Signed by Governor Gavin Newsom

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that requires employers to report COVID-19 coronavirus infections.

Highlights:

• Requires an employer that receives a notice of potential exposure to COVID-19 to (Sec 4):

• Provide a written notice within one business day to all employees and the employers of subcontracted employees that may have been exposed to COVID-19;

• Provide all employees who may have been exposed with information regarding COVID-19-related benefits; and

• Notify all employees and the employers of subcontracted employees on the disinfection and safety plan the employer plans to implement and complete.

• Requires an employer to notify the local public health agency within 48 hours if the number of cases reported meets the definition of a COVID-19 outbreak, as defined by the state Department of Public Health (Sec 4).

• Prohibits an employer from retaliating against a worker for disclosing a positive COVID-19 test, diagnosis, or order to quarantine or isolate (Sec 4).

• Authorizes the state Department of Public Health to make workplace industry information received from local public health departments available on its website in a manner that allows the public to track the number and frequency of outbreaks (Sec 4).

• Prohibits the release of personally identifiable employee information to the public (Sec 4).

• Specifies that both private and public employers are subject to these provisions (Sec 4).

• Specifies that provisions do not apply to employees who, as part of their duties, conduct COVID-19 testing or screenings or provide direct patient care or treatment to COVID-19-exposed or -infected individuals (Sec 4).

• Authorizes the Division of Occupational Safety and Health to impose a specified civil penalty for an employer that violates the notification requirements (Sec 4).

• Authorizes the Division of Occupational Safety and Health to prohibit the performance of or entry into an operation or process if the place of employment exposes workers to the risk of infection of COVID-19, so as to constitute an imminent hazard to employees (Sec 1).

• Specifies that the prohibition of use be limited to the immediate area in which the imminent hazard exists (Sec 1).

• Specifies that prohibitions will not be issued in a manner that may interrupt the performance of critical government functions (Sec 1).

• Specifies that no reimbursement is required for the costs incurred from these state mandates (Sec 7).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that requires employers to report COVID-19 coronavirus infections.

Highlights:

• Requires an employer that receives a notice of potential exposure to COVID-19 to (Sec 4):

• Provide a written notice within one business day to all employees and the employers of subcontracted employees that may have been exposed to COVID-19;

• Provide all employees who may have been exposed with information regarding COVID-19-related benefits; and

• Notify all employees and the employers of subcontracted employees on the disinfection and safety plan the employer plans to implement and complete.

• Requires an employer to notify the local public health agency within 48 hours if the number of cases reported meets the definition of a COVID-19 outbreak, as defined by the state Department of Public Health (Sec 4).

• Prohibits an employer from retaliating against a worker for disclosing a positive COVID-19 test, diagnosis, or order to quarantine or isolate (Sec 4).

• Authorizes the state Department of Public Health to make workplace industry information received from local public health departments available on its website in a manner that allows the public to track the number and frequency of outbreaks (Sec 4).

• Prohibits the release of personally identifiable employee information to the public (Sec 4).

• Specifies that both private and public employers are subject to these provisions (Sec 4).

• Specifies that provisions do not apply to employees who, as part of their duties, conduct COVID-19 testing or screenings or provide direct patient care or treatment to COVID-19-exposed or -infected individuals (Sec 4).

• Authorizes the Division of Occupational Safety and Health to impose a specified civil penalty for an employer that violates the notification requirements (Sec 4).

• Authorizes the Division of Occupational Safety and Health to prohibit the performance of or entry into an operation or process if the place of employment exposes workers to the risk of infection of COVID-19, so as to constitute an imminent hazard to employees (Sec 1).

• Specifies that the prohibition of use be limited to the immediate area in which the imminent hazard exists (Sec 1).

• Specifies that prohibitions will not be issued in a manner that may interrupt the performance of critical government functions (Sec 1).

• Specifies that no reimbursement is required for the costs incurred from these state mandates (Sec 7).

Full Bill Text