This measure would declare that the Legislature should pass laws that halt the importation of cobalt or any product using cobalt mined in Africa using child slave labor and encourage the production of cobalt and other critical minerals ethically sourced from within the United States.

This measure would declare that the Legislature should pass laws that halt the importation of cobalt or any product using cobalt mined in Africa using child slave labor and encourage the production of cobalt and other critical minerals ethically sourced from within the United States.

This measure would declare that the Legislature should pass laws that halt the importation of cobalt or any product using cobalt mined in Africa using child slave labor and encourage the production of cobalt and other critical minerals ethically sourced from within the United States.

This measure would declare that the Legislature should pass laws that halt the importation of cobalt or any product using cobalt mined in Africa using child slave labor and encourage domestic importation of cobalt from within the United States and the mining of cobalt directly in California. the production of cobalt and other critical minerals ethically sourced from within the United States.

This measure would declare that the Legislature should pass laws that halt the importation of cobalt or any product using cobalt mined in Africa using child slave labor and encourage domestic importation of cobalt from within the United States and the mining of cobalt directly in California.

WHEREAS, People around the world increasingly rely on rechargeable batteries to power mobile phones, all-electric vehicles, laptop computers, and other portable devices; and

WHEREAS, Cobalt is an essential material for lithium ion battery technology; and

WHEREAS, The growing global market for portable electronic devices and rechargeable batteries is driving the increasing demand for the extraction of cobalt; and

WHEREAS, The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is the source of more than two-thirds of the worlds cobalt; and

WHEREAS, The largest mines in the DRC are located in the southern Katanga province with a capacity of over 1,000,000 tons per year of cobalt ore; and

WHEREAS, The use of child slave labor has become inextricably linked to the mining and collection of cobalt ore; and

WHEREAS, Artisanal miners include children as young as six years of age who scavenge for rocks containing cobalt, and wash and sort the ore before it is sold; and

WHEREAS, Chronic exposure to dust containing cobalt can result in a potentially fatal lung disease called hard metal lung disease; and

WHEREAS, The inhalation of cobalt particles can also cause respiratory sensitization, asthma, shortness of breath, and decreased pulmonary function; and

WHEREAS, The United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) estimated in 2014 that approximately 40,000 boys and girls work in all the mines across the southern DRC, many of them involved in cobalt mining; and

WHEREAS, It is not uncommon for these children to be beaten by security guards when they trespass on those mining companies property; and

WHEREAS, California companies involved in the lithium battery supply chain are aiding and abetting in the death and serious injury of child slaves who extract cobalt to further their environmental goals; and

WHEREAS, California has become a world leader in areas of environmental protection, innovation, and justice; and

WHEREAS, California has mandated that 100 percent of new cars sold must be zero emission by 2035; and

WHEREAS, The use of child labor to support the mining for cobalt in the manufacturing of lithium used to power electric vehicles should not be ignored; and

WHEREAS, Large deposits of lithium can be found in California, such as in the Salton Sea; and

WHEREAS, Large deposits of cobalt can be found across the United States; and

WHEREAS, California must take remedial action to eliminate its participation in the cobalt supply chain that perpetuates human rights abuses and child slave labor; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That the Legislature recognizes its duty to protect against human rights abuses; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature encourages the production of cobalt and other critical minerals ethically sourced from within the United States; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature should pass laws that halt the importation of cobalt or any product using cobalt mined in Africa using child slave labor; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.

