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 |Add To My Favorites |Track Bill | Version: 03/28/25 - Amended Assembly
 02/21/25 - Introduced

 AB-1442 Essential Worker Commission.(2025-2026)

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 Date Published: 03/28/2025 09:00 PM

AB1442:v98#DOCUMENTBill Start

 Amended
 IN 
 Assembly
 March 28, 2025

 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

 Assembly Bill

No. 1442

Introduced by Assembly Members Ávila Farías, Alvarez, Carrillo, and Solache
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Ransom, Blanca Rubio, and Wilson)

February 21, 2025

An act relating to employment. An act to add Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 11050) to Part 1 of Division 3 of the Unemployment Insurance Code, relating to undocumented workers.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 1442, as amended, Ávila Farías.
 California Essential Worker and Economic Stabilization Act. Essential Worker Commission.

Existing law establishes the Labor and Workforce Development Agency, consisting of various offices and entities, including the office of the Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development, the Agricultural Labor Relations Board, and the California Workforce Development Board.

This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact the California Essential Worker and Economic Stabilization Act.

This bill would establish the Essential Worker Commission within the Labor and Workforce Development Agency, to review, investigate, and analyze issues relating to essential workers in the state, including
 workplace safety and health protections and wages and benefits for undocumented workers. The bill would require the Essential Worker Commission, based on that review, investigation, and analysis, to establish the Essential Worker Legal Work Program to provide essential workers with legal pathways to remain in California and work lawfully.

Digest Key

 Vote:
 MAJORITY 
 Appropriation:
 NO 
 Fiscal Committee:
 NOYES 
 Local Program:
 NO 

Bill Text

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

SECTION 1.

 Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 11050) is added to Part 1 of Division 3 of the Unemployment Insurance Code, to read:

 CHAPTER
 8. Essential Worker Commission

11050.

 (a) California’s economy depends on a strong and reliable workforce, particularly in our agricultural and service industries. These sectors form the backbone of our state’s economy, providing essential goods and services to millions of Californians. However, a significant portion of this workforce consists of essential workers who lack a formal work authorization pathway due to the federal government’s failure to enact comprehensive immigration reform. Without a stable and authorized workforce, these industries face ongoing labor shortages, economic instability, and operational uncertainty.

(b) California has one of the largest workforces of individuals lacking employment authorization in the United States, with estimates suggesting that
 over 1,600,000 undocumented workers contribute to the state’s economy. These individuals are concentrated in industries like agriculture, construction, hospitality, health care, and domestic work sectors that are vital to California’s economic well being. Yet, due to their lack of status, they face barriers to workplace protections, creating instability for both workers, employers, and the economy as a whole.

11051.

 For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:

(a) “Essential Worker Commission” means the Essential Worker Commission established pursuant to this chapter.

(b) “Essential worker” means an undocumented worker in the state who performs critical labor necessary for the functioning of the state’s economy, including, but not limited to, agriculture, health care, construction, food service, domestic work, and other frontline industries.

11052.

 The Essential Worker Commission is hereby established within the Labor and Workforce Development Agency.

11053.

 (a) The Essential Worker Commission shall be composed of 16 members as follows:

(1) A member appointed by the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board (Cal-OSHA), who is a member of that board.

(2) A member appointed by the State Public Health Officer.

(3) A member appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly.

(4) A member, appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly, who is an essential worker.

(5) A member appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules.

(6) A m