California Workplace Outreach Program.

Senator Smallwood-Cuevas's California Workplace Outreach Program legislation establishes a new framework for educating workers about their workplace rights, with particular attention to industries where labor violations frequently occur. The Department of Industrial Relations would administer this program through partnerships with nonprofit organizations that have demonstrated experience conducting worker outreach.

Under the program, selected nonprofit organizations would collaborate with the Department to develop educational materials covering workplace protections including minimum wage requirements, overtime rules, paid leave policies, anti-retaliation provisions, and occupational safety standards. These materials would be translated into multiple languages based on regional needs. The Department would select participating organizations through a competitive application process and may require them to complete specific training programs.

The bill creates a formal coordination structure between the Department and participating organizations, mandating biannual meetings to align outreach efforts and share information that informs enforcement strategies. This coordination extends to other state agencies, including the Civil Rights Department, for the development of educational resources. The program's implementation depends on future funding appropriations to the Department of Industrial Relations.