California janitorial workloading bill AB 2364 changed to study; Gov. Newsom signs law, shifts from original 2,000 sq ft/hour cleaning limit proposal

September 23, 2024 (press release) –

On September 22, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law janitorial-workloading legislation AB 2364 as a study bill, marking a major shift from the original legislative proposal, which would have established an arbitrary and costly 2,000 square-feet per hour production-rate limit for cleaning workers. The enacted legislation will increase the cost of harassment-prevention training required in the state for cleaning-service workers.

Nonetheless, this represents a major victory for the cleaning and facility-solutions industry and ISSA. The association is seeking representation on the advisory committee for the study of the janitorial industry that the state will conduct to ensure that the study is informed and guided by industry best practices.

Background

In May 2024, the California State Assembly amended and passed AB 2364, which originally would have imposed a 2,000 square-feet/hour production-rate limit for workers.

While the bill that passed the assembly eliminated the production-rate limit, it would have directed the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement to establish a seven-person advisory committee to develop and approve, “through a majority vote, a comprehensive set of recommended regulations establishing janitorial standards for the purpose of protecting the health and safety of workers” by January 2026.

ISSA opposed AB 2364 because the legislation:

• Failed to have enough representation from experts related to the issues that the proposed committee was being asked to address,
• Did not put in place sufficient safeguards to ensure public transparency,
• Did not allow enough time to sufficiently analyze and come up with solutions to these issues, and
• It was not clear if this bill would have allowed the public and other interested parties not selected to the committee to have their voices heard through a formal, public-rulemaking process.

For months, ISSA engaged members, placed targeted media ads, worked with coalitions on the ground, and directly lobbied California state lawmakers to reconsider AB 2364.

As part of this effort, we launched a grassroots advocacy campaign for our members in California to easily share their concerns about the bill with their California state elected officials. Nearly 50 messages were sent as part of this successful campaign.

For more information on workloading and production rates, view this fact sheet from ISSA.

Looking Ahead

“This issue isn’t going away, and other states and Congress are likely to consider similar legislation,” said ISSA Director of Government Affairs John Nothdurft. “ISSA supports efforts to protect worker safety and will continue to monitor and engage stakeholders, labor, and policymakers on workloading issues.”

Get Involved

We encourage all members and supporters of the industry to become Advocates for Clean. By signing up, you will receive biweekly ISSA Legislative & Regulatory Updates, be the first to hear about pressing legislation, compliance deadlines, advocacy events, and learn how to effectively engage with policymakers.

You can sign up and find other options for getting involved by visiting issa.com/advocacy/get-involved. Joining is free and only takes a moment. Together, we can influence legislation and ensure a healthier environment for everyone.

For questions about this and other ISSA advocacy, please contact John Nothdurft.

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