Essential Worker Commission.

Assembly Members Ávila Farías, Alvarez, Carrillo, and Solache have proposed establishing an Essential Worker Commission within California's Labor and Workforce Development Agency to address workplace conditions and legal employment pathways for undocumented essential workers, who comprise an estimated 1.6 million members of the state's workforce.

The 16-member commission would include representatives from Cal-OSHA, public health officials, essential workers, labor unions, healthcare providers, business organizations, and agricultural industry leaders. By July 2027, this body must complete a comprehensive review of workplace safety protocols, wage structures, labor rights enforcement, workforce development opportunities, and emergency preparedness measures affecting essential workers in sectors such as agriculture, construction, hospitality, and healthcare. The commission's analysis will examine how these issues impact unauthorized workers and identify potential state and federal legislative solutions.

Based on these findings, the Labor and Workforce Development Agency must establish an Essential Worker Legal Work Program by January 2028. This program would create pathways for essential workers to maintain lawful employment status in California through policy recommendations and collaboration with federal authorities. The bill's findings note that this initiative aims to address labor shortages and operational uncertainty in industries that rely heavily on undocumented workers, while providing stable employment authorization mechanisms.

The commission's work would focus on developing strategies to support essential workers during future public health emergencies and economic disruptions, with particular attention to impacts on low-income and marginalized communities. The program's implementation would involve coordination between state agencies, employers, labor organizations, and community groups to establish new administrative procedures while utilizing existing agency resources, as the bill requires no new appropriations.