Our Legislative committee has recently taken a stand on a few pieces of legislation moving through at the state level.
We opposed:
AB 650
Healthcare workers: COVID-19 bonuses. Imposes at least an estimated $6 billion in direct payroll costs on healthcare providers through mandatory bonuses retroactive to January 1, 2021, which will jeopardize access to affordable healthcare due to the billions of dollars the healthcare industry has lost during the pandemic. Prohibits healthcare providers from reducing staff even if they are unable to afford to continue to pay those bonuses.
AB 257
Fast Food Industry: Franchises; wage and hour. Undermines the existence of the franchise model by holding franchisors responsible for all conduct by individual franchisees. Establishes (an appointed) Fast Food Sector Council that would have unprecedented authority to write its own labor and employment laws for fast food restaurant employees, circumventing the California Legislature and other regulatory agencies’ position in establishing such laws.(Update 6/3/21 bill defeated in assembly)
We supported:
AB 1573
This bill establishes a supplemental grant program within Small Business Technical Assistance Expansion Program (SB TAEP), for the purpose of supporting local small business retention programs.
Authorizes the establishment of the Small Business Retention Program which is to be delivered through the SB TAEP administrative structure.
Provides that the purpose of the Small Business Retention Program is to:
a) Support local small business retention programs by providing state matching funds.
b) Expand the network of small business technical assistance centers and providers who will collectively contribute their on-the ground experience to an early warning system to alert the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development and other state, federal, and local partners of trending business challenges and individual negative business outcomes.
SUPPORT IF AMENDED the budget proposal to pay down a portion of the outstanding unemployment insurance (UI) loan from the federal government. The Governor has proposed to pay $1.1 billion towards this outstanding debt. We respectfully request a higher amount to be contributed toward the UI fund’s insolvency, which is currently $21 billion, and for an ongoing commitment to continue applying surplus funds to the UI loan over the next five years.
This pandemic created unprecedented unemployment numbers, which drained the State’s UI fund. The EDD recently stated that the current loan balance from the federal government is $21 billion and that this amount is expected to grow to $24 billion by the end of this year. Unless the State intervenes and pays off this outstanding debt, California employers will be forced to pay this loan through ongoing and escalating tax increases for decades to come.
SUPPORTED of City of Palmdale and the North Los Angeles County Transportation Coalition (NCTC)’s application for the SR 14 (SR 138) Avenue N Interchange Improvements Project. We recognize our future growth in the high desert and understand the impact of well-planned systems to increase the efficiency and safety of our residents and visitors as they travel our roadways. This project will alleviate current traffic congestion at the SR-14 off-ramps onto Ave. N, and improve mobility and safety for vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists. This project also incorporates active transportation measures, including bicycle lanes and sidewalks, in accordance with Americans with Disabilities Act requirements.
The
Legislative Committee meets on the third Monday of month at 3:30pm. Chamber members are invited to join the committee or send in legislative concerns regarding their industry.