WHEREAS, People around the world increasingly rely on rechargeable batteries to power mobile phones, all-electric vehicles, laptop computers, and other portable devices; and

WHEREAS, Cobalt is an essential material for lithium ion battery technology; and

WHEREAS, The growing global market for portable electronic devices and rechargeable batteries is driving the increasing demand for the extraction of cobalt; and

WHEREAS, The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is the source of more than two-thirds of the worlds cobalt; and

WHEREAS, The largest mines in the DRC are located in the southern Katanga province with a capacity of over 1,000,000 tons per year of cobalt ore; and

WHEREAS, The use of child slave labor has become inextricably linked to the mining and collection of cobalt ore; and

WHEREAS, Artisanal miners include children as young as six years of age who scavenge for rocks containing cobalt, and wash and sort the ore before it is sold; and

WHEREAS, Chronic exposure to dust containing cobalt can result in a potentially fatal lung disease called hard metal lung disease; and

WHEREAS, The inhalation of cobalt particles can also cause respiratory sensitization, asthma, shortness of breath, and decreased pulmonary function; and

WHEREAS, The United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) estimated in 2014 that approximately 40,000 boys and girls work in all the mines across the southern DRC, many of them involved in cobalt mining; and

WHEREAS, It is not uncommon for these children to be beaten by security guards when they trespass on those mining companies property; and

WHEREAS, California companies involved in the lithium battery supply chain are aiding and abetting in the death and serious injury of child slaves who extract cobalt to further their environmental goals; and

WHEREAS, California has become a world leader in areas of environmental protection, innovation, and justice; and

WHEREAS, California has mandated that 100 percent of new cars sold must be zero emission by 2035; and

WHEREAS, The use of child labor to support the mining for cobalt in the manufacturing of lithium used to power electric vehicles should not be ignored; and

WHEREAS, Large deposits of lithium can be found in California, such as in the Salton Sea; and

WHEREAS, Large deposits of cobalt can be found across the United States; and

WHEREAS, California must take remedial action to eliminate its participation in the cobalt supply chain that perpetuates human rights abuses and child slave labor; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That the Legislature recognizes its duty to protect against human rights abuses; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature encourages the production of cobalt and other critical minerals ethically sourced from within the United States; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature should pass laws that halt the importation of cobalt or any product using cobalt mined in Africa using child slave labor; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.

WHEREAS, People around the world increasingly rely on rechargeable batteries to power mobile phones, all-electric vehicles, laptop computers, and other portable devices; and

WHEREAS, Cobalt is an essential material for lithium ion battery technology; and

WHEREAS, The growing global market for portable electronic devices and rechargeable batteries is driving the growing increasing demand for the extraction of cobalt; and

WHEREAS, The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is the source of more than two-thirds of the worlds cobalt; and

WHEREAS, The largest mines in the DRC are located in the southern Katanga province with a capacity of over 1,000,000 tons per year of cobalt ore; and

WHEREAS, The use of child slave labor has become inextricably linked to the mining and collection of cobalt ore; and

WHEREAS, Artisanal miners include children as young as six years of age who scavenge for rocks containing cobalt, and wash and sort the ore before it is sold; and

WHEREAS, Chronic exposure to dust containing cobalt can result in a potentially fatal lung disease called hard metal lung disease; and

WHEREAS, The inhalation of cobalt particles can also cause respiratory sensitization, asthma, shortness of breath, and decreased pulmonary function; and

WHEREAS, The United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) estimated in 2014 that approximately 40,000 boys and girls work in all the mines across the southern DRC, many of them involved in cobalt mining; and

WHEREAS, It is not uncommon for these children to be beaten by security guards when they trespass on those mining companies property; and

WHEREAS, California companies involved in the lithium battery supply chain are aiding and abetting in the death and serious injury of child slaves who extract cobalt to further their environmental goals; and

WHEREAS, California has become a world leader in areas of environmental protection, innovation, and justice; and

WHEREAS, California has mandated that 100 percent of new cars sold must be zero emission by 2035; and

WHEREAS, The use of child labor to support the mining for cobalt in the manufacturing of lithium used to power electric vehicles should not be ignored; and

WHEREAS, Large deposits of lithium can be found in California, such as in the Salton Sea; and

WHEREAS, Large deposits of cobalt can be found across the United States; and

WHEREAS, California must take remedial action to eliminate its participation in the cobalt supply chain that perpetuates human rights abuses and child slave labor; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That the Legislature recognizes its duty to protect against human rights abuses; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature encourages the production of cobalt and other critical minerals ethically sourced from within the United States; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature should pass laws that halt the importation of cobalt or any product using cobalt mined in Africa using child slave labor; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.

