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NEWS OF INTEREST
FBA Upcoming Meetings
THURSDAY, AUGUST 24, 2017 ______________________________
Board of Directors TeleconferenceMeeting
10 a.m.
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2017 ______________________________
FBA Consolidated Board of Directors
& General Membership Meeting & Vendor Night
Marriott Suites Anaheim
12015 Harbor Blvd., Garden Grove, CA
$120 per Night (single/double occupancy)
1-800-228-9290
Reference Code: M-8T9T5BM
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2017 _______________________________
FBA Memorial Golf Tournament
Tustin Ranch Golf Club
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California Transportation Commission Releases
Draft SB 1 Implementation Guidelines
BY: Phil Vermeulen, Legislative Advocate- July 7, 2017
Also in This Update
- Caltrans Predicts New Taxes Will Allow Major Increase in Highway and Bridge Repairs
- As Gov. Jerry Brown nears retirement, his two big public works projects remain iffy
- Neutered California tax board forces quick transition
- Why the Robot Takeover of the Economy Is Proceeding Slowly
- What Killed Single-Payer in California?
- Federal Court: Current Drug Use Not Protected Under Disabilities Act
- Bill Would Require Transgender-Rights Training for CA Employers
- California Employers: Don’t Forget about New Domestic Violence Notice
California Transportation Commission Releases Draft SB 1 Implementation Guidelines
Project Lists by Cities and Counties Due to CTC Sept. 15
The California Transportation Committee (CTC) released its Draft Local Streets and Roads Program Reporting Guidelines last Friday for the implementation of SB 1 (Beall), the landmark transportation funding package that was signed into law in April 28.
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Highlights of Bills Moving Through Policy Committees
BY: Phil Vermeulen, Legislative Advocate- June 23, 2017
Also in This Update
- US Infrastructure is Falling Apart
- What the First-Ever Bill Promoting Portable Benefits for Independent Contractors Does - And Does Not Do
- California Employers May Get Caught in Immigration Battle
- California saw a minimum wage increase in 2017. When does it go up again?
- State’s ‘balanced and progressive’ budget carries big risks for taxpayers
As I reported last week, now that the budget has been sent to the governor both houses of the Legislature are hearing myriad bills in their efforts to reach the July 21st deadline after which they will break for a month-long recess. Following are highlights of some of these bills that were ‘up’ this week:
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State Budget Next Legislative Deadline
BY: Phil Vermeulen, Legislative Advocate- June 8, 2017
Also in This Update
- State analyst recommends lawmakers create accountability measures for spending billions from higher gas tax
- PAGA: Funny Name, Dire Results
- Driving Californians Out of Their Cars
- CARB Mobile Source Training 2017
- Legislature Approves Bills to Address California’s Housing Crisis
- Elon Musk’s Hyperloop makes Brown’s bullet train obsolete
State Budget Next Legislative Deadline
The next deadline facing the California Legislature is approving the annual state budget before midnight on Thursday, June 15th. With both houses of the Legislature possessing a two thirds Democratic majority, approval shouldn’t be an issue, particularly since there is a voter-approved mandate that requires the Legislature to submit the proposed budget to the governor by June 15th; or, not receive a pay check until it is approved. Once the budget reaches the governor’s desk, he will have the ability to ‘blue pencil’ any proposed expenditures that don’t meet his approval.
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End of Line for Many Bills Coming Next Week
BY: Phil Vermeulen, Legislative Advocate- May 19, 2017
Also in This Update
- PAGA Lawsuits Hit Small Businesses Hard
- Here's How Construction Worker Pay is Dominating California's Housing Debate
- Can California Public Transit Agencies Survive the “Rideshare Revolution”?
- Democrats Snub Working Poor by Killing Licensing Reform
With the May 26th deadline for bills having to be out of their respective house’s appropriation committee fast approaching next week, the volume of bills set in these two committees was incredibly large this week! As you may recall, all bills with a cost to the state must pass through their house of origin’s appropriation committee. Making the hurdle even more difficult, if a bill has the potential fiscal impact to the State of California exceeding $50,000, the bill is placed on what is called the suspense file when it is heard.
