Legislative Update

Gov. Brown vetoes card check bill

SB 104 (Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento), known as “card check,” was vetoed by Gov. Jerry Brown on Tuesday, June 28.

SB 104 would have eliminated secret-ballot elections and the right to a union election for agricultural employees, allowing union leaders to gain access to names and addresses of farm employees.

To read the full veto message, visit http://gov.ca.gov/docs/SB_104_Veto_Message.pdf.

State Legislation

Source: CFBF Friday Review, Legislative and Governmental Update

AB 1265 (Jim Nielsen, R-Gerber) would reenact the ability for counties to adopt 10 percent shorter Williamson Act contracts. This bill was approved by the Senate Governance and Finance Committee on a unanimous vote, 6-to-0. Also related to the Williamson Act is SB 618 (Lois Wolk, D-Davis). SB 618 would encourage utility-scale photovoltaic solar projects to be sited on marginally productive or physically impaired farmland and was passed by the Assembly Local Government Committee 9-to-0. Farm Bureau supports both bills.

AB 634 (Alyson Huber, D-El Dorado Hills) would legalize the use of carbon monoxide to control vertebrate pests, such as rodents. In the late 90s, California passed a law prohibiting the use of carbon monoxide to kill any animal in response to concerns raised over its use to euthanize dogs and cats in animal shelters. When the original law was enacted, there was no consideration of carbon monoxide as a safe, humane, and effective control method for pests, such as gophers and ground squirrels. This bill passed out of the Senate Agriculture Committee on consent, meaning the bill was approved unanimously, and Farm Bureau is the sponsor. The bill now must be heard by the Senate Environmental Quality Committee.

AB 228 (Felipe Fuentes, D-Los Angeles) clarifies the ambiguity in the current insurance code by clearly stating the authority for employers to seek workers’ comp coverage from State Fund for all of their employees working in-state or out-of-state. California-based businesses that are insured with State Fund are currently required to obtain a separate workers’ compensation policy to cover employees who work out-of-state. Employers will be able to get workers’ comp coverage for their employees through one application instead of going through the process with two or more insurance companies and brokers. AB 228 was moved to the Senate Insurance Committee and will be heard again at a later date. Farm Bureau supports this bill.

Metal theft is on the rise in rural California, impacting many farmers and ranchers who have experienced thefts ranging from copper wire and stainless steel dairy tanks to steel irrigation pipes and brass sprinkler heads. Cities and towns are also victims of metal theft and have experienced the loss of copper wiring from street lights, air conditioning systems, catalytic converters in vehicles and even public statues. AB 316 (Wilmer Carter, D-Rialto) would create a separate section in the Penal code that would make theft of copper materials with a value of $950 or more Grand Theft. AB 316 passed out of the Senate Public Safety Committee on a 6-to-0 vote. Farm Bureau supports this bill.

Federal Legislation

News

California Highway Patrol Develops exemption to new tie-down regulations

Farmers and ranchers must apply for exemption and submit monthly reports

The California Highway Patrol has extended an exemption from the new tie-down regulations to April 30, 2011. for those commodities hauled in bins, boxes and tubs.... [More]