WHEREAS, People around the world increasingly rely on rechargeable batteries to power mobile phones, all-electric vehicles, laptop computers, and other portable devices; and

WHEREAS, Cobalt is an essential material for lithium ion battery technology; and

WHEREAS, The growing global market for portable electronic devices and rechargeable batteries is driving the growing demand for the extraction of cobalt; and

WHEREAS, The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is the source of more than two-thirds of the worlds cobalt; and

WHEREAS, The largest mines in the DRC are located in the southern Katanga province with a capacity of over 1,000,000 tons per year of cobalt ore; and

WHEREAS, The use of child slave labor has become inextricably linked to the mining and collection of cobalt ore; and

WHEREAS, Artisanal miners include children as young as six years of age who scavenge for rocks containing cobalt, and wash and sort the ore before it is sold; and

WHEREAS, Chronic exposure to dust containing cobalt can result in a potentially fatal lung disease called hard metal lung disease; and

WHEREAS, The inhalation of cobalt particles can also cause respiratory sensitization, asthma, shortness of breath, and decreased pulmonary function; and

WHEREAS, The United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) estimated in 2014 that approximately 40,000 boys and girls work in all the mines across the southern DRC, many of them involved in cobalt mining; and

WHEREAS, It is not uncommon for these children to be beaten by security guards when they trespass on those mining companies property; and

WHEREAS, California companies involved in the lithium battery supply chain are aiding and abetting in the death and serious injury of child slaves who extract cobalt to further their environmental goals; and

WHEREAS, California has become a world leader in areas of environmental protection, innovation, and justice; and

WHEREAS, California has mandated that 100 percent of new cars sold must be zero emission by 2035; and

WHEREAS, The use of child labor to support the mining for cobalt in the manufacturing of lithium used to power electric vehicles should not be ignored; and

WHEREAS, Large deposits of lithium can be found in California, such as in the Salton Sea; and

WHEREAS, Large deposits of cobalt can be found across the United States; and

WHEREAS, California must take remedial action to eliminate its participation in the cobalt supply chain that perpetuates human rights abuses and child slave labor; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That the Legislature recognizes its duty to protect against human rights abuses; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature encourages the production of cobalt and other critical minerals ethically sourced from within the United States; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature should pass laws that halt the importation of cobalt or any product using cobalt mined in Africa using child slave labor; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.

WHEREAS, People around the world increasingly rely on rechargeable batteries to power mobile phones, all-electric vehicles, laptop computers, and other portable devices; and

WHEREAS, Cobalt is an essential material for lithium ion battery technology; and

WHEREAS, The growing global market for portable electronic devices and rechargeable batteries is driving the growing demand for the extraction of cobalt; and

WHEREAS, The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is the source of more than two-thirds of the worlds cobalt; and

WHEREAS, The largest mines in the DRC are located in the southern Katanga province with a capacity of over 1,000,000 tons per year of cobalt ore; and

WHEREAS, The use of child slave labor has become inextricably linked to the mining and collection of cobalt ore; and

WHEREAS, Artisanal miners include children as young as six years of age who scavenge for rocks containing cobalt, and wash and sort the ore before it is sold; and

WHEREAS, Chronic exposure to dust containing cobalt can result in a potentially fatal lung disease called hard metal lung disease; and

WHEREAS, The inhalation of cobalt particles can also cause respiratory sensitization, asthma, shortness of breath, and decreased pulmonary function; and

WHEREAS, The United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) estimated in 2014 that approximately 40,000 boys and girls work in all the mines across the southern DRC, many of them involved in cobalt mining; and

