CA AB1859

Requires awarding bodies and owners to grant joint labor-management committees (established under federal Labor Management Cooperation Act of 1978) reasonable access to active public works job sites to monitor prevailing wage and apprenticeship compliance

Defines "reasonable access" as access consistent with job site safety and security requirements, including use of personal protective equipment, that does not disrupt work performance; includes access to workers during nonwork time

Authorizes joint labor-management committees to sue awarding bodies, contractors, or subcontractors that willfully deny reasonable access, with a 6-month statute of limitations

Courts must award prevailing committees $1,000 civil penalty per access denial, plus reasonable attorney's fees, costs, and expert witness fees

Exempts public works job sites for educational entities subject to Education Code background check requirements (Sections 45122.1, 45125, and 45125.1)