory, not voluntary. People are not going to choose to put their career on pause when they could be working, even if you pay them.
The proposed law will ban mandatory non competes, even if they are paid.
The proposed law bans voluntary non-competes as well as mandatory. It states that employers may not even accept such covenants. It is an absolute ban on employment restraints.
The proposed law will ban mandatory non competes, even if they are paid.