WHEREAS, It is not uncommon for these children to be beaten by security guards when they trespass on those mining companies property; and

WHEREAS, California companies involved in the lithium battery supply chain are aiding and abetting in the death and serious injury of child slaves who extract cobalt to further their environmental goals; and

WHEREAS, California has become a world leader in areas of environmental protection, innovation, and justice; and

WHEREAS, California has mandated that 100 percent of new cars sold must be zero emission by 2035; and

WHEREAS, The use of child labor to support the mining for cobalt in the manufacturing of lithium used to power electric vehicles should not be ignored; and

WHEREAS, Large deposits of lithium and cobalt can be found across the United States and in California, such as in the Salton Sea; and

WHEREAS, California must take remedial action to eliminate its participation in the cobalt supply chain that perpetuates human rights abuses and child slave labor; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That the Legislature recognizes its duty to protect against human rights abuses; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature encourages domestic importation of cobalt from within the United States and the mining of cobalt directly in California; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature should pass laws that halt the importation of cobalt or any product using cobalt mined in Africa using child slave labor; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.

 UNFINISHED BUSINESS 

Bill No: SCR 24

Author: Bradford (D), et al.

Amended: 7/12/23

Vote: 21

SENATE FLOOR: 37-0, 3/13/23

AYES: Allen, Alvarado-Gil, Archuleta, Ashby, Becker, Blakespear, Bradford, Caballero, Cortese, Dahle, Dodd, Durazo, Eggman, Glazer, Gonzalez, Grove, Hurtado, Jones, Laird, Limón, McGuire, Menjivar, Min, Newman, Nguyen, Niello, Padilla, Portantino, Roth, Rubio, Seyarto, Skinner, Smallwood-Cuevas, Umberg, Wahab, Wiener, Wilk

NO VOTE RECORDED: Atkins, Ochoa Bogh, Stern

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 74-0, 8/14/23 (Consent) - See last page for vote

SUBJECT: Alternatives to cobalt mined in Africa using child slave labor

SOURCE: Author

DIGEST:

This resolution declares that the Legislature should pass laws that halt the importation of cobalt or any product using cobalt mined in Africa using child slave labor and encourages domestic importation of cobalt from within the United States and the mining of cobalt directly in California.

Assembly Amendments add coauthors and make a technical change.

ANALYSIS: This resolution makes the following legislative findings:

1. People around the world increasingly rely on rechargeable batteries to power mobile phones, all-electric vehicles, laptop computers, and other portable devices.
2. Cobalt is an essential material for lithium ion battery technology.
3. The growing global market for portable electronic devices and rechargeable batteries is driving the increasing demand for the extraction of cobalt.
4. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is the source of more than two-thirds of the world’s cobalt.
5. The use of child slave labor has become inextricably linked to the mining and collection of cobalt ore.
6. Artisanal miners include children as young as six years of age who scavenge for rocks containing cobalt, and wash and sort the ore before it is sold.
7. Chronic exposure to dust containing cobalt can result in a potentially fatal lung disease called hard metal lung disease.
8. The inhalation of cobalt particles can also cause respiratory sensitization, asthma, shortness of breath, and decreased pulmonary function.
9. California companies involved in the lithium battery supply chain are aiding and abetting in the death and serious injury of child slaves who extract cobalt to further their environmental goals.

This resolution:

1. Recognizes its duty to protect against human rights abuses.
2. Encourages domestic importation of cobalt from within the United States and the mining of cobalt directly in California.
3. Declares that the Legislature should pass laws that halt the importation of cobalt or any product using cobalt mined in Africa using child slave labor.

Related/Prior Legislation

AB 782 (Cooper, 2021) would have enacted the Congo Child Labor Act of 2021 and required a retail seller or manufacturer doing business in this state with gross receipts of $10 million or more per year shall not sell or make a product containing 300 or more grams of cobalt unless it has certified, under penalty of perjury, that the cobalt was not mined or refined using child labor by filing a Congo Child Labor Disclosure with the Franchise Tax Board. The bill died in the Assembly Accountability and Administrative Review Committee.

