California Labor Code § 142.3
Authorizes the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board to adopt occupational safety and health standards and orders that are at least as effective as federal standards The Board adopted a COVID-19 rule for schools and other workplaces on an emergency basis in 2020 and 2021, and then approved non-emergency COVID-19 regulations in December 2022 (8 Cal. Code Regs. 3205, 3205.1). The non-emergency regulations require employers to develop, implement, and maintain effective methods to prevent transmission of COVID-19, which must include one or more of the following: maximizing outside air, using MERV 13 filters in HVAC systems, and/or using HEPA filtration units where ventilation is inadequate to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. In the case of a COVID-19 outbreak at a workplace, employers must: review potentially relevant COVID-19 policies, procedures, and controls (including outdoor air supply and filtration) and implement changes as needed; filter recirculated air in existing HVAC systems with MERV 13 or higher efficiency filters (or the highest efficiency compatible with the system); and use HEPA filtration units in indoor areas occupied by employees for extended periods, where ventilation is inadequate to reduce COVID-19 transmission risk. Rules are in effect until February 2025.
California Public Resources Code §§ 25665.1, 25665.3
Establishes the Equitable Building Decarbonization Program for installing energy efficient appliances and other measures, including efficient air conditioning systems, ceiling fans, and other measures to protect against extreme heat. Provides that the program must reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and must encourage, where feasible, resiliency to extreme heat and IAQ improvements. Provides for participation at minimum or no cost for low-to-moderate income residents, with preference given to buildings located in an under-resourced community or owned/managed by a California Native American tribe or a California tribal organization.
California Health & Safety Code § 39960
Establishes the Wildfire Smoke Clean Air Centers for Vulnerable Populations Incentive Pilot Program to provide grants, pending appropriations, to schools, community centers, libraries and other public buildings "to retrofit ventilation systems to create a network of clean air centers in order to mitigate the adverse public health impacts due to wildfires and other smoke events." Prioritizes projects located in areas with documented high cumulative smoke exposure burdens, and requires that program guidelines and eligibility criteria consider vulnerable populations (including communities with diverse racial and ethnic populations and low-income communities) and the location of clean air facilities relative to those populations.
California Public Resources Code § 25402
Directs the state to establish and update energy efficiency standards for design and construction of new residential and non-residential buildings. The 2019 Building Energy Efficiency Standards (24 Cal. Code Regs. 120.1(b), 150.0(m)) adopted by the California Energy Commission strengthened the standard for air filtration by requiring that ventilation systems in all new buildings have air filters with a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) of 13 when tested under the ASHRAE 52.2 standard, or alternatively meet stated efficiency requirements when tested in accordance with AHRI Standard 680.
California Health & Safety Code § 25257.2
Requires the state to publish guidelines for Healthy Nail Salon Recognition programs that may be voluntarily adopted and implemented by cities and counties in the state. Lists items that may be included in the guidelines (chemical ingredients that should not be used by participating salons, best practices for minimizing exposure, training topics, compliance verification), and requires participating salons to be in compliance with state licensing laws and regulations. Also requires the state to assist local entities in implementing recognition programs and to develop a consumer education program. Separate legislation (Cal. Assembly Bill 2025) incorporates general health and safety awareness into the nail salon licensing process.
California Health & Safety Code §§ 108950--108960
Requires manufacturers of designated cleaning products sold in the state to disclose certain chemicals used in the products. Designated products include: air care, automotive, general cleaning, and floor maintenance products used primarily for janitorial, domestic, or institutional cleaning purposes. Lists the type of information that must be disclosed, on both the product label (by 2021) and the product website (by 2020). Separate statutory section (Cal. Labor Code § 6398.5) requires employers to provide the chemical disclosure information to their employees.
California Health & Safety Code § 116050
Directs the Department of Public Health to establish and enforce regulations pertaining to public swimming pools. Regulations implementing the law (22 Cal. Code Regs. 65531) establish microbiological water quality standards and further provide that "the chemical quality of public pool water and indoor air quality at the public pool site and ancillary facilities shall not cause adverse physiological effects, such as irritation of the eyes, lungs, or skin of the pool users."
California Health & Safety Code §§ 39658, 39666
Requires the California Air Resources Board to establish airborne toxic control measures for toxic air contaminants. CARB regulations establish an Airborne Toxic Control Measure to Reduce Formaldehyde Emissions from Composite Wood Products (17 Cal. Code Regs. 93120 et seq.). The regulations set formaldehyde emission standards for: hardwood plywood with a veneer core (HWPW-VC) and with a composite core (HWPW-CC); particleboard; medium-density fiberboard (MDF); and thin MDF. The regulation applies to manufacturers, distributors, importers, and retailers that sell, offer for sale, or supply these materials in California, as well as to fabricators who use these materials to make other goods that are offered for sale or supplied in the state.
California Health & Safety Code §§ 41985--41986
Requires the state to adopt regulations to protect public health from ozone emitted by indoor air cleaning devices used in occupied spaces. Requires the regulations to include ozone emissions standards, testing and certification procedures for the devices, and labeling requirements for the devices. Authorizes the state to ban the sale of non-compliant devices. Regulations adopted under the law (17 Cal. Code Regs. 94800 et seq.) establish certification requirements and testing procedures, as well as labeling, notice, and recordkeeping requirements.
California Education Code §§ 17070.75, 17002(d)(1)
Requires school districts to establish a facilities inspection system to ensure schools are maintained in good repair, as a condition of receiving state school facility funds. Defines "good repair" to include interior surfaces free from water damage and showing no evidence of mold or mildew and to include functional and unobstructed HVAC systems. Requires state to develop an evaluation instrument consistent with the criteria set in the law. The Facility Inspection Tool developed by the state for use in school inspections includes several IAQ-related items that address ventilation and mold/water damage.
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