Assembly BillVetoedHealth and Safety
AB 605: Employment: refineries: task force.
What AB 605 does, verified September 22, 2026
The bill introduces a pilot program to reduce emissions from cargo handling equipment. The program aims to promote the use of low-emission cargo handling equipment by prohibiting future regulations that would prohibit its use before December 31, 2027. To participate in the program, cargo handling equipment must meet specific emission standards and be labeled accordingly. The equipment must also include a description of its useful life from the manufacturer, and this life cannot exceed a specified number of years. The program's goal is to achieve the greatest emission reductions from each emission source identified in the movement of freight along California's trade corridors.
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Last action: Vetoed by Governor. (2026-09-20)Alert me
Author and sponsors
Full contact details, staff, and committees with Connect, $16/moUnlockRecent actions36 total · showing 5
| Sep. 20, 2026 | Vetoed by Governor. |
| Sep. 14, 2026 | Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 1:30 p.m. |
| Aug. 31, 2026 | Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 51. Noes 18.). |
| Aug. 30, 2026 | From committee: That the Senate amendments be concurred in. (Ayes 4. Noes 2.) (August 30). |
| Aug. 30, 2026 | Joint Rule 62(a), file notice suspended. |
Latest bill textEnrolled version, September 4, 2026 · 1,328 words
| Enrolled September 04, 2026 |
| Passed IN Senate August 28, 2026 |
| Passed IN Assembly August 31, 2026 |
| Amended IN Senate August 21, 2026 |
| Amended IN Senate August 13, 2026 |
| Amended IN Senate July 02, 2026 |
| Amended IN Senate June 10, 2026 |
| Amended IN Assembly April 10, 2025 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 605
| Introduced by Assembly Member Muratsuchi |
February 13, 2025 |
An act to add and repeal Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 7875) of Part 7.5 of Division 5 of the Labor Code, relating to employment.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 605, Muratsuchi. Employment: refineries: task force.
Existing law establishes an accidental release prevention program for the state. Under that law, stationary sources subject to the accidental release prevention program may be required to prepare and submit a risk management plan (RMP) to prevent accidental releases of certain substances. Existing law imposes criminal penalties upon a stationary source that knowingly violates the requirements of the accidental release prevention program.
This bill would state findings and declarations concerning refinery closures in California. The bill would establish the Refinery Safe Staffing Task Force to develop potential methods and strategies for ensuring maximum employee retention at refineries and addressing employment dislocations associated with oil, gas, and related industries, with membership, as specified, appointed and commencing service no later than January 1, 2028. The bill would require the task force, no later than June 1, 2029, to present to the Legislature and make available online to the public a report documenting a wide range of potential methods and strategies for ensuring maximum employee retention in the time period preceding refinery closure or long-term idling of a refinery, for ensuring safe operation in the event of understaffing, and for transitioning oil and gas workers into sectors that match their skills and experience. The bill would repeal the task force provisions on January 1, 2030.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) Multiple refineries in California have closed or announced closure within recent years, and there is a likelihood that more will close in the foreseeable future in line with declining demand for refined products.
(b) Closure announcements at refineries, required, pursuant to subdivision (p) of Section 25354 of the Public Resources Code, to be made a year in advance of closure, have precipitated severe staffing shortages at these refineries during the time period between the announcement and the completion of the closure, as workers leave to take new employment opportunities. The shortages lead to the remaining workers working extraordinarily long shifts, for extended periods of time, impacting not just their workplace performance but their ability to get proper rest once at home. Additionally, the loss of expertise causes further disruption, impacting efficiency within the workplace.
(c) The staffing shortages and disruptions during the preclosure time period, and attendant protracted working hours, result in dangerous levels of worker fatigue, creating risks for both the workers and the surrounding community. Workers experiencing fatigue from overlong shifts are more likely to make errors, and the complex and volatile processes at refineries are prone to dangerous accidents as a result of any such errors. In addition, fatigued workers’ response to emergency situations may also be impaired. Accidents at refineries have historically caused both worker injury and death, and widespread health harm to surrounding communities.