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Governor Issues May Revise Budget
BY: Phil Vermeulen, Legislative Advocate- May 12, 2017
Also in This Update
- Initiative filed to repeal California gas tax increase
- How California Created a Road Map for America’s Interstate System
- Early Renewal Registration Now Open for Public Works Contractors
- California High Court Rules on Work-Week Issues
- Cal/OSHA Cites Two Employers for Fatal Drainage Shaft Accident
Governor Issues May Revise Budget
California Gov. Jerry Brown released his annual, revised $180 billion budget proposal Thursday that was close to the numbers in his January proposal. It maintains a cautious approach amid uncertainty about the direction of the economy and possible federal actions that could hurt the state’s bottom line.
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Gas Tax Increases Signed by Jerry Brown
BY: Phil Vermeulen, Legislative Advocate- April 28, 2017
Also In This Update
- How Much You'll REALLY Pay in Gasoline Tax in California
- Cal/OSHA Urges Employers to Protect Outdoor Workers from Heat Illness
- For Small Business Week, IRS Highlights Products for Established and Emerging Businesses
- Skelton: It's time for California to stop leaning on the rich and take up state tax reform
- New Design for Green Cards and Employment Authorization Documents on Its Way
- Bill Allowing Employers to Rely in Good Faith on Written Advice Received from the Labor Commissioner Dies
- David Fogt Named Registrar of CSLB
- So, You Like to Ride Bicycles?? Watch this!!!
Gov. Jerry Brown has signed the controversial $52 billion tax and fee increase to pay for the largest road funding plan in California in more than a quarter century. |
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Legislature Returns to Plethora of Bills
BY: Phil Vermeulen, Legislative Advocate- April 21, 2017
Also In This Update
- U.S. Ninth Circuit Court Grants DIR Request for Stay on Permanent Injunction Blocking Enforcement of AB 219 Prevailing Wage Requirements for Ready-Mix Concrete Suppliers
- Outdoor Workers Subject to Heat Illness Prevention Rule
- California Lawmakers Aim to Implement Overtime Rule Despite Federal Delay
- Indoor Heat Illness: Coalition Criticizes Draft Rule as Too Complex, Burdensome
- Labor Commissioner Answers Questions on Paid Sick Leave
- Cal/OSHA Cites Building Supply Company for Fatal Forklift Accident
- Transgender Regulations on the Move
- New Criminal Background Regulations – New Employer Burdens
That ‘mooing sound’ you heard emanating from Sacramento this week, was from lobbyists lining-up to testify on hundreds of bills that were set in policy committees in both houses of the Legislature. The dreaded return from Easter Break is always a time that no one wants to experience, because all 2,500 bills that have been introduced this session must be heard in their respective house of origin’s policy committees before the mid-May deadline or become two-year bills that can’t be acted upon again until next January.
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It’s Back to Work Monday as Legislature Ramps-Up
BY: Phil Vermeulen, Legislative Advocate- April 14, 2017
Also In This Update
- Highlights of Bills Set Next Week
- Transparency initiative shaped nature of road-tax debate
- Labor Enforcement Report Shows High Rate of Noncompliance
This coming Monday, April 17th is when the Legislature actually starts working in earnest on 2017’s introduced legislation. Policy committees will be scheduling hearings through mid-May as they hear every bill that has been introduced this session. Bills of interest set for next week include:
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Legislature Breaks for Week After Approving Transportation Package
BY: Phil Vermeulen, Legislative Advocate- April 7, 2017
Also In This Update
- Legislature Approves Governor’s Transportation Plan
- Labor Commissioner Answers Questions on Paid Sick Leave
- Trump Tells CEO's He'll Only Back Shovel-Ready Infrastructure
- Court Rules State Cap-And-Trade System Is Legal and Not A Tax
As the legislature ‘heads out’ for their week-long spring break, after last night’s very late in the evening approval of the transportation funding package, it also is a ‘break’ for members of the “3rd-house” (lobbyists like me), but for different reasons. Upon the return of the Legislature on Monday, April 17th policy committees will be jam packed with bills. As I’ve discussed in the past, the Legislature is deadline-driven, meaning that the clock is literally ticking on the limited amount of time the members will have (May 12th if a bill incurs potential costs to the state and May 19th if it doesn’t) before all bills have to be out of their house of origin. In other words, they can only ‘kick the can’ for so long before they absolutely have to act. So, for lobbyists, the ‘quiet week’ of spring break allows for myriad letters to be written to the policy committees that will be hearing their clients’ bills of interest. I will be discussing our important bills in next week’s update.
