Women In Construction Priority Unit 107.7-107.7.2 - - CA Labor

Section § 107.7

This section provides definitions for specific terms used in the chapter. It clarifies that "Department" refers to the Department of Industrial Relations, "Director" refers to the Director of Industrial Relations, and "Unit" refers to the Women in Construction Priority Unit.

For purposes of this chapter, all of the following definitions shall apply:

(a) “Department” means the Department of Industrial Relations.

(b) “Director” means the Director of Industrial Relations.

Department of Industrial Relations Director of Industrial Relations Women in Construction Priority Unit definitions industrial relations construction industry women in construction priority unit California labor laws gender equity in construction

(Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 67, Sec. 7. (SB 191) Effective June 30, 2022.)

Section § 107.7.1

This law mandates that, once funding is provided by the Legislature, a special unit called the Women in Construction Priority Unit will be created. This unit is meant to support women and nonbinary individuals in the construction workforce.

The director must set up an advisory committee by July 1, 2023, to offer guidance on how this unit should operate. This committee will consist of representatives from labor unions, construction employers, labor-management groups, nonprofits supporting women in construction, and experts in related areas. It will also include representatives from key government agencies related to employment and safety.

(a) Upon appropriation by the Legislature, the department shall establish a Women in Construction Priority Unit, overseen by the director, to coordinate and help ensure collaboration across the department’s divisions, and maximize state and federal funding to support women and nonbinary individuals in the construction workforce.

(b)

(1) Upon appropriation by the Legislature, to assist with the establishment of the unit, the director shall, by July 1, 2023, convene an advisory committee to make recommendations to advance the unit’s objectives.

(2) The advisory committee shall be composed of representatives from recognized or certified collective bargaining agents who represent construction workers, construction industry employers or employer associations, labor-management groups in the construction industry, nonprofit organizations that represent women in the construction industry, and other related subject matter experts. The advisory committee shall also include representatives of the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, the Division of Occupational Safety and Health, and the Department of Fair Employment and Housing.

Women in Construction nonbinary individuals construction workforce advisory committee collective bargaining construction employers labor-management groups nonprofit organizations Division of Labor Standards Enforcement Division of Occupational Safety and Health Department of Fair Employment and Housing state and federal funding collaboration construction industry legislative appropriation

(Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 67, Sec. 7. (SB 191) Effective June 30, 2022.)

Section § 107.7.2

This law requires a specific unit to support women and nonbinary individuals in the construction industry by providing resources and training. The unit must create materials to help employers and unions recruit and retain these workers, maintain a website about workers' rights, and develop training for health and safety and career advancement. Additionally, resources should be provided for employers to improve worksite culture and tackle employment barriers. Upon request, the law allows for interagency agreements to be established to enhance recruitment efforts. Preapprenticeship programs are also eligible for these resources.

The unit shall do all of the following:

(a) Assist and provide resources to women and nonbinary individuals, including, but not limited to, apprentices and journeypersons in the construction industry, including developing materials for employers and unions to promote the recruitment and retention of women and nonbinary individuals in construction, maintaining an internet website listing workers’ rights, developing training materials specific to women and nonbinary individuals to navigate health and safety and wage and hour laws, and leadership training to increase the upward mobility of women and nonbinary individuals in construction careers.

(b) Provide resources for employers and project owners, including public agencies, to improve construction worksite culture, address barriers to employment, develop training and materials for workforce pipeline professionals specific to women and nonbinary individuals in construction, and interagency training.

(c) Upon request by a state agency and approval by the Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development, establish interagency agreements that shall include the requirements in subdivisions (a) and (b) to promote the recruitment and retention of women and nonbinary individuals in construction.

(d) Notwithstanding Section 3100, preapprenticeship programs shall be eligible for resources provided under this chapter.

women in construction nonbinary workers construction workforce recruitment in construction retention strategies worksite culture improvement health and safety training wage and hour laws leadership training upward mobility employer resources interagency agreements preapprenticeship programs workforce pipeline construction industry barriers

(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 196, Sec. 17. (SB 143) Effective September 13, 2023.)