CA Silicosis Law Heads to Governor

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Legislation on fighting silicosis in California’s stone shops is heading to Gov. Gavin Newsome’s desk … minus key provisions in fabrication education and meaningful enforcement.

California lawmakers earlier this month sent along Senate Bill 20, entitled the Silicosis Training Outreach and Prevention or STOP Act, for proofreading before submission to the governor for approval or veto.

SB 20, in its final form, retained the definition of fabrication problems involving crystalline silica and prohibition of material dry-cutting.

However, the final version took out provisions for the state to develop training on safe fabrication, and, by July 2027, to certify shops that followed the training.

The final bill also excised the requirement that any supply of natural-stone or engineered-stone slab could only be made to certified fabrication shops.

Instead, the final legislation calls on all fabrication shops to make sure that employees involved with “high-exposure trigger tasks” – basically anything that involves cutting, shaping or polishing – are trained in accordance with state silicosis-related regulations.

It also directs the state Department of Public Health (DPH) to identify fabrication businesses, provide outreach/education on silicosis, and provide technical assistance in investigations. No specific duties or requirements are associated with those tasks. The final bill also requires DPH to notify the state Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) if any silicosis cases are discovered, but also exempts the information from public disclosure under state open-records laws.

The bill, sponsored by state Sen. Caroline Menjivar (D-San Fernando Valley), was written especially on the behalf of worker in her district, named ground zero for work=related silicosis cases by the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health.