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Spot Bills Coming into Focus as Hearings Commence in Earnest
BY: Phil Vermeulen, Legislative Advocate- March 17, 2017
Also In This Update
- Bill to Require Prevailing Wage on Residential Projects Passes First Committee
- California Bill Aims to Make it Harder for Megaprojects to Sidestep State Environmental Law
Criminal History Regulations: Employer Coalition Seeks Rejection
Top 10 OSHA Workplace Safety Citation
Spot Bills Coming into Focus as Hearings Commence in Earnest
The deadline to amend spot bills (placeholder bills) was earlier this week. Although few of the amended bills have come into print as of yet, rumor has it that there were over 350 sets of amendments to Assembly bills (alone!) submitted. Stay tuned and hold on to your wallets!
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SB 1 Passes out of Senate Government and Finance Committee
BY: Phil Vermeulen, Legislative Advocate- March 10, 2017
Also In This Update
- Watch Caltrans Blow to Pieces Huge Boulders Blocking Highway
- Prevailing Wage Bill Would Increase Cost of Housing
- Legislature Gets Ready to ‘Ramp-Up’
- Insurance Company Rolls Out Drone Insurance for Construction Industry
Next Hearing in is the Senate Appropriations Committee
Sen. Jim Beall’s (D-San Jose) SB 1 cleared another hurdle on March 8, passing out of its third of three policy committees. The measure generates an additional $6 billion annually for California’s local and state transportation network and is supported by the Fix Our Roads Coalition, of which we are a founding member.
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Bill Introductions Over – Hearings Next Step
BY: Phil Vermeulen, Legislative Advocate- February 24, 2017
Also In This Update
- Bill Highlights
- Check Out the Updated Form I-9 Handbook
- “100% Healed” Policies Violate Duty to Accommodate
- CARB Hosting Workshop on Possible Changes to SMOKE and Heavy Diesel Vehicle Regs
- States That Work for Business
New Bill Introductions Finally Over
As I reported in my previous update, last Friday was the deadline for new bill introductions. Now that the deadline has past, there is a minimum 30-day waiting period before any of the new bills can be heard in a committee hearing. Typically, hearings start up the last week of March and last until the policy committee deadline of April 28th.
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Cal/OSHA Reminder to Employers: Post Annual
Work-Related Injury and Illness Summaries
BY: Phil Vermeulen, Legislative Advocate- February 10, 2017
Also In This Update
- Bill Volume Picks Up as Final Week Approaches
- California Unions Playing Defense as Trump Presidency Begins
- The need for regulatory reform and relief has been recognized both in Sacramento and Washington, D.C. — and now there are some proposals to do something about it.
Cal/OSHA Reminder to Employers: Post Annual Work-Related Injury and Illness Summaries
Cal/OSHA is reminding employers in California with more than 10 employees to post their 2016 annual summaries of work-related injuries and illnesses from February 1 through April 30.
“This important posting requirement increases awareness of health and safety hazards in the workplace and helps employers and employees understand how to reduce risks,” said Cal/OSHA Chief Juliann Sum.
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Transportation Hearing and Educational Forum
BY: Phil Vermeulen, Legislative Advocate- February 9, 2017
Greetings, FBA members. Unfortunately, I will not be able to join you in Arizona. Following is an up to the minute status on issues in Sacramento. Please note the proposed legislation that I’ve included following this update (below) and provide me with your thoughts on the proposed language as requested by Senator Jerry Hill.
The message coming out of the Capitol last week was resoundingly clear — California’s state and local roadways are falling apart and Californians cannot afford to wait any longer for the Legislature to pass a transportation funding package. It comes down to pave now or pay more later.
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Bill Introductions Trickle In
BY: Phil Vermeulen, Legislative Advocate- February 3, 2017
Also In This Update
- More Timekeeping Guidance from Court on Standards for Rounding Entries
- Taxes, Fees, Charges and Assessments: What Difference Does It Make?
