AB 694: Department of Industrial Relations: advisory committee: occupational safety and health.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

Existing law establishes the Division of Occupational Safety and Health in the Department of Industrial Relations, and charges the division with the enforcement of various laws affecting safe working conditions, including the California Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1973. Existing law requires the Director of Industrial Relations to prepare and submit to the Legislature an annual report on the activities of the Division of Occupational Safety and Health, as specified.

Existing law establishes the University of California, under the administration of the Regents of the University of California, as one of the segments of postsecondary education in the state. Existing law requires the Department of Industrial Relations to contract with the University of California, Los Angeles Labor Center, to conduct a study evaluating opportunities to improve worker safety and safeguard employment rights, as specified, and to convene an advisory committee to make recommendations regarding the scope of the study, as described.

This bill would require the department, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to contract with the University of California, Berkeley Labor Occupational Health Program and the University of California, Los Angeles Labor Occupational Safety and Health Program to conduct a study to evaluate the understaffing and vacancies within the division and make recommendations to the department, the Department of Human Resources, and the Legislature on policies the state shall use to inform the consideration and establishment of career pathways to the Compliance Safety and Health Officer classification. The bill would authorize the University of California to subcontract the responsibility for conducting the study to other specified entities. The bill would require the University of California and its subcontractors, if any, to issue a report that includes certain information about the understaffing and vacancies of Compliance Safety and Health Officers within the division. The bill would further require the University of California to convene an advisory committee consisting of members from specified state agencies, worker advocacy organizations, other academic institutions, and other entities, as specified, to make recommendations regarding the scope of the above-described study, and provide specified findings and recommendations to the division, as prescribed. The bill would require the advisory committee, within 60 days of entering into the contract the University of California, to hold at least one meeting, and the department, 18 months after entering into the contract with the University of California, to post the completed report on the division’s internet website and to forward the completed report to the members of the advisory committee, the Governor, and specified legislative committee chairs. The bill would define terms for these purposes, and include finding and declaration relating to these provisions.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 3

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. August 29, 2025In committee: Held under submission.
2. July 14, 2025In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.
3. July 2, 2025From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 1.) (July 2). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
4. June 18, 2025From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on ED. (Ayes 4. Noes 1.) (June 18). Re-referred to Com. on ED.
5. June 11, 2025From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on L., P.E. & R.
6. June 11, 2025Referred to Coms. on L., P.E. & R. and ED.
7. June 3, 2025In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
8. June 2, 2025Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 76. Noes 1. Page 1846.)
9. May 27, 2025Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
10. May 23, 2025From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (May 23).
11. May 14, 2025In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.
12. April 30, 2025From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (April 29). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.