BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 326 Page 1 ASSEMBLY THIRD READING AB 326 (Morrell) As Amended January 6, 2014 Majority vote LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT 7-0 ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Ayes:|Roger Hernández, Morrell, | | | | |Alejo, Chau, Gomez, | | | | |Gorell, Holden | | | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY : Makes a technical change to specified reporting requirements related to occupational safety and health to replace the term "telegraph" with "e-mail." EXISTING LAW provides that in every case involving a serious injury or illness or death, the employer shall also make an immediate report to the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH). Existing law specifies that such a report shall be made by telephone or "telegraph." FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown COMMENTS : As introduced, this bill proposed to modify the state law reporting requirements for specified occupational safety and health incidents to mirror federal law. However, the bill failed passage in the first policy committee. Subsequently, the author and other members wrote a letter to the Director of the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) seeking comment on the current reporting requirements and their relation to federal law. By letter dated October 22, 2013, the Director of DIR responded and explained why she did not feel that the current state law reporting requirement needed to be changed. However, her letter did state the following: Cal/OSHA and the Department of Industrial Relations both agree that the regulation is due to be modernized, such as replacing 'telegraph' with 'e-mail.' We do not agree, however, that it should be AB 326 Page 2 watered down to the federal standard. Therefore, the author has amended this bill to delete the prior contents and simply make the aforementioned update to the reporting requirement to replace the term "telegraph" with "e-mail." Analysis Prepared by : Ben Ebbink / L. & E. / (916) 319-2091 FN: 0002947