- Phishing Schemes Lead the IRS “Dirty Dozen” List of Tax Scams for 2017; Remain Tax-Time Threat
- Landmark sales tax ruling shows need for tax reform
Bills Trickling In
Legislators have been able to introduce bills since the commencement of the 2017 Legislative Session on December 5, 2016. Through January 31, there have been 265 Assembly Bills introduced and 204 Senate Bills introduced (for a total of 469 bills). The deadline for introducing new bills is Friday, February 17 (absent a rule waiver).
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Governor Delivers State of the State
BY: Phil Vermeulen, Legislative Advocate- January 30, 2017
Also In This Update
- Opposing View of Brown’s Speech
- Trump Continues to Tout Infrastructure Investment
- Los Angeles Ban-the-Box Ordinance Now Effective
- DIR Publishes Latest California Consumer Price Index Table
Governor Brown Delivers State of the State Focuses on Leadership
California’s Legislature and state constitutional officers gathered today in joint session to hear Gov. Jerry Brown deliver his 2017 State of the State. The first order of business was administering the oath of office to former U.S. Rep. Xavier Bacerra as California’s new attorney general. Shortly after, Governor Brown took the podium for his second to last State of the State, which once again served as a reiteration of how he views California’s leadership on a wide range of priorities. The Governor’s command of language, poetry and history became the backdrop of his address, which lasted approximately 20 minutes. He urged listeners to ‘Act as Californians First’ and for Republicans and Democrats to “find more things to do together.” The popular Democratic governor echoed other Democratic leaders in the state by taking shots at Republican President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans.
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Governor to Deliver State of the State on Tuesday
BY: Phil Vermeulen, Legislative Advocate- January 21, 2017
Also In This Update
- Big Changes for California Labor Law
- Newly Introduced SB 62 Expands Employment Litigation
- Newly Introduced AB 5 Hampers Ability to Manage Workforce Effectively
- Would Public be Better Protected if Contractors Were Required to Report Judgments, Arbitration Awards, or Settlement Payment of Those Claims?
- Legislators Must Fix Our Rutted Roads
- Off-Road & On-Road Regulatory Training Statewide Offerings
- Can California Clean Up Those Doing Shady Solar Deals?
- Look Alike Moth Named for Trump
Governor to Deliver State of the State on Tuesday
Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. will deliver his State of the State address before a joint session of the California Legislature on Tuesday, January 24, 2017 at 10:00 AM. With a two thirds majority of Democrats in both houses of the Legislature, a projected $1.6 billion budget deficit and a new Trump Administration that could significantly ‘burden’ the state’s financial resources due to the repeal of Obamacare and other programs, it will be very interesting to hear what he has to say! Don’t miss it!
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Governor Brown Proposes 2017-18 State Budget
BY: Phil Vermeulen, Legislative Advocate- January 13, 2017
Also In This Update
- Rebuttal to Governor’s Proposed Budget
- Governor to Deliver State of State Address January 24
- Bill Introduced to Mandate Solar on All New Structures
- State-Run Retirement Saving Programs Years from Enrolling Participants
- New California Earned Income Tax Credit Notice & Date Change for Providing W2s to Employees
- Governor Applies Brakes on School Bonds
- Coastal Commission’s Claims on Desal Rebutted by Scientists
Governor Brown Proposes 2017-18 State Budget
Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. released his proposed ‘balanced’ state budget on Tuesday which eliminates a projected $2 billion deficit and bolsters the state's Rainy Day Fund while continuing to invest in education, health care expansion and other core programs.
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Legislature Returns to Sacramento
BY: Phil Vermeulen, Legislative Advocate- January 6, 2017
Also In This Update
- Brown to Propose State Budget
- On-Call Rest Periods Are Not Allowed, California Supreme Court Rules
- EEOC Provides Guidance on Mental Health Conditions and Work
- DOSH Proposes Changes to Requirements for Use of Hook-On and Attachable Ladders with Scaffolds and Rest Platforms-HORCHER
Legislature Returns to Sacramento
The California State Legislature ‘opened for business’ this past Wednesday. Although there were a few new bill introductions during the month of December (the Legislature officially opened back on December 5th when the members were sworn into office), activities really started this week.
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