On October 5, 2021, Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill 654 (AB 654), which expands the types of employers who are exempt from COVID-19 outbreak reporting requirements. Specifically, under AB 654, employers such as community clinics, adult day health centers, community care facilities, and child daycare facilities are exempt from COVID-19 outbreak reporting required under Assembly Bill 685 (AB 685) passed in 2020.

AB 654 also clarifies the time frame for employer notification of cases to public health agencies and narrows the definition of worksite for covered exposures. Additionally, AB 654 revises the requirement that employers provide information on COVID-19 employee-related benefits to only apply to employees who were on the premises at the same worksite as the qualifying individual within the infectious period. Similarly, the bill also revises the notification requirement regarding the cleaning and disinfection plan the employer is implementing to only apply to employees who were on the premises at the same worksite as the qualifying individual within the infectious period, and the employers of subcontracted employees who were on the premises at the same worksite as the qualifying individual within the infectious period.

This bill takes effect immediately as an urgency statute.

Jackson Lewis will continue tracking state legislation that is relevant to employers.