Public utilities: reporting: safety issues.

Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory authority over public utilities. The California Constitution authorizes the commission to establish rules for all public utilities, subject to control by the Legislature. This bill would require a public utility to file a completed report with the commission within 30 days as to any final judgment, arbitration award, compromise, or settlement in excess of $50,000 in any civil action brought by an employee or former employee of the utility against the utility regarding safety issues that could jeopardize the lives or health of Californians. The bill would authorize the commission to limit this reporting requirement to those particular types of claims that the commission determines are likely to involve claims or allegations that could jeopardize the lives or health of Californians. The bill would require the commission to develop and adopt the report form to be used by a public utility to comply with this reporting requirement. The bill would require specified civil penalties to be imposed for a violation of these requirements. Under existing law, a violation of any order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime. Because a violation of these requirements of the commission would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.