Farm workers are dying from heat. In fact, since California issued its landmark 2005 regulations to keep farm workers from dying of extreme heat, preventable farm worker deaths are still occurring at a similar pace as before.

We cannot allow this to continue! Since the state has failed to adequately enforce its heat standards, the UFW has sponsored AB 2346 , the Farm Worker Safety Act (Butler). This bill will allow farm workers to be able to enforce mandatory shade and drinking water requirements by taking delinquent employers to court. It will also make growers jointly liable along with farm labor contractors they hire if contractors fail to supply farm workers with shade and water when temperatures soar. In addition, AB 2346 will set meaningful penalties for individuals responsible for heat-related deaths. The bill’s proposed penalties are minimal when compared with state Penal Code sections when a person fails to provide an animal with the same protections. AB 2346 does not impose any costs on taxpayers.

The problem of heat-related farm worker deaths must be solved. Farm workers cannot keep having their lives jeopardized due to grower indifference.

This critical bill has already passed the Assembly Labor and Assembly Public Safety committees and will be heard by the Assembly Appropriations Committee this Friday. Please send your e-mail today and tell the chair of this committee to support this critical bill.