Articles

By David Kalb, President of Capitol Services, Inc.
 
I’m not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV. However, you almost always want a second opinion when a medical question arises. That policy is also a wise course when dealing with the complexities of law and regulations contractors must ‘survive’ to keep their business ‘alive’. A new rule may put more reach into the long arm of contracting law…
 
Q:  I applied for a second contractor’s license a few years ago as a ‘dba’.  I had one license for my corporation (I’ll call it XYZ Plumbing

from Ted Schwartz, Safety Manager,   WWW.HRIDEAS.COM

As summer quickly approaches employers can take some relatively simple steps to make sure they can at least not have to worry
about OSHA showing up at their front door including: 

San Francisco - The Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) this week filed proposed regulations with the Office of Administrative Law to establish the Compliance Monitoring Unit (CMU) which will be responsible for ensuring compliance with the State’s prevailing wage laws on public works projects in California. The CMU will review certified payroll records, verify that workers on the projects are paid the correct rate of pay for the work performed, and will enforce compliance with pay, overtime, recordkeeping and hours limitation requirements.

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

Budget Back and Forth Begins

Democrats announced their $20 billion budget closing package this week.  In contrast to the Governor’s plan, which called for large program cuts, borrowing and no new taxes, both Senate and Assembly Democrat’s released their own proposals this week that contained a combination of program cuts, some borrowing and tax increases.

The Senate Democrat proposal contains the following $5 billion in revenue increases:

From Rose M. Hansen, Program Manager, Hayward Adult School

Cal/OSHA announced this week (May 14) that it is taking a multi-faceted approach to protecting California’s outdoor workers from heat illness and injuries that includes a combination of education, outreach and enforcement efforts.  This campaign will be the first time Cal OSHA has reached out to workers through paid radio and billboard advertisements to complement training provided to employers and employees. 

Rules, Regulations, Reminders

CSLB is enhancing its broad enforcement efforts in 2010 with more focus on workers’ compensation, mechanic’s lien, and building permit violators. Now, more than ever, licensed contractors need to follow state contracting laws.

Workers’ Compensation

By David Kalb, President of Capitol Services, Inc.

As I have advocated for many years in the end piece for this contractor’s Q&A, ‘knowledge is power’. I share with you the benefit of knowing your license, and the laws that apply to using it. We also visit that place between the ‘rock’ of private contracting law and the ‘hard place’ of public works rules that are not quite the same…

An open letter to Kalb’s Capitol Connection:

Dear Mr. Kalb,

In April, President Obama signed another COBRA extension into law, continuing the 65 percent subsidy extension to help the millions of Americans who have lost their jobs. The latest extension provides the subsidy to those who are involuntarily terminated from employment through May 31, 2010, and the premium reduction lasts for up to 15 months.

From Kevin J Pedrotti, Legislative Advocate Golden State Builders Exchanges

Tax Bill Sent to Suspense