Assembly Bill 685 would require ag employers to notify all employees of a COVID-19 infection, along with state agencies and labor unions, within 24 hours of an outbreak.
Recent amendments have removed the $10,000 penalty and the rebuttable presumption, according to the author. Yet a number of trade groups remain opposed.
Republican Senator Shannon Grove of Bakersfield on Sunday called the bill ridiculous and burdensome and said it provides Cal/OSHA the authority to shut down a business without due notice. Republican Sen. Andreas Borgeas of Fresno added that the bill does not require an employee to disclose an infection to their employer.
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An Assembly committee takes up the measure on Monday, before the house grants the final legislative votes.
Governor Gavin Newsom has signaled support for such a measure, but has not said he would specifically sign AB 685 in its current form.
