Senate Bill No. 1131

Introduced by Senator Galgiani

February 18, 2016

An act to amend Section 25915 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to asbestos.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SB 1131, as introduced, Galgiani. Asbestos notification.

Existing law requires the owner of any building constructed prior to 1979 who knows that the building contains asbestos-containing construction materials to provide notice to all employees of that owner working within the building concerning specified information, including general procedures and handling restrictions necessary to prevent, and, if appropriate, to minimize disturbance, release, and exposure to the asbestos. If detailed handling instructions are necessary to ensure employee safety, existing law requires the notice to indicate where those instructions can be found. Existing law provides that these notice requirements do not apply to an owner who elects to prepare an asbestos management plan, in which case, other notice requirements apply.

This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to this provision.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.  

Section 25915 of the Health and Safety Code is
amended to read:

25915.  

(a)   begin insert (1) end insert begin insert   end insert Notwithstanding any other begin delete provision of end delete law,
the owner of any building constructed prior to 1979, who knows
that the building contains asbestos-containing construction
materials, shall provide notice to all employees of that owner
working within the building concerning all of the following:

begin delete

(1)

end delete

begin insert (A) end insert  The existence of, conclusions from, and a description or list
of the contents of, any survey known to the owner conducted to
determine the existence and location of asbestos-containing
construction materials within the building, and information
describing when and where the results of the survey are available
pursuant to Section 25917.

begin delete

(2)

end delete

begin insert (B) end insert  Specific locations within the building known to the owner,
or identified in a survey known to the owner, where
asbestos-containing construction materials are present in any
quantity.

begin delete

(3)

end delete

begin insert (C) end insert  General procedures and handling restrictions necessary to
prevent, and, if appropriate, to minimize disturbance, release, and
exposure to the asbestos. If detailed handling instructions are
necessary to ensure employee safety, the notice required by this
section shall indicate where those instructions can be found.

begin delete

(4)

end delete

begin insert (D) end insert  A summary of the results of any bulk sample begin delete analysis, end delete
begin insert analysis end insert or air monitoring, or monitoring conducted pursuant to
Section 5208 of Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations,
conducted for or by the owner or within the owner’s control,
including reference to sampling and laboratory procedures utilized,
and information describing when and where the specific monitoring
data and sampling procedures are available pursuant to Section
25917.

begin delete

(5)

end delete

begin insert (E) end insert  Potential health risks or impacts that may result from
exposure to the asbestos in the building as identified in surveys or
tests referred to in this section, or otherwise known to the owner.

begin delete

The

end delete

begin insert (2) end insert begin insert   end insert begin insert The end insert notice may contain a description and explanation of
the health action levels or exposure standards established by the
state or federal government. However, if the notice contains this
description, the notice shall include, at least, a description and
explanation of the no significant risk level established pursuant to
Chapter 6.6 (commencing with Section 25249.5) of Division 20,
and specified in Section begin delete 12711 end delete begin insert 25711 end insert of Title begin delete 22 end delete begin insert 27 end insert of the
California Code of Regulations, the school abatement clearance
level specified in Section 49410.7 of the Education Code, and the
action levels established by state and federal Occupational Safety
and Health Act regulations.

begin delete

The

end delete

begin insert (3) end insert begin insert   end insert begin insert The end insert notice requirements specified in this subdivision shall
not apply to an owner who elects to prepare an asbestos
management plan pursuant to Section 25915.1. In those cases, the
notice requirements specified in Section 25915.1 shall apply.

(b)  If the owner has no special knowledge of the information
required pursuant to begin delete paragraphs (3) and (5), end delete begin insert subparagraphs (C)
and (E) end insert of begin insert paragraph (1) of end insert subdivision (a), the owner shall
specifically inform his or her employees in the notice required by
this section, that he or she lacks knowledge regarding handling
instructions necessary to prevent and minimize release of, and
exposure to, asbestos and the potential health impacts resulting
from exposure to asbestos in the building, and shall encourage
employees to contact local or state public health agencies.