A first-of-its-kind measure, the Workplace Technology Accountability Act passed the Assembly's Committee on Labor and Employment. The bill is currently pending with the Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection. If the bill passes, AB 1651 would require California employers to turn to the "least invasive" means of monitoring their employees electronically and limit it to times when it was strictly necessary to accomplish one of the "allowable" purposes specified in the bill:
Allow an employee to complete an essential job function
Assess worker performance
Monitor production quality or production processes
Ensure compliance with the law
Protect worker safety, health, and security
Distribute wages or benefits
Additional allowable purposes may also be added, but only as determined by the labor agency.