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: No Local: No

SUPPORT: (Verified 8/14/23)

United Steel Workers District 12

OPPOSITION: (Verified 8/14/23)

None received

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 74-0, 8/14/23

AYES: Addis, Aguiar-Curry, Alanis, Alvarez, Arambula, Bains, Bauer-Kahan, Bennett, Berman, Boerner, Bonta, Bryan, Calderon, Juan Carrillo, Wendy Carrillo, Cervantes, Chen, Connolly, Megan Dahle, Davies, Dixon, Flora, Mike Fong, Vince Fong, Friedman, Gabriel, Gallagher, Gipson, Grayson, Haney, Hart, Holden, Hoover, Irwin, Jackson, Jones-Sawyer, Lackey, Lee, Low, Lowenthal, Maienschein, Mathis, McKinnor, Muratsuchi, Ortega, Pacheco, Papan, Jim Patterson, Joe Patterson, Pellerin, Petrie-Norris, Quirk-Silva, Ramos, Rendon, Reyes, Luz Rivas, Rodriguez, Sanchez, Santiago, Schiavo, Soria, Ta, Ting, Valencia, Villapudua, Waldron, Wallis, Ward, Weber, Wicks, Wilson, Wood, Zbur, Robert Rivas

NO VOTE RECORDED: Essayli, Garcia, Kalra, McCarty, Stephanie Nguyen, Blanca Rubio

Prepared by: Karen Chow / SFA / (916) 651-1520

8/16/23 10:24:52

**** END ****

Date of Hearing: Tuesday, July 11, 2023

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON JOBS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND THE ECONOMY

Carlos Villapudua, Chair

SBPCA Bill Id:SCR 24

Author:(Bradford) – As Introduced Ver:February 8, 2023

SENATE VOTE: 37-0

SUBJECT: Alternatives to cobalt mined in Africa using child slave labor

SUMMARY: Specifically, this resolution declares that the Legislature should pass laws that halt the importation of cobalt or any product using cobalt mined in Africa using child slave labor and encourages domestic importation of cobalt from within the United States and the mining of cobalt directly in California.

Amendments to be adopted July 10, 2023: Page 2, Lines 30-32:

WHEREAS, Large deposits of lithium and cobalt can be found across the United States and in California, such as in the Salton Sea; and

WHEREAS Large deposits of lithium can be found in California, such as in the Salton Sea; and

WHEREAS Large deposits of cobalt can be found across the United States; and

Page 3, Lines 1-3:

Resolved, That the Legislature encourages domestic importation of cobalt from within the United States and the mining of cobalt directly in California; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature encourages the production of cobalt and other critical minerals ethically sourced from within the United States; and be it further

EXISTING LAW:

1. The Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005, requires the U.S. Secretary of Labor, acting through the Bureau of International Labor Affairs, to monitor and combat forced labor and child labor by, among other things, developing and making available to the public a list of goods from countries that the bureau has reason to believe are produced by forced labor or child labor in violation of international standards.
2. The California Transparency in Supply Chains Act of 2010 requires retail sellers and manufacturers doing business in the state and having annual worldwide gross receipts that exceed $100,000,000 to disclose their efforts to eradicate slavery and human trafficking from their direct supply chains for tangible goods offered for sale, as specified.
3. Governs the bidding and awarding of public contracts by various state agencies. Existing law imposes requirements on contractors awarded various public contracts, including, among others, certifying that no equipment, materials, supplies, apparel, garments, or accessories provided under specified contracts are produced by sweatshop labor, forced labor, convict labor, indentured labor under penal sanction, abusive forms of child labor, or exploitation of children in sweatshop labor.

