2013 Job Creators
Environmental Regulatory Reform
AB 762 (Patterson; R-Fresno) Reduces Energy Costs. Reduces energy costs and promotes renewable energy by including hydroelectric generation in the definition of a renewable energy resource. Failed passage in Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee, 4/22/13.
SB 34 (Calderon; D-Montebello) Creates Regulatory Certainty. Advances the state’s environmental policies and promotes job creation by reducing the regulatory burdens for the permitting process of carbon capturing and storage projects. Held in Senate Appropriations Committee Suspense File. Missed deadline to pass fiscal commmittee.
SB 498 (Lara; D-Bell Gardens) Protects Auto-Industry Jobs. Before amendments, protected automobile manufacturers from duplicative regulation by the Department of Toxic Substances Control by exempting automobiles from the Green Chemistry program. In Senate Environmental Quality Committee. Missed deadline to move from policy committee to fiscal committee in the house in which it was introduced.
Improved Legal Climate
AB 227 (Gatto; D-Los Angeles) Stops Drive-by Lawsuits. Protects small businesses from drive-by lawsuits by providing a 14-day right to cure for allegations of a failure to post a Prop 65 warning related to chemicals produced during the cooking process, alcohol, second-hand smoke, and car exhaust. Signed by Governor 10/5/13—Chapter 581 (urgency).
SB 713 (Correa; D-Santa Ana) Reliance on State Agencies’ Written Advice. Protects employers from inappropriate litigation by affirming they can rely upon the state government to provide them with information regarding how to comply with the law. In Senate Judiciary Committee. Missed deadline to move from policy to fiscal committee in the house in which it was introduced.
SB 731 (Steinberg; D-Sacramento) Vehicle for Comprehensive CEQA Reform. Seeks to advance meaningful CEQA reform but the current version falls short and could actually make approval of worthy and responsible projects even more difficult by introducing new requirements for lead agencies and project proponents and creating more opportunities for meritless lawsuits against projects that have otherwise complied with CEQA and other stringent state and local environmental and planning laws and requirements. Position changed to oppose unless amended on 7/23/13. Former Job Creator.
Improved Tax Climate
AB 486 (Mullin; D-South San Francisco) Increase Manufacturing and R&D Jobs. Encourages employers to maintain and expand their manufacturing operating in California by providing a full state sales-and-use tax exemption for purchases of manufacturing and research and development equipment. In Assembly Appropriations Committee.
AB 1326 (Gorell; R-Camarillo) Increase Aerospace Manufacturing Jobs. Encourages manufacturers of unmanned aerial vehicles to maintain and expand their manufacturing operating in California by providing a full state sales-and-use tax exemption for purchases of manufacturing equipment used to produce unmanned aerial vehicles through January 1, 2024. Held in Assembly Appropriations.
AB 1412 (Bocanegra; D-Pacoima) Creates Dependable Tax Environment. Repeals the Franchise Tax Board’s decision to retroactively tax small business investors who relied in good faith on the law when they made the decision to invest in California and use the Qualified Small Business tax incentive which was recently found unconstitutional. Signed by Governor—Chapter 546.
SB 19 (Knight; R-Palmdale) Increases Aerospace Industry Jobs. Encourages aerospace industry employers to maintain and expand California operations by providing a full sales tax exemption for purchases of equipment used to construct the facilities designed to launch a space vehicle. Held in Senate Appropriations Suspense File.
SB 235 (Wyland; R-Escondido) Increase Manufacturing and R&D Jobs. Encourages employers to maintain and expand their manufacturing operating in California by providing a full state sales-and-use tax exemption for purchases of manufacturing and research and development equipment. In Senate Governance and Finance Committee. Missed deadline to move from policy committee to fiscal committee in the house in which it was introduced.
SB 376 (Correa; D-Santa Ana) Increase Manufacturing and R&D Jobs. Encourages employers to maintain and expand their manufacturing operating in California by providing a full state sales-and-use tax exemption for purchases of manufacturing and research and development equipment. Held in Senate Appropriations Suspense File.
SB 412 (Knight; R-Palmdale) Increase Aerospace Manufacturing and R&D Jobs. Encourages employers to maintain and expand their aerospace manufacturing operating in California by providing a full state sales-and-use tax exemption for purchases of aerospace manufacturing and research and development equipment made through January 1, 2019. Held in Senate Appropriations Suspense File.
Tourism
SB 397 (Hueso; D-Logan Heights) Enhanced Driver License. Encourages international trade and tourism by authorizing the Department of Motor Vehicles to issue enhanced driver licenses to U.S. citizens to expedite legal traffic at the border. Held in Assembly Appropriations Suspense File 8/30/13.
Workplace Improvements/Training
AB 907 (Conway; R-Tulare) Flexible Workweek Schedules. Allows an employee to voluntarily request a flexible work schedule, with an opportunity to work 4/10 hour workdays without the employer incurring overtime. In Assembly Labor and Employment Committee. Missed deadline to move from policy committee to fiscal committee in the house in which it was introduced.
SB 607 (Berryhill; R-Modesto) Reduced Costs to Employers. Lowers costs for employees and provides more flexibility by allowing employees to request and work up to 10 hours in a day without the payment of overtime. Failed passage in Senate Labor and Industrial Relations Committee, 4/24/13.