CA AB594

Authorizes public prosecutors (district attorneys, city attorneys, county counsel, and the Attorney General) to independently prosecute civil or criminal violations of specified Labor Code provisions until January 1, 2029.

Requires recovered moneys to be applied first to payments owed to affected workers, with civil penalties paid to the state General Fund unless otherwise specified.

Prohibits individual agreements between workers and employers from limiting representative actions or mandating private arbitration in enforcement actions by public prosecutors or the Labor Commissioner.

Expands enforcement of willful misclassification of independent contractors to include the Labor Commissioner and public prosecutors, who may investigate violations, issue citations, and recover penalties as damages payable to employees.

Establishes civil penalties of $5,000-$15,000 per violation for willful misclassification, or $10,000-$25,000 per violation if a pattern or practice exists, and requires violators to post notices on their websites or workplaces for one year.