Beginning January 1, 2026, California employers will face a new requirement that affects recordkeeping, compliance, and everyday operations. Senate Bill 513 updates the state’s Labor Code and makes it mandatory for employers to keep all employee training records inside each worker’s personnel file. This includes safety training, harassment prevention, job specific certifications, and any other required instruction tied to an employee’s role.

The purpose of SB 513 is simple. Employees should be able to easily request and review their own training records, and employers should be able to prove compliance when asked. Until now, many training records have lived in shared drives, email folders, or scattered paperwork systems. With this new law, employers must keep everything in one place.

This update matters more than it might seem at first glance. Training history affects promotions, legal protections, workplace investigations, and safety audits. When records are missing or incomplete, both employers and employees are at risk. SB 513 aims to eliminate those gaps by making the personnel file the single source of truth.

For employers, this is the right time to audit your current training records. Look at what you track, how you store it, and whether the documents are complete. If your system is spread across different platforms, consolidate it before the 2026 deadline. A clean, organized process will make compliance far easier and will protect both the business and the employees who rely on accurate records.

Creating a simple training record sheet is one of the easiest ways to stay compliant. It keeps all required information in one place and prevents missing details later. You can download a clean template below and start using it right away.

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Downloadable Training Record Sheet

Your training record sheet is ready to use. Simply click on the file below, make a copy, and you’re ready!

 

This form includes fields for employee information, training details, renewal dates, and signatures, making it easy to keep everything organized and compliant with SB 513.