BILL NUMBER: AB 2545	ENROLLED
	BILL TEXT

	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 18, 2004
	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 11, 2004
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JULY 14, 2004
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 5, 2004
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 22, 2004

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Members Koretz, Lieber, and Vargas
   (Coauthors:  Assembly Members Chan and Hancock)

                        FEBRUARY 20, 2004

   An act to add Section 6402.5 to the Labor Code, relating to
employment.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2545, Koretz.  Employment:  access to exits.
   Existing law prohibits employers from requiring any employee to be
in any place of employment that is not safe, and requires employers
to do everything reasonably necessary to protect the life, safety,
and health of employees.  Existing law provides that any employer who
knowingly, negligently, or repeatedly violates any of these
provisions is guilty of a misdemeanor.
   This bill would require that, beginning January 1, 2006, any
employer who establishes any rule or engages in any practice that
results in a serious and willful violation of any regulation
regarding the maintenance and access to exits, that results in death
or serious bodily injury of an employee, be assessed a penalty of 10
times the applicable civil penalty.
   Because an employer who knowingly, negligently, or repeatedly
violates this provision would be guilty of a misdemeanor under
existing law, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

  The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local
agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state.  Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.
   This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this
act for a specified reason.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Section 6402.5 is added to the Labor Code, to read:
   6402.5.  On and after January 1, 2006, any employer who
establishes any rule or engages in any practice that results in a
serious and willful violation of any regulation regarding the
maintenance and access to exits, including Section 3225 of Title 8 of
the California Code of Regulations, that results in the death or
serious bodily injury of an employee, shall be assessed a penalty
that is 10 times the applicable civil penalty prescribed in Chapter 4
(commencing with Section 6423).
  SEC. 2.  No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to
Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because
the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school
district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or
infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty
for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the
Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the
meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California
Constitution.