SB 20: Occupational safety: high-exposure trigger tasks on artificial stone.

Official summary

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

Existing law establishes the Department of Industrial Relations in the Labor and Workforce Development Agency and requires the department to be conducted under the control of an executive officer known as the Director of Industrial Relations. Existing law states that the function of the department, among other things, is to foster, promote, and develop the welfare of the wage earners of California, to improve their working conditions, and to advance their opportunities for profitable employment and vests the department with responsibility for administering the state plan for the development and enforcement of occupational safety and health standards relating to issues covered by corresponding standards adopted pursuant to federal law.

Existing law establishes the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board within the department to adopt 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.

Existing law, the California Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1973 (OSHA), requires employers to comply with certain safety and health standards, as specified, and charges the Division of Occupational Safety and Health with enforcement of the act. OSHA defines “serious injury or illness” for purposes of the act to mean any injury or illness occurring in a place of employment or in connection with any employment that results in one of a list of conditions, including inpatient hospitalization, as provided, the loss of a member of the body, any serious degree of permanent disfigurement, and impairment sufficient to cause a part of the body or the function of an organ to become permanently and significantly reduced in efficiency on or off the job, as specified. Under OSHA, certain knowing, negligent, or willful violations of safety and health standards are punishable as a misdemeanor.

This bill would add silicosis and silica-related lung cancer to the list of conditions that, if resulting from an injury or illness occurring in a place of employment or in connection with an employment, would constitute a “serious injury or illness.” By expanding the scope of a crime under OSHA, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

OSHA creates a rebuttable presumption that a “serious violation” exists in a place of employment if the division demonstrates that there is a realistic possibility that death or serious physical harm could result from the actual hazard created by the violation. OSHA defines “serious physical harm” for purposes of that provision.

This bill would expand that definition of “serious physical harm” to include silicosis and silica-related lung cancer.

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. October 13, 2025Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 734, Statutes of 2025.
2. October 13, 2025Approved by the Governor.
3. September 16, 2025Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.
4. September 9, 2025Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 2707.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
5. September 8, 2025In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
6. September 8, 2025Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 77. Noes 0. Page 2998.) Ordered to the Senate.
7. September 3, 2025Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
8. September 2, 2025Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
9. August 29, 2025From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (August 29).
10. August 20, 2025August 20 set for first hearing. Placed on APPR. suspense file.
11. July 10, 2025From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (July 9). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
12. July 10, 2025Coauthors revised.