Do You Want a Flexible Schedule in the Workplace Without Having to Pay Overtime?

Send a letter to support AB 2127, the Small Business Family Scheduling Option of 2008, which would allow employees and employers flexibility in work schedules to help accommodate employees' diverse family obligations, personal pursuits, commuting issues and environmental concerns by allowing a small business to agree to provide scheduling options requested by an employee.
 

Click here to take action.

January 14, 2007

February 2008 Ballot Propositions
 

The Fresno Chamber Government Affairs Council recommends the following positions on the February 5, 2008 statewide ballot propositions:

No on Proposition 92
Funding Community Colleges
 

Summary

Proposition 92 would lock in a specific funding requirement for the Community College Districts in the state of California by replacing the single education funding requirement, enforced by Proposition 98, with two requirements: funding for K-12 education and funding for community colleges.

Proposition 92 would not negatively impact the funding of K-12. The measure would not change the existing requirements that roughly 40 percent of General Fund revenues be spent on K-14 education. This measure would reduce student fees to $15 per unit beginning in fall 2008.

Why Vote NO?
 

- Proposition 92 would amend California’s constitution to lock in a huge new state funding mandate for community colleges. This could lead to politicians to raise income or sales tax or cut funding to other government funded entities.
 

- It is estimated the increased spending created by Proposition 92 will reach nearly a billion dollars in the first three years.
 

- The governing board for Proposition 92 does not provide direct oversight to determine how Proposition 92 funds will be spent.
 

Please click here for full analysis of proposition 92

No on Proposition 93
Term Limits
 

Summary
 

Under Proposition 93 an individual could serve a total of 12 years in the Legislature. Unlike the current system, these years could be served without regard to whether they were in the Assembly or Senate. In other words, an individual could serve six two-year terms in the Assembly, three four-year terms in the Senate, or some combination of terms in both houses.

Under this measure, existing Members of the Legislature could serve up to a total of 12 years in their current legislative house (regardless of how many years were already served in the other house). This could result in some current Members serving longer than 14 years in the Legislature.
 

Why Vote NO?
 

- Term limits reform without redistricting reform is not the comprehensive political reform California needs.
 

- This measure has the ability to keep the current leadership in office for another 14 years. And, if redistricting does not pass, that will likely be the case.
 

- By passing this measure, the voters would only give the leadership exactly what they want without demanding accountability at any level.
 

Please click here for full analysis of Proposition 93

Yes on Proposition 94-97

Indian Gaming Agreements
 

Summary

The compact amendment allows the specific tribes to operate up to 7,500 Nevada-style slot machines at its casinos, up from 2,000 under the 1999 compact. In turn, annual payment to the General Fund would total at least $42.5 million under the compact amendment. In addition to this minimum payment, the tribe would pay to the General Fund an annual amount equal to 15 percent of the net revenues of the next 3,000 slot machines it adds to its casinos after the compact amendment takes effect.
 

The agreements also must provide for local governments to receive “reasonable compensation” for increased public service costs due to the casino, such as costs of public safety and gambling addiction programs. Under these agreements significant environmental impacts outside of the reservation must be reduced or avoided where feasible.

Why Vote YES?
 

- For the first time the tribe would make payments to the General Fund the state’s main operating account. The estimated revenues will add up to 25% in additional funding in to the state General Fund.
 

- The new compact agreements require the tribes to coordinate with local police and fire agencies to compensate local governments for any local services that are needed. The new compact agreements preserve the right of Indian casino employees to be represented by unions through secret ballot.

Please click here for full analysis of Propositions 94-97

December 26, 2007

Fresno Chamber Keeps Employers Informed on New Laws for 2008

In 2007, the California Legislature passed a number of laws that will affect the way we do business in California. The Fresno Chamber is urging employers to be aware of these new laws that are now in effect or will take effect in 2008. Click here for more.

