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Committee advances SB 947 to require human review of firing and discipline assisted by algorithms
Summary
Sen. McNerney’s SB 947 would require meaningful human review before automated systems can make final firing, discipline or deactivation decisions and ban predictive-behavior analysis; labor unions supported the bill and business groups opposed it as overly broad. The committee approved the bill (4–1) and referred it to privacy and consumer protection.
Sen. McNerney presented SB 947, the "No Robo Bosses Act," saying automated systems are increasingly used to make discipline and termination decisions and that human judgment should remain part of those choices. "Human beings should make these decisions," the senator said, urging the committee to require human review when algorithms assist in employment actions.
Supporters from unions and worker organizations described algorithmic management as a growing tool that can make errors and embed bias. Yvonne Fernandez of the California Federation of Labor (speaking for the federation) said some employers allow automated systems to make final determinations without human oversight and urged statutory guardrails.
Opponents, led by Andrea Lynch for the California Chamber of Commerce and other business groups, said SB 947 resembled last year’s vetoed measure and remains too broad in areas including data access, corroboration language and treatment of independent contractors. The Chamber argued the bill could create compliance difficulties and litigation risk.
Committee members acknowledged both the need to protect workers and concerns about scope and potential litigation. Sen. McNerney said he is open to technical fixes but argued the bill preserves human-centered decision-making. The committee voted to advance SB 947 to the Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection (vote recorded as 4 ayes, 1 no).
