California Assembly Bill 2321 Proposes Prosecutors Handle Workplace Safety Violations
California legislators have introduced Assembly Bill 2321 (AB 2321), which aims to transfer the responsibility of investigating workplace safety violations resulting in death or permanent total disability from the Bureau of Investigation (BOI) to county district attorneys. This legislative move comes after a state audit revealed that the BOI is understaffed and refers less than 2% of cases to prosecutors. The bill defines permanent total disability under the California Labor Code’s Workers’ Compensation statutes, including severe injuries such as loss of both eyes or hands, total paralysis, or permanent mental incapacity. The California Chamber of Commerce opposes the bill, arguing that prosecutors lack the expertise in workplace safety that Cal/OSHA inspectors possess. As of April 9, 2026, the bill is under review by the appropriations committee. 
