Section 6315 Of Chapter 1. Jurisdiction And Duties From California Labor Code >> Division 5. >> Part 1. >> Chapter 1.
6315
. (a) There is within the division a Bureau of Investigations.
The bureau is responsible for directing accident investigations
involving violations of standards, orders, special orders, or Section
25910 of the Health and Safety Code, in which there is a serious
injury to five or more employees, death, or request for prosecution
by a division representative. The bureau shall review inspection
reports involving a serious violation where there have been serious
injuries to one to four employees or a serious exposure, and may
investigate those cases in which the bureau finds criminal violations
may have occurred. The bureau is responsible for preparing cases for
the purpose of prosecution, including evidence and findings.
(b) The division shall provide the bureau with all of the
following:
(1) All initial accident reports.
(2) The division's inspection report for any inspection involving
a serious violation where there is a fatality, and the reports
necessary for the bureau's review required pursuant to subdivision
(a).
(3) Any other documents in the possession of the division
requested by the bureau for its review or investigation of any case
or which the division determines will be helpful to the bureau in its
investigation of the case.
(c) The supervisor of the bureau is the administrative chief of
the bureau, and shall be an attorney.
(d) The bureau shall be staffed by as many attorneys and
investigators as are necessary to carry out the purposes of this
chapter. To the extent possible, the attorneys and investigators
shall be experienced in criminal law.
(e) The supervisor of the bureau and bureau representatives
designated by the supervisor have a right of access to all places of
employment necessary to the investigation, may collect any evidence
or samples they deem necessary to an investigation, and have all of
the powers enumerated in Section 6314.
(f) The supervisor of the bureau and bureau representatives
designated by the supervisor may serve all processes and notices
throughout the state.
(g) In any case where the bureau is required to conduct an
investigation, and in which there is a serious injury or death, the
results of the investigation shall be referred in a timely manner by
the bureau to the appropriate prosecuting authority having
jurisdiction for appropriate action, unless the bureau determines
that there is legally insufficient evidence of a violation of the
law. If the bureau determines that there is legally insufficient
evidence of a violation of the law, the bureau shall notify the
appropriate prosecuting authority, if the prosecuting authority
requests notice.
(h) The bureau may communicate with the appropriate prosecuting
authority at any time the bureau deems appropriate.
(i) Upon the request of a county district attorney, the department
may develop a protocol for the referral of cases that may involve
criminal conduct to the appropriate prosecuting authority in lieu of
or in cooperation with an investigation by the bureau. The protocol
shall provide for the voluntary acceptance of referrals after a
review of the case by the prosecuting authority. In cases accepted
for investigation by the prosecuting authority, the protocol shall
provide for cooperation between the prosecuting authority, the
division, and the bureau. Where a referral is declined by the
prosecuting authority, the bureau shall comply with subdivisions (a)
to (h), inclusive.