November 27, 2007

2007 Vote Record: Fresno Chamber Continues to Hold State Officials Accountable to Business Community

The 2007 Vote Record: Over 50 Potential Laws Tracked by the Fresno Chamber and How Senators Dave Cogdill and Dean Florez and Assembly Members Tom Berryhill, Michael Villines, Nicole Parra and Juan Arambula Voted

The Fresno Chamber's Government Affairs Committee (GAC) voted in early 2007 to track over 50 potential laws (bills) that might impact Fresno businesses.

Each month, the GAC members reviewed and discussed the status of all 50 plus bills. The local Fresno legislators, which consisted of Senators Dave Cogdill and Dean Florez and Assembly Members Tom Berryhill, Michael Villines, Nicole Parra and Juan Arambula, received letters communicating the Chamber's positions on all bills.

The Fresno Chamber lobbied during the 2007 legislative session for our legislators to OPPOSE 15 final bills and SUPPORT 3 final bills. The Chamber is only holding the local legislators accountable for bills that made it to the Governor's desk. 2007 saw 18 of the over 50 potential laws make it to the Governor's desk. Click here for more.

November 27, 2007

2007 Vote Record: Fresno Chamber Holds City Council Accountable

The Chamber works closely with local elected officials as part of our commitment to advocate on behalf of our members, business and to promote the economic vitality of our community.

We monitor their positions on issues ranging from fee increases and zoning to revitalization of downtown and public safety.  And, just like we do for our State elected officials, we track the vote records of our local leaders. Click here for more.

October 11, 2007

TAKE ACTION NOW!

MORE...Top Issues Ready For Governor's Consideration

AB 1707 (Swanson)- New Employer Liability - VETO
AB 1707 would unreasonably expand employee access to personnel records and establish new employer liability.
 

Click here to take action.

SB 180 (Migden) – Damaging to Ag Business - VETO
SB 180 would hurt competitiveness of California agriculture producers, driving businesses out of state, killing jobs and increasing loss of farmland, by increasing labor costs for California producers who must compete in a global market with lower average operating costs.
 

Click here to take action.

SB 549 (Corbett) – New Bereavement Leave for Employees - VETO
SB 549 would unreasonably expand employer’s liability for a new protected bereavement leave for employees.
 

Click here to take action.

SB 622 (Padilla) - New Penalties for Independent Contractors- VETO
SB 622 creates a new excuse to sue employers and exposes them to excessive new penalties for "willful misclassification" of independent contractors without providing clear roadmap for employers to comply. Instead of new violation provisions, penalties and civil lawsuits, contractors, the business community, employees and employers alike would be better served by creating clear and consistent application of factors that define independent contractor.
 

Click here to take action.

AB 70 (Jones) - Flood Liability - VETO
AB 70 still imposes liability for damages caused by the failure of state-operated flood control projects.
 

Click here to take action.

SB 788 (Cogdill) – Audits - SIGN
SB 788 would permit the Franchise Tax Board (FTB) to conduct audits of taxpayers with water’s-edge elections on a discretionary rather than mandatory basis.
 

Click here to take action.

AB 435 (Brownley)- Extends the Statute of Limitations to File Wage Discrimination- VETO
AB 435 unreasonably extends the statute of limitations to file wage discrimination claims and requirements for maintaining paperwork, increasing employer exposure to untimely lawsuits.
 

Click here to take action.

AB 338 (Coto) – Temporary Disability Benefits- SIGN
AB 338 would resolve a problem in current law relating to the 104 week cap on temporary disability benefits by amending the “window” in which injured workers are eligible for benefits. AB 338 (Coto) represents a balanced approach to resolving a real and tangible problem in the workers’ compensation system.
 

Click here to take action.

AB 812 (Hernandez)- Combat Fraud in Worker’s Compensation- SIGN
AB 812 would help combat premium fraud in workers’ compensation insurance by giving insurance companies statutory authority to impose a financial penalty on employers who do not submit to required payroll audits for the purposes of verifying premium.
 

Click here to take action.

