California’s Senate Bill 553 (SB 553) mandates that nearly all employers in the state establish written workplace violence prevention plans by July 1, 2024. This law amends California’s labor and civil procedure codes, requiring most organizations to create prevention plans and employee training programs. Exceptions are made for employers already covered by healthcare standards and small, non-public businesses with fewer than ten employees. The law will be enforced by Cal/OSHA, though the specifics of enforcement and the definition of “effective” measures remain unclear.

SB 553, driven by a 2021 workplace shooting and increased violence during the COVID-19 pandemic, is one of the most comprehensive workplace violence prevention laws. It requires plans to address four types of workplace violence: