Highlights of Legislation
House Resolution 23 places the Assembly on record as urging the Governor to request the United States Environmental Protection Agency to require the identification of hazardous inert ingredients as quickly as possible and begin the process of requiring disclosure of all inert ingredients, absent a finding that disclosure of a particular ingredient will cause competitive harm.  Federal and state law currently requires pesticide manufacturers to disclose the ingredients of industrial chemicals only if they are classified as “active” ingredients.  However, more than 99% of the ingredients in certain pesticides are designated as inert and thus are never disclosed to the public.

Assembly Bill (AB) 2770 is an effort to protect workers and law abiding employers from the loss of billions of dollars in revenue by stopping the underground economy and helping the state coordinate its labor and tax law enforcement.  The bill instructs the Labor and Workforce Development Agency, in coordination with the Franchise Tax Board and the Economic and Employment Enforcement Coalition, to develop a set of enforcement standards, based on violations of the Labor Code.  Once an employer’s illegal conduct triggers the Labor Code violation standards, the Labor Commissioner will refer that employer to state tax authorities with a recommendation for a tax audit.   

AB 2486 provides that a social host who is 21 years of age or older and who knowingly furnishes alcoholic beverages to someone under 21 years of age, may be held legally accountable for damages suffered by that young person, or for injury to the person or property, or death of, any third person resulting from the consumption of those beverages.  This measure is designed to save young lives by acting as a long-needed disincentive to irresponsible adults who knowingly provide underage teens with alcohol in their homes and I am proud to be a co-author of the measure.

Thanks to all of you who have communicated with my office on issues of concern or interest.

Warm Regards,