CaliforniaRefinery task force would study worker retention and safety
If enacted, California would create a temporary task force to study keeping refinery workers employed and operating refineries safely before closure or long-term idling.
What it does
A new state task force would bring together refinery workers, employers, unions, community groups, and safety experts to study staffing during refinery closures or long-term shutdowns.
By June 1, 2029, the task force would publish possible ways to retain refinery workers, operate safely with fewer staff, and help oil and gas workers shift to matching careers.
Argument forStudying retention payments, training, and safer staffing could help workers remain through refinery closures and reduce risks from understaffing.
Argument againstBecause the recommendations would not be binding and expenses depend on future funding, the task force may not lead to changes for workers or employers.
More detail
California would create the Refinery Safe Staffing Task Force. The task force would include refinery worker unions, building-trades unions, refinery employers, worker and community organizations, and public safety experts. Members would serve without pay. Members could receive actual and necessary expenses only if money is set aside for that purpose. The task force could consult Department of Industrial Relations process-safety staff. All members would be appointed and begin serving by January 1, 2028. The chapter would become inoperative July 1, 2029, and be repealed January 1, 2030.
The task force would present a report to the Legislature and post it online for the public. The report would address refineries facing closure or long-term idling and oil and gas workers who may need to move into related fields. The report would study possible tools such as longer severance, paid training, job-placement help, transfers, and financial or logistical assistance. It would also study ways to keep refineries safe when staffing is short. The task force's recommendations could be used in union negotiations but would not be binding. The report would be due by June 1, 2029, before the chapter becomes inoperative July 1, 2029.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Sep 20Vetoed by Governor Gavin Newsom.Latest
- Sep 14Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 1:30 p.m.To Governor
- Aug 31Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 51. Noes 18. Page 6962.).Major
- Vote recorded AB 605 Muratsuchi Concurrence in Senate Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 30From committee: That the Senate amendments be concurred in. (Ayes 4. Noes 2.) (August 30).Minor
- Vote recorded With recommendation: That Senate amendments be concurred in. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 30Joint Rule 62(a), file notice suspended. (Page 6844.)
- Aug 30Re-referred to Com. on L. & E. pursuant to Assembly Rule 77.2.Minor
- Aug 28In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading AB605 Muratsuchi By Blakespear. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 28Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 29. Noes 11.).Passed Senate
- Aug 24Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 21Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.Major
- Aug 17Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 13Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 13From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (August 13).Major
- Aug 3In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.Minor
- Vote recorded Placed on suspense file. Result: pass.Upper
- Jul 2Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Major
- Jul 2From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 4. Noes 2.) (July 1).Major
- Jul 1
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 24From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on E.Q. (Ayes 4. Noes 1.) (June 24). Re-referred to Com. on E.Q.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Environmental Quality]. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 15Re-referred to Coms. on L., P.E. & R. and E.Q.Minor
- Jun 11Re-referred to Com. on RLS.Minor
- Jun 11Withdrawn from committee.Major
- Jun 10From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on E.Q.Major
- 2025
- Jul 2In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
- Jun 18Referred to Coms. on E.Q. and TRANS.Minor
- Jun 5In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.Minor
- Jun 4Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 78. Noes 0. Page 2055.)Passed Assembly
- Vote recorded AB 605 Muratsuchi Assembly Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- May 27Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- May 23From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (May 23).Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Lower
- May 7In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.Minor
- Apr 29From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (April 28). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Apr 28
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 22From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on NAT. RES. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (April 21). Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES.Minor
- Apr 21Re-referred to Com. on TRANS.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Natural Resources]. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 10From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on TRANS. Read second time and amended.Major
- Mar 3Referred to Coms. on TRANS. and NAT. RES.Minor
- Feb 14From printer. May be heard in committee March 16.
- Feb 13Read first time. To print.Introduced
Economy & JobsPublic SafetyEmergency Management