(d) The job market for laid off refinery workers is difficult, and hence workers need significant incentives to remain at a refinery headed for closure, rather than leaving to take new employment opportunities. Adequate incentives to remain on the job could include extended severance packages, paid job training, extended job placement assistance, logistical assistance, and other financial assistance. However, to date, refinery operators have not provided sufficient incentives of this nature to persuade their workers to remain.
(e) The twin industrial safety codes applicable to refineries, the Department of Industrial Relations Process Safety Management for Petroleum Refineries regulations (8 Cal. Code Regs. 5189.1) and the California Environmental Protection Agency California Accidental Release Prevention Program 4 regulations (19 Cal. Code Regs. 5110.1 et seq.), set forth general requirements concerning management of organizational change, that, in principle, should encompass plans for refinery closure. However, those requirements have not, to date, been enforced in the context of closure. Additionally, the requirements do not directly address or require the types of measures necessary to retain workers and ensure refinery safety in the run-up to closure, and do not require direct involvement and oversight by enforcement authorities.
(f) In order to ensure worker and community safety in the run-up to a refinery closure or long-term idling, it is essential that the state develop and implement robust safety standards specifically applicable to those events.
SEC. 2.
Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 7875) is added to Part 7.5 of Division 5 of the Labor Code, to read:CHAPTER 3. Refinery Safe Staffing Task Force
7875.
(a) There is in the state government the Refinery Safe Staffing Task Force consisting of the following members:(1) Three representatives of unions representing proprietary employees at refineries as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 7853, one each appointed by the Governor or their appointed Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) Process Safety Management (PSM) Unit regional manager, the Speaker of the Assembly, and the Senate Committee on Rules, respectively.
(2) Three representatives of unions representing building trades whose members serve as contractors at refineries, one each appointed by the Governor or their appointed DIR PSM Unit regional manager, the Speaker of the Assembly, and the Senate Committee on Rules, respectively.
(3) Three representatives of refinery employers appointed by the Governor or their appointed DIR PSM Unit regional manager.
(4) Three representatives of nongovernmental organizations whose mission relates to the well-being of workers and refinery communities, one each appointed by the Governor, the Speaker of the Assembly, and the Senate Committee on Rules, respectively.
(5) Two members of the public with expertise in refinery process safety, to be appointed by the Governor or their appointed DIR PSM Unit regional manager.
(b) All members shall be appointed and begin serving on the task force no later than January 1, 2028.
(c) The members of the task force shall serve without compensation, except that they shall receive, upon appropriation of funds for this purpose, their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties and responsibilities, including traveling expenses.
(d) The task force shall select one of its members to be its chair.
(e) The task force shall have all of the responsibilities, powers, and duties set forth herein.
(f) The task force shall consult with, and may utilize, the staff of the DIR PSM Unit.
(g) The purpose of the task force shall be to develop potential methods and strategies for ensuring maximum employee retention at refineries, during, and especially in the time period preceding, a refinery closure or long-term idling of a refinery, and for addressing employment dislocations associated with oil, gas, and related industries.
(h) (1) No later than June 1, 2029, the task force shall present to the Legislature, and make available online to the public, a report documenting a wide range of potential methods and strategies for ensuring maximum employee retention in the time period preceding refinery closure or long-term idling of a refinery, including, without limitation, any of the following:
(A) Extended severance periods.
(B) Paid job training.
(C) Extended job placement assistance.
(D) Priority transfer to other refineries.
(E) Financial and logistical assistance.
(2) The report shall consider a wide range of methods and strategies for ensuring safe operation in the event of understaffing and include potential methods and strategies for transitioning oil and gas workers into sectors that match their skills and experience.
(i) The recommendations of the task force may be considered in collective bargaining but are not binding.
(j) This chapter shall become inoperative on July 1, 2029, and, as of January 1, 2030, is repealed.
Text of AB 605 as enrolled, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions