SB 705: Utility workers: harassment: public campaign.

Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission with regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations and gas corporations.

This bill would require the commission to develop, in coordination with electrical corporations, gas corporations, and the unions representing the impacted workers, and conduct a 5-year, statewide, public campaign to raise awareness and understanding around the harassment of utility workers and contractors in the state, as specified. The bill would require the commission, at the end of each year of the campaign, to evaluate the effectiveness of the campaign, and to prepare and publish on its internet website an annual report describing the campaigns activities, effectiveness, and gaps, as specified. The bill would require the commission to use fines collected from electrical corporations and gas corporations to fund the campaign and associated annual evaluations and reports. implementation of these provisions to be subject to the commission receiving sufficient funding for the campaign.