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AB-694 • 2026

Department of Industrial Relations: advisory committee: occupational safety and health.

Department of Industrial Relations: advisory committee: occupational safety and health.

Education Labor
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
McKinnor
Last action
Official status
Senate - Appropriations
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The source states the advisory committee includes members from 'other entities,' but does not list what those specific entities are beyond state agencies, worker groups, and schools.

Study on Staffing Needs for Workplace Safety Officers

This law requires the state to hire researchers from UC Berkeley and UCLA to study why there are not enough workplace safety officers and suggest ways to create career paths for these jobs.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the Department of Industrial Relations, if funding is approved by the Legislature, to contract with specific programs at UC Berkeley and UCLA to study staff shortages in its Division of Occupational Safety and Health.
  • Asks researchers to find out about job vacancies and recommend policies for creating career paths to become a Compliance Safety and Health Officer.
  • Creates an advisory committee with members from state agencies, worker groups, schools, and other entities to help plan the study.
  • Requires the university group to hold at least one meeting within 60 days of signing the contract.
  • Mandates that the final report be posted online and sent to government leaders after 18 months.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Department of Industrial Relations
  • University researchers from UC Berkeley and UCLA Labor Occupational Health programs
  • Workers who want careers as Compliance Safety and Health Officers
  • State agencies, worker advocacy groups, academic institutions, and other entities on the advisory committee

Terms To Know

Division of Occupational Safety and Health
The state agency that enforces laws to keep workplaces safe.
Compliance Safety and Health Officer
A government worker who checks if businesses follow safety rules.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The study can only happen if the Legislature approves funding.
  • The bill does not say exactly how many new officers will be hired after the report is finished.
  • The specific members of the advisory committee are listed as 'specified' but their names are not in this text.

Bill History

  1. California Legislative Information

    Senate - Appropriations

Official Summary Text

Department of Industrial Relations: advisory committee: occupational safety and health.