Plain English Breakdown
Checked against official source text during the last sync.
New Rules for Proposition 65 Settlements
This law requires judges to find that settlements in toxic chemical cases provide a public benefit and are fair before approving them, including checks on lawyer fees.
What This Bill Does
- Requires a judge to find that any settlement provides a public benefit and is in the public interest before approval.
- Asks the court to decide if paying lawyers is appropriate under state law for these cases.
- In some specific situations, requires the defendant to lower chemical exposure or add missing warnings as part of the deal.
- Creates a process where a judge can set lawyer fees if the Attorney General objects to the amount agreed upon.
Who It Names or Affects
- Courts that review settlements for Proposition 65 violations
- Businesses or people sued under the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986
- Lawyers who receive fees from these settlement cases
Terms To Know
- Proposition 65
- A California law that stops businesses from exposing people to certain chemicals without a warning or releasing them into water sources.
- Settlement
- An agreement between the person suing and the business being sued to end the legal case, which must be approved by a judge.
Limits and Unknowns
- The text does not explain exactly when a judge must require reduced chemical exposure versus just adding warnings.
- The official summary does not list specific dates for when these new rules will start working.