[Source: The Orange County Register/Opinion] Legislation that would have required all electric power sold in the state to be generated by renewable sources by 2045 was held up in the final days of the recently-completed legislative session. But it will come back. Should the idea ever become law, we’ll remember these as the easy days Read More…
Tag: california
California lawmakers make key decisions on environment, infrastructure
[Source: ABC 10News] California lawmakers are wrapping up their year with key decisions that came early Saturday morning. The most notable piece of legislation was a “sanctuary state” bill that would limit police cooperation with federal immigration authorities. It will now be considered by Governor Jerry Brown, who announced his support after the top state Senate Read More…
Several employment-related bills remain active in California Legislature
[Source: CalChamber] The following is a list of employment-related bills that were on the suspense files and considered by the Senate or Assembly Appropriations Committee on Friday, September 1. Legislators have until Friday, September 15, to pass and send legislation to the Governor’s desk for consideration. Immigration AB 450 (Chiu; D-San Francisco) Employer Liability — Places employers Read More…
First-ever water tax proposed to tackle unsafe drinking water in California
[Source: The Mercury News] For the first time Californians would pay a tax on drinking water — 95 cents per month — under legislation aimed at fixing hundreds of public water systems with unsafe tap water. Senate Bill 623, backed by a strange-bedfellows coalition of the agricultural lobby and environmental groups but opposed by water districts, Read More…
CalChamber fighting unlimited access to employer documents
[Source: CalChamber] A California Chamber of Commerce-opposed bill that allows organizations unaffiliated with the employer to access an undefined and potentially unlimited scope of employer internal documents awaits action by the state Senate. AB 978 (Limón; D-Goleta) also circumvents the rulemaking process now underway to provide employees access to their employer’s Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP). Read More…
California sues EPA over access to Pruitt records
[Source: San Francisco Chronicle] California’s attorney general went to court Friday seeking conflict-of-interest rules from President Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency, whose chief spent years suing to overturn the environmental rules he is now charged with enforcing. EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt’s “ability to serve as an impartial decision-maker merits close examination, especially now that he has Read More…
New California law gives air quality officials the power to quickly shut down polluters
[Source: Los Angeles Times] Local air quality officials are gaining new powers to quickly stop polluters when they endanger people’s health under legislation signed by Gov. Jerry Brown on Monday. The law, which goes into effect Jan. 1, follows years of frustration in communities such as Paramount, Boyle Heights and Maywood — where regulators have Read More…
Legislature approves cap-and-trade extension
[Source: CalChamber] With strong support from the California Chamber of Commerce and the business community, the Legislature yesterday approved AB 398 (E. Garcia; D-Coachella), which will extend the cap-and-trade program, which provides the least costly path to achieving the state’s ambitious climate goals. “The Legislature achieved a bipartisan solution that will reduce the cost of Read More…
Surprisingly, talk in Sacramento could return to a firm cap on state spending
[Source: Los Angeles Times] During California’s biggest state budget fights, many of which played out in the shadow of monster deficits, lawmakers clashed mightily over this question: Were the state’s problems a result of too little cash or too much spending? Those who believed it was a cash problem seem to have prevailed. But don’t Read More…