Related/Prior Legislation:

AB 782 (Cooper, 2021) would have enacted the Congo Child Labor Act of 2021 and required a retail seller or manufacturer doing business in this state with gross receipts of $10 million or more per year shall not sell or make a product containing 300 or more grams of cobalt unless it has certified, under penalty of perjury, that the cobalt was not mined or refined using child labor by filing a Congo Child Labor Disclosure with the Franchise Tax Board. The bill died in the Assembly Accountability and Administrative Review Committee.

FISCAL EFFECT: No fiscal impact identified at this time.

COMMENTS:

This resolution:

1. Recognizes its duty to protect against human rights abuses.
2. Encourages domestic importation of cobalt from within the United States and the mining of cobalt directly in California.
3. Declares that the Legislature should pass laws that halt the importation of cobalt or any product using cobalt mined in Africa using child slave labor.

According to the author: “Large deposits of lithium and cobalt can be found across the United States including here in California in places like the Salton Sea. If we are serious about our 100% electric, zero-emission goals, the time to move away from a reliance on child slave labor for cobalt is now. SCR 24 recognizes the Legislature’s duty to protect against human rights abuses and affirms its commitment to ending the importation of cobalt mined in Africa using child slave labor.”

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support: (Verified 5/19/23)

United Steelworkers District 12

Opposition

No opposition on file.

Analysis Prepared by: Ashley Bennett / J., E.D., & E. / (916) 319-2090

 THIRD READING 

Bill No: SCR 24

Author: Bradford (D), et al.

Introduced: 2/8/23

Vote: 21

SUBJECT: Alternatives to cobalt mined in Africa using child slave labor

SOURCE: Author

DIGEST:

This resolution declares that the Legislature should pass laws that halt the importation of cobalt or any product using cobalt mined in Africa using child slave labor and encourages domestic importation of cobalt from within the United States and the mining of cobalt directly in California.

ANALYSIS: This resolution makes the following legislative findings:

1. People around the world increasingly rely on rechargeable batteries to power mobile phones, all-electric vehicles, laptop computers, and other portable devices.
2. Cobalt is an essential material for lithium ion battery technology.
3. The growing global market for portable electronic devices and rechargeable batteries is driving the growing demand for the extraction of cobalt.
4. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is the source of more than two-thirds of the world’s cobalt.
5. The use of child slave labor has become inextricably linked to the mining and collection of cobalt ore.
6. Artisanal miners include children as young as six years of age who scavenge for rocks containing cobalt, and wash and sort the ore before it is sold.
7. Chronic exposure to dust containing cobalt can result in a potentially fatal lung disease called hard metal lung disease.
8. The inhalation of cobalt particles can also cause respiratory sensitization, asthma, shortness of breath, and decreased pulmonary function.
9. California companies involved in the lithium battery supply chain are aiding and abetting in the death and serious injury of child slaves who extract cobalt to further their environmental goals.

This resolution:

1. Recognizes its duty to protect against human rights abuses.
2. Encourages domestic importation of cobalt from within the United States and the mining of cobalt directly in California.
3. Declares that the Legislature should pass laws that halt the importation of cobalt or any product using cobalt mined in Africa using child slave labor.

Related/Prior Legislation

AB 782 (Cooper, 2021) would have enacted the Congo Child Labor Act of 2021 and required a retail seller or manufacturer doing business in this state with gross receipts of $10 million or more per year shall not sell or make a product containing 300 or more grams of cobalt unless it has certified, under penalty of perjury, that the cobalt was not mined or refined using child labor by filing a Congo Child Labor Disclosure with the Franchise Tax Board. The bill died in the Assembly Accountability and Administrative Review Committee.

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: No Local: No

SUPPORT: (Verified 2/21/23)

None received

OPPOSITION: (Verified 2/21/23)

None received

Prepared by: Karen Chow / SFA / (916) 651-1520

3/1/23 13:56:50

**** END ****