Bill > AB1362

This bill expands California's existing foreign labor contractor registration program to include agricultural workers under the federal H-2A visa program beginning July 1, 2027. Currently, the law only covers non-agricultural workers, but this bill will require farm labor contractors who perform foreign labor contracting activities to register with the Labor Commissioner, similar to existing requirements for non-agricultural labor contractors. The bill aims to address issues of human trafficking and labor exploitation by mandating that foreign labor contractors provide comprehensive information about their recruitment activities, including a listing of federal visa programs they will be using. Contractors will be required to submit detailed applications, pay registration fees, and post surety bonds based on their annual gross receipts. The bill also introduces significant penalties for violations, including potential misdemeanor charges, civil penalties up to $25,000 per violation, and the possibility of injunctive relief. Additionally, the Department of Industrial Relations is required to submit a study by January 1, 2028, exploring how to extend foreign labor contractor registration requirements to other visa programs, with the goal of protecting more foreign workers from fraudulent recruitment practices and improving overall worker protections in California.

Budget and Finance, Justice, Labor and Employment

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1362