Assemblywoman Luz Rivas’ Bill to Strengthen Labor Enforcement and Protect Stage Production Workers Signed into Law

SACRAMENTO – Today, Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill (AB) 2738, authored by Assemblywoman Luz Rivas (D-San Fernando Valley). The bill addresses California’s labor law enforcement crisis by providing more tools to enforce existing laws. It also creates transparency in the live event industry to protect stage production workers from unsafe working conditions.

In 2016, a worker employed by a production company already under investigation by Cal/OSHA was crushed to death by a metal beam while taking down the VIP tent at the BottleRock music festival in Napa. In 2019, a lead rigger at the Coachella Music Festival climbed stage scaffolding without a harness and died from a 60-foot fall. These workplace accidents and deaths led the State to require live entertainment vendors to train and certify stage production workers and ensure state regulators are granted authority to investigate violations and issue citations. These deaths were avoidable and unnecessary.

Currently, it is nearly impossible for the State to enforce this critical worker safety law. AB 2738 creates greater transparency for local enforcement to hold entertainment vendors accountable for hiring trained and certified stage production workers and authorizing local public prosecutors to enforce the law. It also provides public enforcement with a stable funding source through attorney’s fees without any additional cost to the State.

“All workers deserve safe working conditions. I am thankful for my partnership with the California Federation of Labor Unions, and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) for their commitment to preventing hazardous working conditions. I applaud Governor Newsom for ensuring our stage production workers have safe working conditions and the State has the tools to pursue and enforce labor violations,” stated Assemblywoman Luz Rivas.

“California has passed many groundbreaking laws to protect workers. But these laws are only effective if there is a serious commitment to effective labor law enforcement. AB 2738 increases the ability of local public agencies to enforce labor laws, so workers don’t have to wait years for justice,” said Lorena Gonzalez, President of the California Federation of Labor Unions. “We need more innovative enforcement strategies like those in AB 2738 to keep workers safe and free from exploitation. We thank Assemblywoman Luz Rivas for authoring this important bill and the Governor for signing it into law.”

We are heartened that AB 2738 is now the law in California. We want to thank Governor Newsom for signing this bill, and the bill’s author, Assemblymember Luz Rivas for her steadfast support and leadership. Our members who set up, operate and tear down temporary staging, lighting, video, and sound systems, and many other elements at public venues across the State face serious workplace hazards. AB 2738 ensures that public prosecutors can enforce the live event safety law and have the funding to do so with no cost to the State. It strengthens safety enforcement in ways that benefit not only our members but the public who come to enjoy a beautiful California day or night of entertainment at these venues,” stated IATSE International Vice President Carlos Cota.