As lobbyists for businesses and labor groups negotiate with Gov. Gavin Newsom's administration on how to amend a California labor law that allows workers to sue their bosses, the two sides seem to agree on one thing. The Private Attorneys General Act generates millions each year for a state fund reserved for enforcing state labor laws, but much of the money is untouched. That has frustrated business and labor groups who are negotiating on potential changes to the law. There's a June 27 deadline for the Legislature to approve changes. If a deal is reached to avert a costly ballot measure, it is likely to address how to spend the enforcement fund.

Severe understaffing, slow hiring, poor training and inefficient bureaucracy combine to slow California’s investigations of wage theft claims,…