AB 1636 (Mendoza)- Supplemental Job Displacement Vouchers -VETO
AB 1636 would require employers to provide some injured workers with supplemental job displacement vouchers (SJDV) prior to verification that the injured worker is actually eligible for that benefit under the law.
 

Click here to take action.

October 10, 2007

TAKE ACTION NOW! Top Issues Ready For Governor's Consideration

AB 537 (Swanson) - Expanding Protected Leave - VETO
AB 537 proposes to expand protected leave for employees that employers must grant regardless of business necessity. Under current requirements of the California Family Rights Act (CFRA), employers with 50-plus employees must grant to their employees up to 12 workweeks leave in a 12-month period, to care for their seriously ill child, spouse, or parent. Expanding protected leave makes doing business in California more costly. Click here to take action.

AB 8 (Nuñez) – Healthcare Tax - VETO
AB 8 imposes a tax on small employers who can’t afford to provide health care coverage, to fund health care coverage for those who don’t currently purchase it. Click here to take action.
 

AB 377- Labor Contractors - VETO
AB 377 requires farm labor contractors to print the name and address of the person who contracts for services on the farm labor contractor’s employee pay stubs. We are concerned that this requirement is an attempt to impose new joint liability on farmers for the actions of farm labor contractors. Click here to take action.

AB 448 - (Arambula) – Expansion of Liquidated Damages - VETO
AB 448 would substantially increase penalties that can be awarded against employers in administrative minimum wage claims filed with the Labor Commissioner. Specifically, AB 448 would allow liquidated damages to be awarded against employers in not just court actions but also administrative actions. Click here to take action.
 

AB 504 (Swanson)- New Employer Liability - VETO
AB 504 would inappropriately imposes new employer liability that

could increase the cost of doing business in California by providing a new definition of lockout that requires an employer to pay restitution to employees. Click here to take action.

AB 779 (Jones) – New Data Security Requirements - VETO
AB 779 places financial liability on businesses for the cost of replacing credit or debit cards even if they comply with the data security requirements of the bill. Click here to take action.
 

September 4, 2007

Find Out Which City Council Members Are Really Business Friendly
 

Last week the Fresno City Council voted on whether or not to repeal the Fresno Municipal Code Section 5-302b, which states that the retail and wholesale license fees shall escalate automatically, without further action by the Council. The increase shall be based on the Consumer Price Index.

The motion failed 5-2.

City Council’s position: If the City would like to raise the business license fees in the future, it would be too difficult given the regulations if this ordinance were to be repealed.

The Chamber’s position: Raising any fees on a specific sector in the community should not have the ability to escalate automatically. All fees should be publicly discussed. More.

See How They Voted:

Councilmembers who voted YES to repeal the automatic business tax.

Jerry Duncan

Henry Perea

Councilmembers who voted NO to repeal the automatic business tax.

Blong Xiong	Cynthia Sterling	Mike Dages
Larry Westerlund	Brian Calhoun

September 4, 2007
Special Thanks to Congressman Radanovich, Congressman Costa and Congressman Nunes

Last week the Chamber was pleased to host Congressman Radanovich, Costa and Nunes at the Copper River Country Club to present to them the Spirit of Enterprise Award. The Spirit of Enterprise Award is awarded to those members of Congress who vote at least 70% in line with the U.S. Chamber’s priority. More

August 28, 2007

Help Save Competitiveness of Fresno and California Agriculture Producers

SB 180 would hurt competitiveness of California agriculture producers. This bill takes away a workers right to a private ballot when deciding whether or not to join a union by replacing the private ballot with a scheme called card check which allows a union to organize if a majority of workers simply sign a card. Click here to TAKE ACTION!

August 24, 2007

Stop Automatic Increases in City Business Taxes

Did you know the City of Fresno is currently allowed to raise the business tax automatically, without further action or oversight by the Council?
 

Click here to TAKE ACTION!

