from Damon R. Conklin, Director of Government Affairs, Sacramento Regional Builders Exchange
Newsom signed a trio of bills Thursday that he said “prioritize our … frontline essential workforce that we pay a lot of lip service to but often we don’t back up.” They include:
- AB 685 a bill requiring employers to notify employees of potential COVID-19 exposure at work and to notify county health departments of outbreaks.
- SB 1159 a bill that presumes essential workers were infected with COVID-19 on the job, making it easier for them to obtain workers’ compensation benefits.
- SB 1383 a bill dramatically expanding family leave while providing virtually no protections to the small businesses most impacted. We are disappointed that this administration fails to help small businesses get back to work. Further, the law lacks conformity with federal law, meaning small employers could be on the hook for a combined total of 24 weeks of job-protected leave. Let the lawsuits!
Employment
California has the highest poverty rate in the United States when adjusted for cost of living, clocking in at 17.2%, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 Supplemental Poverty Measure report released Tuesday. That translates to about 6.7 million Californians living in poverty, a slight improvement from 2018, when the Census Bureau found that 7.1 million Californians, or 18.1%, were living in poverty. Nevertheless, the Golden State has consistently led all other states in adjusted poverty rate since the Census Bureau began the data series in 2011, according to the California Business Roundtable. (Several times, the District of Columbia has topped California.) California’s 2019 unadjusted, or official, poverty rate was 11.4%, slightly lower than the national rate of 11.5%. Key take away: Driven by our housing crisis, more and more Californians are finding it impossible to make ends meet.
Prop 22 Coalition Social Media Webinar
A new report shows that under a forced employment model, app-based rideshares and food delivery will create little or no service and double in cost and wait times. Join YES on Prop 22 on Tuesday, September 22 at 11:00 a.m. for a special Social Media Webinar for Coalition Partners.Register here and share the YES to Prop 22 resource center.
New CA Supplemental COVID-19 Sick Leave Guidance Poster
The California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement has issued new guidance on the signed AB 1867 bill, which addresses COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave requirements. Employers must display posters in the office or send via email to teleworkers to inform employees about the supplemental paid sick leave. View poster for non-food employees.
CA Export Trade Sees Recovery
July reports show that California businesses shipped a total of $13.487 billion in merchandise, which comes as 0.4% decrease from July 2020. This trend indicts an overall economic recovery from the country’s lowest point in April.
Best,
Damon R. Conklin Director of Government Affairs, Sacramento Regional Builders Exchange
5370 Elvas Avenue ǀ Sacramento, CA 95819. Telephone: 916.442.8991 ǀ Cell: 916.290.3400. Email: dconklin@srbx.org ǀ www.srbx.org