In part one of our three-part series on California’s new workplace violence prevention law, Karen Tynan (shareholder, Sacramento) and Robert Rodriguez (associate, Sacramento) discuss the new requirement for virtually every employer in California to implement a comprehensive workplace violence prevention plan. Karen and Robert provide an overview of Senate Bill (SB) No. 553, which Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed into law, in addition to the history of the legislation, covered employers, and the new law’s exceptions. The speakers also address how employers can comply with SB 553 by the July 1, 2024, effective date and key definitions, including a discussion of what constitutes an act of violence as opposed to a threat of violence under the law.