In 1990 the City Council passed a resolution that states that the retail and wholesale license fees shall escalate on November 1, 1990 and shall escalate annually on July 1 of each year thereafter automatically, without further action or oversight by the Council. Although the City has never acted on this resolution, it is still on their books, and the City still has the overriding authority to use this policy.

On August 28th the City Council will vote whether or not this resolution should be appealed. In an effort to get this resolution appealed, the Fresno Chamber urges you to send a letter to your City Council members.

August 13, 2007

Force Legislators To Act On Redistricting Reform
 

The stall on redistricting reform has gone on too long in this state; the current gerrymandered system has failed to create substantial change in our state. It’s time we start giving the voice back to the voters and allow them to choose the candidates, not the district lines. The Fresno Chamber is leading the effort through a letter writing campaign to get redistricting reform on the ballot in 2008.

Click here to submit your letter today!

July 25, 2007

Fresno Chamber Actively Reviews County Budget

Since the beginning of March a task force made up of Chamber members has been carefully analyzing the Fresno Counties budget. Over this four month period the Chamber has met with the CAO, the Sheriff, the Board of Supervisors and the Personnel Department in order to better understand how our tax dollars are spent and determine what the County can do to make government services more cost effective. More
 

June 21, 2007

Fresno Chamber Issues Statement Regarding the City Budget

Over the past few weeks the Fresno Chamber’s City Budget Task Force has been working with city staff to analyze and make recommendations for the 2007-2008 budget. Although the Chamber does not have a few pending issues with the current budget, the Chamber is pleased to see the financial management of the overall budget. More

June 21, 2007

Fresno Chamber Issues Statement Regarding the City Budget

Over the past few weeks the Fresno Chamber’s City Budget Task Force has been working with city staff to analyze and make recommendations for the 2007-2008 budget. Although the Chamber does not have a few pending issues with the current budget, the Chamber is pleased to see the financial management of the overall budget. More

June 21, 2007

Fresno Chamber Urges Council to Consider Economic Impacts on Housing

On Wednesday, June 13, 2007 the Fresno Chamber reviewed the temporary encampment housing issue at the request of member businesses located next to or near the proposed site. The Chamber reviewed the logistics of the issue and heard the concerns from both the surrounding business owners and Councilmember Jerry Duncan. More

June 1, 2007

Fresno Chamber’s Government Affairs Program Recognized as ‘Advocacy Partner of the Year’

At the annual Business Legislative Summit hosted by the California Chamber of Commerce the Fresno Chamber was awarded the Advocacy Partner of the Year for its outstanding leadership efforts in being an avid advocate for the business community. More

May 11, 2007

Fresno Chamber Gives a Different Meaning to, “We Mean Business”

On April 18, 2007 the Chamber’s Government Affairs delegation, including Ruth Evans, owner of the Evans HR Group, and Oran Cogdill, owner of Best Western Garden Court Inn testified in front of the Assembly Labor and Employment Committee in support of AB 510 (Benoit; R-Palm Desert)the Flexible Workweek Bill.  More

August 16, 2007

TAKE ACTION NOW!

The Top Issues Impacting Fresno's Business Community

AB 8: Healthcare Tax for All Employers: Oppose
AB 8 imposes a tax on small employers who can’t afford to provide health care coverage, to fund health care coverage for those who don’t currently purchase it.
 

TAKE ACTION: http://www.fresnochamberadvocacy.com/2007/ab8.html

AB 338: Increasing Cap on Temporary Disability Benefits: Oppose
AB 338 the cap on temporary disability to 156 weeks. Evidence suggests that a prompt return to employment after an injury reduces an injured worker’s long-term wage loss. The Division of Workers’ Compensation recently released data showing that there was a 5% increase in the numbers of injured workers who are returning to work within 20 months of their injury.
 

