Regulations

California eases back on gun legislation

Guns are once again being targeted by California lawmakers this year, though the pace of anti-weapons legislation, seemingly on automatic for decades, has ebbed. In previous sessions, you could scan for bills and come up with at least 100 that

Concerns raised over taxpayer disclosure bill

Dave Roberts June 6, 2015

A bill that recently passed the state Assembly would make it easier to disclose confidential tax information and harass businesses, warn Republican legislators. But Assemblyman Mike Gipson, D-Carson, the author of Assembly Bill 567, asserts that his measure simply increases

Financial transparency bill clears CA Assembly

Josephine Djuhana June 4, 2015

Legislation to increase requirements for financial disclosures for government officials passed the state Assembly on Tuesday in a unanimous 66-0 vote. Assembly Bill 10, authored by Assemblyman Mike Gatto, D-Glendale, modernizes the Form 500 disclosure document in five ways: “Clarify

Bill to increase CA minimum wage passes Senate

Josephine Djuhana June 3, 2015

On Tuesday, a bill to increase the state’s minimum wage was approved by the state Senate. Senate Bill 3, jointly authored by state Senator Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, and Senator Connie M. Leyva, D-Chino, would raise the minimum wage to $11 per

Lawmakers work with industry to improve ride-sharing

John June 3, 2015

State lawmakers have shelved a plan to adopt new regulations on the state’s burgeoning ride-sharing industry in favor of industry-backed measures that make it easier for customers to safely share a ride. Last Thursday, the Assembly Appropriations Committee held in

Assembly passes grocery employment mandate

Dave Roberts June 2, 2015

If you purchase a grocery store that is going out of business because its employees have not provided good customer service and sanitary conditions, should you be required to hire those same employees? The answer is yes, according to Assembly

L.A. union leader wants exemption from new $15/hr wage

Josephine Djuhana May 31, 2015

Just a week after the L.A. City Council voted in support of a $15 minimum wage, Rusty Hicks, the head of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor and co-chair of the “Raise the Wage” campaign, has requested that unions be

CA legislators revisit microbead ban

James Poulos May 30, 2015

After a near miss last year, a new push to ban so-called microbeads has gained momentum, clearing the California Assembly. The tiny plastic orbs, especially prevalent in cosmetics and personal care products, like facial scrubs, became the target of environmentalist scorn over recent

Davis bans sodas, juices as default drinks from kids’ meals

Josephine Djuhana May 28, 2015

On Tuesday, the city of Davis passed an ordinance requiring restaurants to offer milk or water as default drinks with any children’s meal. Although the ordinance does not prohibit a restaurant’s ability to sell, or a customer’s ability to purchase,

CA Assembly passes fast food franchise regs

James Poulos May 28, 2015

As changing consumer tastes roil the fast food industry, the California Assembly passed a so-called “Franchise Bill of Rights” designed to transform the way franchisors like McDonald’s do business. Assembly Bill 525, introduced by Assemblyman Chris Holden, D-Pasadena, would make