CaliforniaCalifornia directs safety officials to propose pollution protections
California’s workplace safety division must propose protections by 2030 for high-risk outdoor workers near four sites exposed to pollution from Baja California.
What it does
The division must propose worker protections for lifeguards, park rangers, and other high-risk outdoor workers near four named sites. The board would decide whether to adopt them.
When developing the worker-protection standard, the division must consider identifying a harmful hydrogen sulfide exposure level to reference. It may also consider levels for other pollutants.
The standards board may use emergency regulations to carry out these worker-protection provisions, following the state’s rulemaking law.
Argument forWorkers at high risk might get clearer warnings, protective gear, health checks, and training if the board adopts those measures.
Argument againstEmployers and workers might face new protective steps and recordkeeping duties if the board adopts a standard with those requirements.
More detail
The Division of Occupational Safety and Health must propose a worker-protection standard to the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board. It would cover lifeguards, park rangers, and other employees the division finds to be at high risk, working outdoors within 10 miles of the Tijuana River Valley Regional Park, Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge, Tijuana River, or New River. The pollution must originate in Baja California and threaten public or environmental health or safety. The board would decide whether to adopt a standard; the proposed standard may include protective gear, health checks, hazard warnings, recordkeeping, and training. The division must propose the standard on or before January 1, 2030.
The division must consider identifying a hydrogen sulfide exposure level linked to acute or long-term health effects for the standard to reference. The threshold would be considered for the worker-protection standard covering high-risk outdoor employees exposed to transboundary pollution. The division may also consider exposure levels for other relevant pollutants; the text does not require it to identify those levels. The threshold consideration applies as the division develops the standard it must propose by January 1, 2030.
The Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board may adopt emergency regulations to implement the section. The authority applies to regulations implementing the worker-protection provisions in this section. Any emergency regulations must follow the Administrative Procedure Act.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed Assembly
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Sep 27Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 672, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Sep 27Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Sep 4Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.To Governor
- Aug 28Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 39. Noes 0.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.Major
- Vote recorded Special Consent SB1046 Blakespear et al. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 27Ordered to special consent calendar.
- Aug 26
- Vote recorded SB 1046 Blakespear Senate Third Reading By Alvarez. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 25In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
- Aug 25Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 76. Noes 0. Page 6530.) Ordered to the Senate.Passed Assembly
- Aug 21Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 21Read third time and amended.Major
- Aug 21Assembly Rule 69(b)(1) suspended. (Ayes 55. Noes 17. Page 6296.)
- Aug 13Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 13From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (August 13).Minor
- Aug 13Assembly Rule 63 suspended.
- Jul 1July 1 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.
- Jun 11From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (June 10). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Jun 10
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Lower
- May 26Referred to Com. on L. & E.Minor
- May 20In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading SB1046 Blakespear et al. Result: pass.Upper
- May 20Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 4372.) Ordered to the Assembly.Passed Senate
- May 14Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Upper
- May 14From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 7. Noes 0. Page 4262.) (May 14).Minor
- May 8Set for hearing May 14.
- Apr 20April 20 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
- Vote recorded Placed on suspense file. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 14Set for hearing April 20.
- Apr 9Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Major
- Apr 8From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 4. Noes 0. Page 3794.) (April 8).Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 26Set for hearing April 8.
- Mar 25Re-referred to Com. on L., P.E. & R.Minor
- Mar 17From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.Major
- Feb 18Referred to Com. on RLS.Minor
- Feb 12From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 14.
- Feb 11Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.Introduced
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