TAKE ACTION: http://www.fresnochamberadvocacy.com/2007/ab338.html

AB 377: Extra Liabilities for Farm Labor Contractors: Oppose
AB 377 would require an FLC to disclose the name and address of the entity or entities that secured that contractor’s services on the pay stub of the FLC’s employees. This bill is similar to AB 2327 which we opposed and was vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger.
 

TAKE ACTION: http://www.fresnochamberadvocacy.com/2007/ab377.html

AB 435: Increasing Time Frame to Maintain Employee Records: Oppose
AB 435 imposes unwarranted and unreasonable requirements for maintaining paperwork, and increases employer exposure to untimely lawsuits. This bill increases the statue of limitations two and a half times the timeframe currently allowed. We are concerned that this more than doubling of the timeframe exposes employers to increased liability in penalties and results in an extended timeframe of unpredictability for businesses’ forecasting.
 

TAKE ACTION: http://www.fresnochamberadvocacy.com/2007/ab435.html

AB 512: Foreign Language Translation of Mortgage Contracts: Oppose
AB 512 attempts to require supervised financial organizations to provide a summary sheet of loan terms in the language the loan was negotiated if that loan was negotiated in one of five statutorily identified foreign languages. This measure will be PREEMPTED by federal law and will not be applicable to federally chartered banks and credit unions.
 

TAKE ACTION: http://www.fresnochamberadvocacy.com/2007/ab512.html

AB 537: Expanding Employees Protected Leave: Oppose
This bill would increase the circumstances under which an employee is entitled to protected leave to include: eliminating the age and dependency elements to the definition of “child,” expanding the definition of “parent” to include parent-in-law, and including in the definition grandparent, sibling, grandchild, or domestic partner.
 

TAKE ACTION: http://www.fresnochamberadvocacy.com/2007/ab537.html

AB 1212: Revised Schedule for Permanent Disability: Oppose
This bill would require the administrative director, on or before January 1, 2009, to revise the schedule for the determination of permanent disability to increase the ratings contained in the schedule based on empirical studies of ratings and wage losses, including, but not limited to, studies produced by the Commission on Health and Safety and Workers' Compensation.
 

TAKE ACTION: http://www.fresnochamberadvocacy.com/2007/ab1212.html

AB 1403: San Joaquin Valley School District Improvement Pilot Program: Support
AB 1403 allows County Superintendents to opt to assume additional responsibility for ensuring the academic success of those struggling school districts within their jurisdiction that are both identified for program improvement or corrective action under the federal NCLB and have 50 percent of more of their schools ranked in deciles 1 and 2 of the state Academic Performance Index.
 

TAKE ACTION: http://www.fresnochamberadvocacy.com/2007/ab1403.html

AB 1636: Supplemental Job Displacement Vouchers: Oppose
AB 1636 would require employers to provide some injured workers with supplemental job displacement vouchers (SJDV) prior to verification that the injured worker is actually eligible for that benefit under the law.
 

TAKE ACTION: http://www.fresnochamberadvocacy.com/2007/ab1636.html

AB 1707: Maintain Employment Records for a Specified Time: Oppose
This bill would require employers to maintain employment records for a specified time and to provide inspection and copies within a specified time to current and former employees.
 

TAKE ACTION: http://www.fresnochamberadvocacy.com/2007/ab1707.html

SB 140: New Standards for Diesel Fuel: Oppose
SB 140 would require at least 2% of all diesel fuel sold in the state to contain renewable diesel fuel by a date specified by the state board and five percent two years after the implementation of the 2% standard.
 

TAKE ACTION: http://www.fresnochamberadvocacy.com/2007/sb140.html

SB 549: Expand Employer’s Liability for a New Protected Bereavement Leave: Oppose
SB 549 proposes to establish new sanctions and rights of action against employers related to this new protected leave. Under this bill, employers would be subjected to civil action in court or enforcement action through the Department of Labor Standards Enforcement.
 

