Press Releases

SACRAMENTO — Today, California State Controller Betty T. Yee and Senator Holly J. Mitchell (D-Los Angeles) announced legislation to help address the prevalence of workplace sexual harassment. SB 1343 provides training to more California workers on preventing sexual harassment, as well as how to recognize harassment and who to contact if victimized.

“Expanding required training means expanding awareness across all economic sectors, not just in Hollywood or in the State Capitol. If we want to shift the culture when it comes to sexual harassment, we need to start by ensuring all workers know their rights and know their resources,” said Yee, the highest-ranking female elected official in state government and sponsor of SB 1343.

Current law requires all employers with 50 or more employees to provide two hours of sexual harassment prevention training only to supervisors. SB 1343 would extend this requirement to employers with five or more employees, and ensure similar training in multiple languages for all workers so they know what sexual harassment is and what their rights are under the law. Employers could comply with SB 1343 by directing employees to view California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) training videos, which the bill requires DFEH to produce in multiple languages, to raise employee awareness on harassment and discrimination in diverse work force sectors.

“In order for this culture shift around sexual harassment prevention to be successful, workers need to feel confident in their workplace policies and procedures,” said Senator Mitchell, author of SB 1343 and Vice Chair of the Joint Committee on Rules Subcommittee on Sexual Harassment Prevention and Response.

From 2005 to 2015, the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission received about 85,000 sexual harassment complaints. Of the charges that specified jobs, 14.2 percent came from the accommodation and food service industry, 13.4 percent came from retail trade, and 11.7 percent came from manufacturing

Elected in 2014, Controller Yee is the tenth woman elected to a statewide office in California’s history. As the chief fiscal officer of California, Controller Yee is responsible for accountability and disbursement of the state’s financial resources. The Controller also safeguards many types of property until claimed by the rightful owners, and has independent auditing authority over government agencies that spend state funds. She is a member of numerous financing authorities, and fiscal and financial oversight entities including the Franchise Tax Board. She also serves on the boards for the nation’s two largest public pension funds. Follow the Controller on Twitter at @CAController and on Facebook at California State Controller’s Office.

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