CAACC Legislative Report - September 3, 2021
Dear Mr. Chairman & CAACC Legislative Committee Members:
I hope you all are doing well. I wanted to update you on the status of our legislation via email as I will not be able to make the meeting today due to the changed meeting and prearranged plans for the holiday weekend. However, I recorded this video presentation for you to review along with the written report. (Unfortunately the audio didn't come out well due to background noise and faulty headphones, but the bulk of the video is summarized below).
Friday, August 27th, was the last day for fiscal committees to hear bills and report them to the floor. This means that all of the bills that were held in fiscal committees on Suspense were either released or died last week. Next Friday, September 10th, is the last for bills to pass the legislature and be transmitted to the Governor.
As of today, the only actions we can take to further influence legislation we support is to issue Floor Alerts for legislation of importance to the committee and submit letters to the Governor. Given that this meeting is taking place on a Friday afternoon before a three-day weekend, there will only be four days of hearings next week and bills will be moving at a very fast pace. I suggest that we focus our efforts on Governor's letters once these bills are passed, as legislative directors are less likely to print and consider floor alerts sent so close to the deadline.
I've attached a report that includes the status of all bills reviewed by the CAACC this year, noting the various positions that were taken on each and their current status.
Here are a few highlights on bills that were of particular importance to the committee:
Not included in the report are SB 9 (Atkins) Housing Development Approvals, and SB 10 (Wiener) Planning and zoning: housing development: density. Both of these bills passed both houses and are awaiting action by the Governor.
Because the priority legislation we supported has become either 2-year bills or passed, and because our priority oppose legislation failed, I do not have any additional recommended actions for the committee between now and the end of session deadline, which is September 10th.
I would suggest the committee decide on whether they would like to issue Governor's letters on all of our supported legislation once all of the legislation reaches his desk.
Also, looking to the second-half of this two-year legislative session, I know that CAACC wants to establish itself as the chamber representing Black Business in California. To that end, I have some suggestions for the committee consider engaging in over the fall legislative recess:
Create a "Policy Platform" as a guiding document for future legislative positions.
Creating a document that generally outlines the policy areas of interest to the chamber and their goals/ideal outcomes in those policy areas can be helpful in empowering lobbyists to make more refined review of legislation to recommend to the board, as well as guide the legislative committee in setting legislative priorities each year. Here is an example of an extensive policy platform: NAMI Policy Platform. I am not recommending a document this extensive, but do like the format flow of the document.
Setting three "Top Priorities" for 2022
As new legislation is introduced in December and January, lobbyists can engage heavily in the development of legislation that is in the top priority areas of the the Chamber. This way, offices will see us as a player in their policy development, and engage with the Chamber around amendments and future legislation.
Setting Bi-Weekly Legislative Meetings for February-March 2022
As legislation is introduced in December and January, lobbyists will compile legislative reports and share with the committee. However, most legislation will be introduced in Februrary, just ahead of the February 28th (approximate) deadline. Holding meetings in mid-February, late February, and Mid-March will allow the committee to give thoughtful review to new legislation and set legislative priorities before committees begin hearing legislation.
I am happy to discuss these ideas at a future Legislative Committee meeting. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. I hope you all have a great weekend and I look forward to seeing you at future meetings.
I hope you all are doing well. I wanted to update you on the status of our legislation via email as I will not be able to make the meeting today due to the changed meeting and prearranged plans for the holiday weekend. However, I recorded this video presentation for you to review along with the written report. (Unfortunately the audio didn't come out well due to background noise and faulty headphones, but the bulk of the video is summarized below).
Friday, August 27th, was the last day for fiscal committees to hear bills and report them to the floor. This means that all of the bills that were held in fiscal committees on Suspense were either released or died last week. Next Friday, September 10th, is the last for bills to pass the legislature and be transmitted to the Governor.
As of today, the only actions we can take to further influence legislation we support is to issue Floor Alerts for legislation of importance to the committee and submit letters to the Governor. Given that this meeting is taking place on a Friday afternoon before a three-day weekend, there will only be four days of hearings next week and bills will be moving at a very fast pace. I suggest that we focus our efforts on Governor's letters once these bills are passed, as legislative directors are less likely to print and consider floor alerts sent so close to the deadline.
I've attached a report that includes the status of all bills reviewed by the CAACC this year, noting the various positions that were taken on each and their current status.
Here are a few highlights on bills that were of particular importance to the committee:
- Our Co-sponsored legislation, AB 915 (Chiu) Small and disadvantaged business enterprises, became a 2-year bill. This bill will no longer be considered during this legislative session, and will instead be heard in January 2022 prior to the commencement of the second half of this 2-year legislative session.
- SB 777 (Bradford) California Jumpstart Act, also became a 2-year bill and will be heard in January.
- SB 655 (Bradford) Insurers: diversity, passed the Senate and Assembly and is awaiting action by the Governor. Edwin already submitted a letter urging the Governor's signature on this item.
- AB 257 (Gonzalez) Food facilities and employment, which we opposed, failed pursuant to the house of origin deadline. One of our members specifically requested we take action on this bill.
- AB 1003 (Gonzalez), Wage theft: grand theft, which we opposed early, is waiting for action on the Senate floor. The author has removed all opposition from this measure through amendments.
Not included in the report are SB 9 (Atkins) Housing Development Approvals, and SB 10 (Wiener) Planning and zoning: housing development: density. Both of these bills passed both houses and are awaiting action by the Governor.
Because the priority legislation we supported has become either 2-year bills or passed, and because our priority oppose legislation failed, I do not have any additional recommended actions for the committee between now and the end of session deadline, which is September 10th.
I would suggest the committee decide on whether they would like to issue Governor's letters on all of our supported legislation once all of the legislation reaches his desk.
Also, looking to the second-half of this two-year legislative session, I know that CAACC wants to establish itself as the chamber representing Black Business in California. To that end, I have some suggestions for the committee consider engaging in over the fall legislative recess:
Create a "Policy Platform" as a guiding document for future legislative positions.
Creating a document that generally outlines the policy areas of interest to the chamber and their goals/ideal outcomes in those policy areas can be helpful in empowering lobbyists to make more refined review of legislation to recommend to the board, as well as guide the legislative committee in setting legislative priorities each year. Here is an example of an extensive policy platform: NAMI Policy Platform. I am not recommending a document this extensive, but do like the format flow of the document.
Setting three "Top Priorities" for 2022
As new legislation is introduced in December and January, lobbyists can engage heavily in the development of legislation that is in the top priority areas of the the Chamber. This way, offices will see us as a player in their policy development, and engage with the Chamber around amendments and future legislation.
Setting Bi-Weekly Legislative Meetings for February-March 2022
As legislation is introduced in December and January, lobbyists will compile legislative reports and share with the committee. However, most legislation will be introduced in Februrary, just ahead of the February 28th (approximate) deadline. Holding meetings in mid-February, late February, and Mid-March will allow the committee to give thoughtful review to new legislation and set legislative priorities before committees begin hearing legislation.
I am happy to discuss these ideas at a future Legislative Committee meeting. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. I hope you all have a great weekend and I look forward to seeing you at future meetings.