October 5, 2012
from Kevin J. Pedrotti, Legislative Advocate for the Golden State Builders Exchanges
The Governor completed his legislative actions on September 30, 2012. Unless an urgency measure, all new laws become effective on January 1, 2013. FINAL SCORE: 996 bills to desk; 876 signed and 120 vetoed. Below are the primary bills we worked on this year:
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AB 890 (Olsen) |
Exempts from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) repair, maintenance, and minor alterations of existing roadways, provided the project is carried out by a city or county to improve public safety, does not cross a waterway, and involves negligible or no expansion of an existing use. Signed by Governor. GSBE SUPPORTED
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AB 1612 (Lara) |
Promotes government accountability and a transparent process by requiring proposed new residential building standards to include the cost of compliance, potential benefits of the proposed standard and the underlying model used to achieve those estimates. Signed by Governor. GSBE SUPPORTED
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AB 1671 (Huffman) |
Extends the sunset date from January 1, 2014 to January 1, 2020 for a statute prohibiting Caltrans from withholding retention proceeds on progress payments made to a contractor for state-funded public works projects. This bill also permits a bidder on a state contract to submit the bidder's security in electronic form. Signed by Governor. GSBE CO-SPONSORED
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SB 965 (Wright) |
Establishes allowable ex parte communications with State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) and Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) members and increases public access to the SWRCB and RWQCB public processes. Signed by Governor. GSBE SUPPORTED
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SB 1099 (Wright) |
Requires new regulations to be announced quarterly. Revises the effective date of regulations once they are filed with the Secretary of State and requires the Office of Administrative Law to provide on its website a list of, and a link to, the full text of each regulation. Signed by Governor. GSBE SUPPORTED
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SB 1327 (Cannella) |
Establishes a “one-stop-shop” Internet website for individuals to use as a tool in obtaining the necessary permits and licenses to start a business, and helps them navigate California’s complex regulatory system by streamlining the application process. Signed by Governor. GSBE SUPPORTED
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AB 1794 (Williams) |
Authorizes, until Jan. 1, 2019, the Employment Development Department to provide the specified new employee information to the Joint Enforcement Strike Force on the Underground Economy, the Contractors State License Board, and the State Compensation Insurance Fund, as provided. Signed by Governor.
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AB 812 (Ma) |
Authorizes the Department of Transportation, by January 1, 2014, to establish specifications for the use of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) of up to 40% for hot mix asphalt mixes. Signed by Governor.
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AB 1492 (Budget Committee) |
NEW TAX ALERT: Effective January 1, 2013, an additional tax will be assessed on wood products to pay for forest practice regulations. The 1% assessment of the sales value will be paid by consumers of lumber products at the time of purchase. Revenue generated from the assessment will be used to support the state’s forest practice program and specified fire protection and resource restoration activities, among other things. Signed by Governor. |
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