California Fabrication Licensing Bill Emerges
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Legislation to regulate slab fabricators in California made a surprising appearance last week before the state’s General Assembly.
AB 2137, which would establish mandatory workplace-safety training and licensing to acquire most natural and man-made slabs, took shape last week in the state’s lower house.
Authored by State Assemblyman Philip Chen (R-Brea), the bill would require the state’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) to develop an application and certification process by the start of 2028 and begin granting three-year certifications to qualifying shops by July 1 of that year.
After that date, slabs can’t be supplied to fabrication shops without complete or pending certifications. Materials falling under the proposed law would be “artificial stone” containing >0.1% crystalline silica by weight, and natural stone with >10% crystalline silica.
The program would be self-funded from certification fees as yet undetermined, although the bill notes that a deposit fee “shall not exceed the reasonable regulatory cost.”
The bill’s language closely follows licensing provisions included in last year’s Senate Bill 20. While the legislation became law last October and put silica standards under state statute, lawmakers stripped the licensing sections immediately before SB 20’s final approval.
AB 2137 is now before the assembly’s Labor and Employment committee. The bill needs to be approved by the lower house by May 29 and then move to the state senate for consideration.
The bill parallels a plan introduced by the International Surface Fabricators Association (ISFA) to the state’s Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board in January. The ISFA proposed an industry-based training and certification process, with implementation beginning this October in Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego counties.
“While AB 2137 may create some confusion within the countertop and surface fabrication industry, we support any effort aimed at improving worker safety,” said Laurie Weber, ISFA’s CEO. “We are product-neutral and support initiatives that prioritize safety, compliance, and practical solutions on the shop floor.
“As the only 501(c)(6) nonprofit trade association dedicated solely to fabrication shops in this industry, our focus is straightforward: protecting workers and strengthening shop operations. Any revenue we generate is reinvested back into programs that support the industry.”
Chen introduced AB 2137 in mid-February, but it contained wording unrelated to the silicosis issue. He amended the bill with full details on March 19; he remains sole sponsor of the legislation.