Existing law establishes the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board within the Department of Industrial Relations to promulgate and enforce occupational safety and health standards for the state, including standards dealing with exposure to harmful airborne contaminants. Existing law requires the Division of Occupational Safety and Health within the department to enforce all occupational safety and health standards, as specified. A violation of these standards and regulations under specific circumstances is a crime. This bill would prohibit a person engaged in fabrication activities or fabrication shops from using dry methods, and require the use of effective wet methods in any fabrication activities. The bill would make a violation of these provisions grounds for, among other disciplinary action, an immediate order prohibiting continued fabrication activities. The bill would require, on or before July 1, 2025, the department to consult with representatives of approved apprenticeship programs to adopt a training curriculum regarding the safe performance of fabrication activities that meets specified requirements, including classroom instruction, and to certify an individual who has completed that curriculum immediately upon completion. The bill would prohibit, beginning July 1, 2026, an owner or operator of a slab product fabrication shop from permitting any individual from performing fabrication activities or employing an individual to perform work on the shop floor where those activities are conducted, unless the individual is certified by the department as having completed the training curriculum, except as specified. The bill would require, on or before January 1, 2026, the department to develop an application and licensing process for fabrication shops to lawfully engage in fabrication activities known as a "slab product fabrication activity" license. The bill would authorize fabrication shops to engage in fabrication activities during the pendency of the application development and licensing process. The bill would require, beginning January 1, 2026, the department to grant a 3-year license to a fabrication shop that demonstrates satisfaction of specified criteria involving workplace safety conditions and precautions, and would authorize license renewal, as specified. Among other conditions, the bill would establish certain regulatory fees in specified amounts for the license and renewal thereof. The bill would authorize the department to suspend or revoke a licensee in certain cases, including for gross negligence, as specified. The bill would prohibit a person or entity, or an employee thereof, from engaging in fabrication activities unless the person or entity has a license. The bill would prohibit, beginning January 1, 2026, a person from supplying a slab product directly to a person or entity engaged in fabrication activities if the person or entity does not have a valid license. The bill would require a person that, among other things, supplies a slab product to a person or entity engaged in fabrication services to verify the person or entity has a license, as specified. The bill would require a person that supplies a slab product to a person or entity that is not engaged in fabrication activities to rely on written certification issued under penalty of perjury that, among other things, they will not directly engage in fabrication activities with the product without a license. By expanding the scope of the crime of perjury, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would specify that a violation of any of the above-described provisions may be grounds for disciplinary action, as specified, but is not a crime. The bill would establish the Slab Fabrication Activity Account in the Occupational Safety and Health Fund in the State Treasury, and require all fees, penalties, or other moneys collected by the department under the above-described provisions to be deposited into the account. The bill would authorize moneys in the account to be expended by the department for the purposes of administering the above-described provisions, and would make that authorization contingent on an appropriation of funds for that express purpose. The bill would require, beginning January 1, 2026, the Director of Industrial Relations to maintain a publicly accessible database on the department's internet website that includes, among other things, information on any active orders issued by the department in the prior 12 months prohibiting an activity at a fabrication shop, as specified. On or before July 1, 2025, the bill would require the department, in consultation with specified agencies, to submit a report to the Legislature pursuant to prescribed requirements, including specifying the number of violations issued for failure to comply with any temporary or future standards relating to respirable crystalline silica adopted by the board, and the geographic areas in the state with the highest numbers of those violations. On or before January 1, 2027, and January 1, 2029, the bill would require the department, in consultation with other specified entities, to submit a report to the Legislature pursuant to prescribed requirements, including, in addition to the information contained in the initial report, the number of licenses issued by the department pursuant to the above-described provisions. The bill would require the department to collect and include in those reports the disaggregation of applicable data by stone industry, as specified. The bill would also require the department and the division to consider the findings of the reports to prioritize enforcement of the requirements of the bill's provisions in geographic areas with the highest numbers of violations or other penalties issued by the department relating to respirable crystalline silica. The bill would define various terms for these purposes. The bill would make findings and declarations related to these provisions. 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.
Sponsored bills
This measure would designate November 8, 2024, as "California's First-Generation College Celebration Day." The measure would urge all higher education institutions in the state to celebrate California's First-Generation College Celebration Day, recognize the significant role of first-generation college students in developing the state's future workforce, celebrate the federal Higher Education Act of 1965, and support first-generation college students with opportunities and equity in completing their desired degree programs.
Maddy summaryThis bill declares May 2024 as Foster Care Awareness Month in California to highlight the needs of the state's approximately 45,000 children in the foster care system. The measure does not change laws or allocate funding but serves as a symbolic recognition of the efforts made by families, caregivers, and organizations to support vulnerable youth. By designating this specific month, the resolution aims to increase public awareness about the challenges foster youth face, such as homelessness after exiting care, and to celebrate the contributions of those working within the child welfare system.
This measure would recognize the Vietnamese Heritage and Freedom Flag as the cultural and heritage flag of the Vietnamese American community and as a symbol of the community's continued struggle for freedom and liberty for the people of Vietnam, commemorate the anniversary of the Fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975, and acknowledge and recognize the Vietnamese American community's commitment to the principles of democracy, justice, and the protection and advancement of human rights.
