Sacramento Update - February 19, 2010

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from Kevin J. Pedrotti, Legislative Advocate for the Golden State Builders Exchanges

Mid-year Budget Fixes

The Senate began the process of approving several bills to close the current year budget this week. It is anticipated that on Monday, the Senate will act on the gas tax swap. Actual bill language is still being developed. It appears for the at least the near term, the 3% withholding proposal on independent contractors has been put to the side. It could come back into play in July during the 2010-2011 budget negotiations.

We did catch AB 8X 8 that was passed by the Senate and is on its way back to the Assembly for concurrence.  This measure has a number of provisions including the FTB issue which allows for the suspension of a professional license for unpaid taxes.  This idea has been defeated repeatedly but continues to be promoted as a revenue enhancer.  GSBE is part of construction industry floor-alert to the Assembly asking for a no-vote on this measure. One of the past attempts to pass this bill had construction removed from its provisions. The bill ultimately was defeated by others who were still included in the bill.

CARB:  no to enforcement of  off-road diesel rules

On February 11, Air Resources Board Executive Officer James N. Goldstene issued the following statement:

 “Over the last several years, the construction industry has felt the sting of the faltering economy with reduced activity and idled off-road equipment.  This has made it difficult for contractors to pay for required clean-air upgrades to their fleets.  Along with this reduced construction activity has been a corresponding reduction in construction emissions.

“Because of this, ahead of a March 1, 2010, compliance deadline, ARB will issue an enforcement advisory to notify all stakeholders affected by the off-road equipment regulation that effective immediately, and until further notice, no enforcement action will be taken for noncompliance.  In addition, on March 11 an Executive Officer hearing will be held where stakeholders may testify on the question of whether the off-road regulations should be further modified to account for the down economy and subsequent emissions reductions.  That information will be included in an already-scheduled update to the full Board at its April meeting.
http://www.arb.ca.gov/newsrel/2010/nr021110b.htm

2010 Legislation

February 19 is the deadline for bill introductions for the 2010 legislative year. The GSBE tracking list is updated with introductions through February 18. Legislation GSBE will be actively involved with will be AB 2161 (Fong). This bill will require that school districts in addition to noticing construction projects in newspapers that the notice be posted by on the district’s Internet Web site or through an electronic portal, or on another Internet Web site or electronic portal if the district does not maintain an Internet Web site.
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/asm/ab_2151-2200/ab_2161_bill_20100218_introduced.pdf

Note: Please let me know if you wish to be included in screening bills for positions.
 
Jobs, jobs, jobs

If you are a politician and are reading the polls, the primary concern in this economy is jobs. With such, both the senate democrats and republicans have introduced “legislative jobs packages.” Each are very different in their approach.

Republicans - http://cssrc.us/web/31/news.aspx?id=7545

Democrats - http://dist06.casen.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_PR&SEC={F6FF3E1C-F0CF-4B93-91F3-DA32A1D3E8F8}&DE={BF632762-1C90-43C3-81D0-471483F925B3}


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