Assault and battery: public utility employees and essential infrastructure workers.

Senator Arreguín's proposed legislation extends criminal penalties for assault and battery against public utility employees and essential infrastructure workers, matching existing protections for peace officers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel. The bill amends California's Penal Code to include these workers among protected classes who, if attacked while performing their duties, would trigger enhanced penalties of up to one year in county jail, fines up to $2,000, or both.

The legislation defines public utility employees as those working for organizations providing electricity, water, natural gas, and other regulated services, including contractors and corporate parent entity staff. Essential infrastructure workers encompass those constructing, maintaining, repairing, or operating critical facilities related to utilities, telecommunications, transportation, and waste management.

Under current law, assault and battery against certain professionals like peace officers and emergency responders already carry heightened penalties. This measure maintains those existing penalties while expanding the protected categories to include utility and infrastructure workers. The bill specifies that local agencies would not receive state reimbursement for costs associated with implementing these new criminal provisions, as the changes fall under established exemptions for modifications to crime definitions and penalties.