Maddy summaryThis bill officially designates June 2024 as Immigrant Heritage Month in California to recognize the contributions of immigrants to the state's economy and society. The measure does not change laws or create new programs but serves as a symbolic proclamation to highlight the cultural and economic impact of immigrant communities. It is a non-binding resolution that affects the public by encouraging acknowledgment of immigrant heritage rather than imposing specific obligations on individuals or businesses.
Maddy summaryThis bill designates June 3, 2024, as Family Justice Center Day in California to recognize the work of organizations supporting survivors of domestic and sexual violence. It directly affects the California Family Justice Network and its 27 affiliated centers, which provide coordinated services such as legal aid, mental health support, and police assistance under one roof. The measure highlights the importance of these centers by noting they serve over 70,000 trauma victims annually, including more than 20 percent who are children. By officially acknowledging this date, the legislation aims to raise awareness about the critical role these centers play in helping survivors access necessary resources.
This measure would declare the month of June 2024 as Alzheimer's Disease and Brain Awareness Month, would recognize Thursday, June 20, 2024, as The Longest Day, and would urge all Californians to commemorate the month of June 2024 as Alzheimer's Disease and Brain Awareness Month.
Maddy summaryThis bill designates June 2024 as California Mountain Biking Month to recognize the sport's history, economic impact, and health benefits within the state. The measure directly affects mountain biking enthusiasts, trail users, and related organizations by officially acknowledging the activity's role in recreation and tourism. The resolution highlights how the industry contributes billions to the economy and supports over 17,000 jobs while promoting outdoor fitness and community building. By proclaiming this specific month, the legislation aims to encourage public participation in off-road cycling and celebrate California's status as a global hub for the sport.
Existing law, the Labor Code Private Attorneys General Act of 2004 (PAGA) , authorizes an aggrieved employee, as defined, to bring a civil action, on behalf of that employee and other current or former employees, to enforce a violation of any provision of the Labor Code that provides for a civil penalty to be assessed and collected by the Labor and Workforce Development Agency or any of its departments, divisions, commissions, boards, agencies, or employees pursuant to certain notice and cure provisions, as prescribed. This bill would, among other things, authorize, on or after October 1, 2024, an employer that employed fewer than 100 employees in total during the period covered by the required notice to, within 33 days of receipt of the notice submit to the agency a confidential proposal to cure one or more of the alleged violations and, upon completing the cure, provide a sworn notification to the employee and agency that the cure is completed, as prescribed. By expanding the scope of the crime of perjury, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would require the agency to verify whether the cure is complete within 20 days of receiving the employer's notification, as specified. This bill would also authorize an employer who employed at least 100 employees in total during the period covered by the required notice to, upon being served with a summons and complaint asserting a claim under PAGA, file a request and participate in, as prescribed, an early evaluation conference in the proceedings of the claim and a request for a stay of court proceedings before, or simultaneous with, that defendant's responsive pleading or other initial appearance in the action that includes the claim. This bill would apply its provisions to a civil action brought on or after June 19, 2024, except as specified. Existing constitutional provisions require that a statute that limits the right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for protecting that interest. This bill would make legislative findings to that effect. 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. This bill would become operative only if AB 2288 of the 2023–24 Regular Session is enacted and takes effect on or before January 1, 2025. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.
Existing law, the Labor Code Private Attorneys General Act of 2004 (PAGA) , authorizes an aggrieved employee, as defined, to bring a civil action, on behalf of that employee and other current or former employees, to enforce a violation of any provision of the Labor Code that provides for a civil penalty to be assessed and collected by the Labor and Workforce Development Agency or any of its departments, divisions, commissions, boards, agencies, or employees pursuant to certain notice and cure provisions, as prescribed. This bill would, among other things, instead authorize an aggrieved employee to bring a civil action as described above on behalf of the employee and other current or former employees against whom a violation of the same provision was committed. With respect to a violation by a person of a provision that does not provide for a civil penalty, PAGA makes that person liable for a civil penalty of $500 if, at the time of the alleged violation, the person does not employ one or more employees. If, at the time of the alleged violation, the person employed one or more employees, PAGA makes that person liable for a civil penalty of $100 for each aggrieved employee per pay period for the initial violation and $200 for each aggrieved employee per pay period for each subsequent violation. PAGA requires 75% of civil penalties recovered by aggrieved employees to be distributed to the Labor and Workforce Development Agency for enforcement of labor laws, including the administration of PAGA, and for education of employers and employees about their rights and responsibilities under the Labor Code, as specified, and requires 25% of civil penalties recovered by aggrieved employees to be distributed to the aggrieved employees, except as prescribed. This bill would instead, if, at the time of the alleged violation, the person employed one or more employees, make that person liable for a civil penalty of $100 for each aggrieved employee per pay period, except if certain mitigating factors apply, including that the alleged violation resulted from an isolated, nonrecurring event that did not extend beyond the lesser of 30 consecutive days or 4 consecutive pay periods, in which case the bill would make the civil penalty $25 or $50, except as provided. The bill would, subject to an exception, also reduce the civil penalties prescribed by PAGA by 15% or 30%, as specified, if a person accused of a violation has taken all reasonable steps to comply with the provisions alleged to have been violated in the required notice provided by the aggrieved employee, as prescribed. This bill would apply its provisions to a civil action brought on or after June 19, 2024, except as specified. This bill would become operative only if SB 92 of the 2023–24 Regular Session is enacted and takes effect on or before January 1, 2025. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.