Bill > AB845

This bill requires various state labor-related agencies within the Labor and Workforce Development Agency to collaborate and help agricultural employees effectively process and investigate complaints. When an agricultural employee files a complaint with any department, division, or board in the agency, those entities must work together to transmit the complaint to the most appropriate agency for handling. The bill specifically prohibits the agency initially receiving the complaint from disclosing the agricultural employee's identity or personal information without their consent. An "agricultural employee" is defined broadly to include workers in agricultural occupations, those preparing agricultural products for market, and those handling products after harvest, as defined in specific Industrial Welfare Commission wage orders. The "appropriate entities" for handling such complaints include the Agricultural Labor Relations Board, Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, Division of Occupational Safety and Health, and Employment Development Department. These agencies must make "reasonable efforts" to forward complaints while maintaining the confidentiality of the complainant, consistent with existing legal confidentiality requirements. The bill's implementation is contingent upon legislative appropriation of funds.

Budget and Finance, Labor and Employment

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB845