Public transportation providers.

Assembly Member Wilson's legislation expands legal protections against workplace violence in California's public transportation sector by broadening the scope of individuals covered under existing battery and restraining order statutes. The bill extends current protections for transit operators and passengers to include employees, contractors, and providers of public transportation services.

The legislation amends the Code of Civil Procedure to explicitly include public transit operators and joint powers authorities in the definition of employers who can seek workplace violence restraining orders. It clarifies that "unlawful violence" encompasses battery against transportation workers and enables courts to issue protective orders covering family members and other workplace employees when warranted.

Under amendments to the Penal Code, battery against public transportation providers, employees, or contractors now carries the same penalties as attacks on vehicle operators and passengers - fines up to $10,000 and imprisonment terms ranging from one year in county jail to three years in state prison when injuries occur. The enhanced penalties apply when perpetrators know or should reasonably know the victim is performing job duties.

The bill establishes procedures for courts and law enforcement to process and enforce these protective orders, including requirements for same-day review of temporary restraining order requests and transmission of order information to the Department of Justice. It maintains existing provisions allowing orders to remain in effect for up to three years and prohibiting firearm possession by restrained parties.