Press Release

Senator Limón Sends ServSafe Legislation to the Governor

(SACRAMENTO) – On Wednesday, Senator Monique Limón’s SB 476 passed out of the Senate and is headed to the Governor’s Desk. SB 476 would require employers, not workers, to pay for mandatory food safety training.  

Specifically, SB 476 will close a loophole in state law that has translated to tens of millions of dollars that has been used to shape unfavorable policy for the same workers that currently bear the cost of this training. This bill also prompts the California Department of Public Health to create a list on their website of available training options to employers and employees. 
 
“SB 476 is a win for restaurant workers. Currently, employers are responsible for paying for many Cal OSHA trainings, food safety training should not be the exception.” said Senator Monique Limón. “It is important to note that the risk and cost of food safety liability for a restaurant is far greater than the cost of this training. I hope Governor Newsom will sign this legislation and bring transparency to this mandatory state training.” 

“We cannot thank Senator Limón and all the co-sponsors of SB 476 enough for their leadership in passing this historic bill. This legislation will not only ensure California’s lowest wage workers don’t have to pay for required training, but it will also ensure that the corporate restaurant trade lobby no longer uses low wage workers’ money to lobby against their wage increases,” said Saru Jayaraman, President of One Fair Wage. “Kudos to California for leading the nation on this issue. We are counting on Governor Newsom to sign this bill and stand with millions of low wage food service workers and thousands of independent restaurants who do not believe the National restaurant Association speaks for them.”

In January of 2023, a New York Times investigation uncovered that the National Restaurant Association had brought in over $25 million from workers through their online certification program ServSafe. According to the investigation, those funds have been used to lobby against workers’ rights for the last decade.  

"By passing this bill, the California state legislature has sent a clear message that safety is a professional requirement of food service workers, and that these jobs are done by professionals. Professional training should always be provided by employers, so that employers can ensure the training is of high quality, and consistent with our company standards. With the passing of this bill, everyone wins: restaurant workers, restaurant owners, and consumers across the state."

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Monique Limón represents the 19th Senate District, which includes Santa Barbara, Ventura, Goleta, Buellton, Carpinteria, Guadalupe, Lompoc, Santa Maria, Solvang, Camarillo, Fillmore, Ojai, Oxnard, Santa Paula, and Port Hueneme. She currently serves as the Chair of the Senate Banking and Financial Institutions Committee.