TAKE ACTION: http://www.fresnochamberadvocacy.com/2007/sb549.html

SB 622: New Restrictions for Willful Misclassification of Independent Contractors: Oppose
SB 622 creates a new excuse to sue employers and exposes them to excessive new penalties for "willful misclassification" of independent contractors without providing clear compliance guidelines. Instead of additional penalties, employees and employers alike would be better served by creating clear and consistent application of factors that define independent contractor.
 

TAKE ACTION: http://www.fresnochamberadvocacy.com/2007/sb622.html

SB 788: Audits with Water’s Edge Election on Discretionary Basis: Support
SB 788 would permit the Franchise Tax Board (FTB) to conduct audits of taxpayers with water’s-edge elections on a discretionary rather than mandatory basis. The “water’s-edge” election is an election by taxpayers with worldwide income to be taxed, with specific exceptions, only upon income from affiliates within the water’s edge of the United States.
 

TAKE ACTION: http://www.fresnochamberadvocacy.com/2007/sb788.html

SB 840: Government Run Healthcare: Oppose
SB 840 creates a new government run, multi-billion dollar socialized health care system built from a yet to be specified tax increase, and on false premises and failed attempts in other countries.

TAKE ACTION: http://www.fresnochamberadvocacy.com/2007/sb840.html

July 31, 2007

TAKE ACTION NOW ON LEGISLATION!

AB 8: Healthcare Tax for All Employers: Oppose
AB 8 imposes a tax on small employers who can’t afford to provide health care coverage, to fund health care coverage for those who don’t currently purchase it.
 

Take Action:

http://www.fresnochamberadvocacy.com/2007/ab8.html

AB 1636: Supplemental Job Displacement Vouchers: Oppose
AB 1636 would require employers to provide some injured workers with supplemental job displacement vouchers (SJDV) prior to verification that the injured worker is actually eligible for that benefit under the law.

Take Action:

http://www.fresnochamberadvocacy.com/2007/ab1636.html

AB 1707: Maintain Employment Records for a Specified Time: Oppose
This bill would require employers to maintain employment records for a specified time and to provide inspection and copies within a specified time to current and former employees.
 

Take Action:

http://www.fresnochamberadvocacy.com/2007/ab1707.html

SB 140: New Standards for Diesel Fuel: Oppose
SB 140 would require at least 2% of all diesel fuel sold in the state to contain renewable diesel fuel by a date specified by the state board and five percent two years after the implementation of the 2% standard.
 

Take Action:

http://www.fresnochamberadvocacy.com/2007/sb140.html

SB 549: Expand Employer’s Liability for a New Protected Bereavement Leave: Oppose
SB 549 proposes to establish new sanctions and rights of action against employers related to this new protected leave. Under this bill, employers would be subjected to civil action in court or enforcement action through the Department of Labor Standards Enforcement.
 

Take Action:

http://www.fresnochamberadvocacy.com/2007/sb549.html

SB 622: New Restrictions for Willful Misclassification of Independent Contractors: Oppose
SB 622 creates a new excuse to sue employers and exposes them to excessive new penalties for "willful misclassification" of independent contractors without providing clear compliance guidelines. Instead of additional penalties, employees and employers alike would be better served by creating clear and consistent application of factors that define independent contractor.
 

Take Action:

http://www.fresnochamberadvocacy.com/2007/sb622.html

SB 788: Audits with Water’s Edge Election on Discretionary Basis: Support
SB 788 would permit the Franchise Tax Board (FTB) to conduct audits of taxpayers with water’s-edge elections on a discretionary rather than mandatory basis. The “water’s-edge” election is an election by taxpayers with worldwide income to be taxed, with specific exceptions, only upon income from affiliates within the water’s edge of the United States.
 

Take Action:

http://www.fresnochamberadvocacy.com/2007/sb788.html

SB 840: Government Run Healthcare: Oppose
SB 840 creates a new government run, multi-billion dollar socialized health care system built from a yet to be specified tax increase, and on false premises and failed attempts in other countries.

Take Action:

http://www.fresnochamberadvocacy.com/2007/sb840.html