Bill > SB826

This bill reinstates and expands an existing program to study the impacts of automation at California seaports, extending the initiative until January 1, 2029. The bill establishes an industry panel of 17 members, including representatives from employee unions, marine cargo employers, port executives, and experts in national security and cybersecurity. The panel will oversee a stakeholder process to develop recommendations on mitigating the national security, cybersecurity, workforce, and economic impacts of port automation. The California Workforce Development Board may contract with the UCLA Labor Center to facilitate the process and commission expert research. The panel will meet at least monthly, consider various risks associated with port automation, and provide annual updates to the California Workforce Development Board. By July 1, 2027, the Labor and Workforce Development Agency and the California Workforce Development Board must issue findings and recommendations on addressing these impacts. Notably, the implementation of this bill is contingent on specific legislative funding, and by December 31, 2027, the board must present its findings to the Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change Policies. The bill acknowledges the increasing reliance on automated technology in seaports and the potential vulnerabilities this introduces in terms of national security, workforce displacement, and economic disruption.

Budget and Finance, Labor and Employment

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB826