Rest periods: petroleum facilities: safety-sensitive positions.

Assemblymember Gipson's legislation permanently extends and expands rest period exemptions for safety-sensitive positions at petroleum facilities and refineries in California. The measure removes the January 1, 2026 sunset date for existing provisions that allow certain employees to remain on-duty during mandated rest periods when monitoring emergency communications or facility operations.

The exemption applies to workers who must carry communication devices and respond to emergencies, or who must remain on premises to monitor facilities. When rest periods are interrupted by emergencies, employers must authorize another break promptly after the situation is resolved or provide one hour of additional pay at regular rates. The bill newly extends these provisions to employees at refineries that process alternative feedstocks, beyond traditional petroleum facilities.

The exemption remains limited to employees covered by qualifying collective bargaining agreements that explicitly address wages, hours, working conditions, rest periods, and dispute resolution procedures. These agreements must provide premium overtime rates and regular hourly wages at least 30 percent above the state minimum wage. Employers must document any compensatory pay for interrupted rest periods in itemized wage statements. The provisions do not affect cases filed before the bill's effective date.