SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Dawn Addis (D-Morro Bay), announced that Governor Newsom has signed AB 1288, the Retain and Train Act, into law.
"When climate and man-made disaster strikes, it's vital to have the environmental data we need to make sure our communities are safe and healthy. This is why I am proud to announce that AB 1288, the Retain and Train Act, has been signed by Governor Newsom," said Addis "This bill will help ensure our public health departments can employ the Registered Environmental Health Specialist they need to conduct the important water, air, and soil testing. I am grateful for all of our partners and public health officials who have helped make this possible and I thank Governor Newsom for his signature."
Sponsored by the California Association of Environmental Health Administrators and County Health Executives Association of California, AB 1288 addresses workforce shortages in public health by creating pathways for training and certification of environmental health specialists. These professionals are critical for monitoring and ensuring community safety during emergencies, including wildfires, floods, and other natural disasters.
"California's local public health officials thank Governor Newsom for signing AB 1288, a vital measure to strengthen and expand our environmental health workforce. By supporting the professionals who protect Californians from food and water-borne illnesses and environmental hazards every day, this action reinforces our state's commitment to public health," Elsa Mendoza Jimenez, County of Monterey Director of Health Services and CHEAC Immediate Past President.
AB 1288 will go into effect on January 1, 2026.
Dawn Addis was elected to the California State Assembly in 2022 to represent the coastal 30th Assembly District, which includes San Luis Obispo, Monterey, and Santa Cruz Counties. She is the Chair of the Assembly Budget Subcommittee 1 on Health.
CONTACT: Alexis Garcia-Arrazola, (831) 649-2832