A California bill would let DAs investigate workplace deaths. Here’s what to know
A new bill heading to its first hearing Wednesday would allow district attorneys across California to take over some of Cal-OSHA’s most serious workplace investigations. Assembly Bill 2321, introduced by Assemblymember Liz Ortega, D-San Leandro, follows a critical state audit and years of chronic understaffing at the agency’s Bureau of Investigation.
FULL STORY: How to fix Cal-OSHA? A new bill says deputize DAs to investigate the workplace
Here are key takeaways:
• What the bill does: AB 2321 would “deputize” district attorneys’ offices to investigate workplace deaths and life-altering injuries — work currently handled by Cal-OSHA’s Bureau of Investigation. The BOI referred just 1.7% of serious cases to prosecutors, according to the state auditor.
• The hearing: The assembly labor committee, which Ortega chairs, will hear the bill Wednesday. It is the first hearing for the legislation. The hearing will cover several bills starting at 1:30 p.m.
• The funding question: Cal-OSHA has more than $200 million in surplus from positions it allocated but never filled. Those funds come largely from employer fees, not taxes. AB 2321 would tap into funds traditionally reserved for Cal-OSHA.
• Opposition and alternatives: The California Chamber of Commerce says the bill “will waste state resources.” A separate draft proposal being circulated by state officials would make the BOI an independent agency and grant its investigators peace officer status instead of shifting work to DAs.
• Recent progress: BOI staffing has grown to 12 members and the bureau referred 27 cases for possible criminal prosecution in 2025 — a ninefold increase from 2023. A budget proposal approved in January requested $4.3 million for 14 additional positions.
This story was originally published April 8, 2026 at 5:00 AM.
