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Assembly committee advances bill requiring certification, penalties for artificial-stone fabricators
Summary
AB 2,137, presented by Assemblymember Chen, would require certification for shops that process artificial stone, expand supplier verification across the supply chain, authorize civil penalties for noncompliance, and create a tracking system for silicosis cases and regional trends; the committee voted to refer the bill to Appropriations.
Assemblymember Chen introduced AB 2,137, which would create a state certification program for shops that fabricate artificial stone and strengthen enforcement to reduce workers’ exposure to silica dust.
Chen told the Labor and Employment Committee the bill builds on SB 20 and would require suppliers and fabricators to verify buyer certification, authorize citations and civil penalties for noncompliance, and establish a system to track violations and silicosis cases. "Exposure to silica dust has become a serious public health issue in California," Chen said, arguing the measure expands accountability across the supply chain.
Kirk Kimmelshu of ASTA Worldwide, a trade group representing agglomerated and engineered stone manufacturers, told the committee that engineered stone can be handled safely when wet-cutting methods and appropriate air-quality protections are used. He urged the committee to structure the regulatory program so it meets air-quality standards and eliminates dry cutting that he said drives dangerous silica particles into the workplace and atmosphere.
Representatives from labor and building trades registered support for the bill during the hearing. WorkSafe registered opposition in the initial registry but did not deliver extended opposition testimony during discussion.
At the appropriate time the committee moved and filed AB 2,137 (Chen) and voted to refer the measure to the Appropriations Committee, with the roll held open for absent members.
What happens next: AB 2,137 will be considered by the Assembly Appropriations Committee, where cost and implementation questions typically determine whether a bill advances to the Assembly floor.
