Bill > AB694

This bill requires the Department of Industrial Relations to contract with the University of California, Berkeley and Los Angeles Labor Programs to conduct a comprehensive study on staffing shortages within the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA). The study aims to evaluate the significant understaffing and high vacancy rates among Compliance Safety and Health Officers, which currently stand at 42.5% and result in only one inspector per 120,102 workers, compared to more favorable ratios in other states. The bill mandates that the study include a literature review, analysis of vacancy causes, and recommendations for creating career pathways and workforce development programs to address these challenges. A diverse advisory committee of 15-17 members from various agencies, unions, community organizations, and academic institutions will be convened to guide the study's scope and provide recommendations. The committee must hold multiple meetings, including public input sessions, and the final report will be required to be published on the division's website and shared with legislative leaders and the Governor 18 months after the contract is initiated. The bill emphasizes the need to expand and diversify the candidate pool for safety inspector positions, with particular attention to addressing language barriers and representing California's diverse workforce, ultimately aiming to improve workplace safety enforcement across the state.

Budget and Finance, Education, Labor and Employment

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB694