CLFP Engaging in Legislative Measure Impacting Califoria's Food Processing Industry
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The California Legislature has begun hearing bills in policy committees. CLFP is engaging in several key legislative measures that impact the food processing industry.
COVID-19 workplace issues tops the list of bills impacting employers across the state. There are a number of COVID-19 employee leave and worker safety measures that CLFP is engaging in with a broad employer coalition. In particular, CLFP is opposing two budget trailer bills relating to additional paid sick leave for COVID-19 (AB 84 (Ting) /SB 95(Skinner)) These measures would mandate up to 80 hours of additional COVID-19 paid sick leave retroactive to January 1, 2021. This mandate would be costly, burdensome and expose employers to possible litigation.
CLFP is opposing a water quality bill, AB 377 (Rivas), which would require all California surface waters to be fishable, swimmable and drinkable by January 1, 2050. These requirements are unrealistic and would adversely impact water quality permits and programs. The bill would undermine the State Water Resources Control Board and the regional water board's authority to issue or renew water quality permits if there is even a possibility that an exceedance of a water quality standard could occur. These requirements would impact the state’s irrigated lands program, CV-SALTS and storm water programs. CLFP is joined by agricultural and industrial groups as well water service providers in opposition to this bill.
Packaging/recycling continues to be an issue this legislative session. Several bills have been introduced aimed at increasing the recycling rate of plastics and other materials found in single-use packaging (AB 842 (Garcia)/SB 54 (Allen)/SB 343( Allen)). CLFP will be engaging the authors of these measures to find a workable solution.
CLFP is also engaging in a number of other measures related to energy and climate change as well as workers' compensation and employer-related issues.
Written by Government Affairs Director Trudi Hughes.
