California Workplace Outreach Program.

Senator Smallwood-Cuevas's California Workplace Outreach Program legislation establishes a new partnership between the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) and nonprofit organizations to educate workers about their workplace protections. The program, which would operate through 2031, targets industries with high rates of labor violations and workers in low-wage positions.

Under the program, DIR would select qualified nonprofit organizations through a competitive application process to conduct worker outreach and education. These organizations must demonstrate experience in providing in-person education to vulnerable worker populations. The selected organizations would collaborate with DIR and other state agencies to develop educational materials covering topics such as minimum wage requirements, overtime rules, paid leave policies, and workplace safety standards. These materials would be translated into multiple languages based on regional needs.

The legislation requires DIR and participating organizations to meet at least twice annually to coordinate their outreach and enforcement strategies. These meetings would facilitate information sharing between agencies while maintaining compliance with privacy laws. The program would receive funding through the Labor and Workforce Development Fund, subject to legislative appropriation, with no new funding mechanisms created by the bill.