May 30 "House of Origin" Bill Deadline

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CLFP and a large coalition of agricultural and biotechnology organizations successfully stopped the advancement of SB 1381 (Evans) on the Senate Floor.  This measure would have mandated a California-only labeling scheme for genetically engineered (GE) foods. CLFP believes that this bill would have provided misleading information and would ultimately result in higher food costs to consumers. 

Further, CLFP and the opposition coalition argued that labeling of genetically engineered foods is not supported by science. According to the American Medical Association (AMA H-480.958 Bioengineered (Genetically Engineered) Crops and Foods):  "(a) There is no evidence that unique hazards exist" and "...there is no scientific justification for special labeling of bioengineered foods...". This statement is backed by all of the major scientific and regulatory bodies including the FDA, World Health Organization, the National Academy of Sciences and the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

CLFP opposed SB 1000 (Monning) narrowly passed the Senate and will now be considered in the Assembly.  This bill would require an on product warning label to caution consumers that beverages with added sugars, such as soft drinks, some juices, and coffee beverages can play a role in causing obesity, diabetes and tooth decay.  The legislation would apply to sweetened drinks containing at least 75 calories per 12 ounces. 

CLFP, along with the American Beverage Association, Grocery Manufacturers Association and others,  strongly oppose the bill.   CLFP argues that the bill is unnecessary because the federal government is considering a nutrition label overhaul and the costs and logistics of providing a California-only labeling scheme would be excessive. 

CLFP will continue its opposition in the Assembly.

AB 1522 (Gonzalez) passed the Assembly and will move to the Senate for consideration.  The bill increases employer mandates by requiring all employers, large and small, to provide all employees in California with paid sick leave, and threatens employers with statutory penalties as well as litigation for alleged violations. Legislators sent the bill to the Senate on a 48-20 vote. Demonstrating the issue's divisiveness, no Republicans voted for it. Securing paid sick days for shift workers has been a priority for liberal politicians and labor unions across the country. Assembly Bill 1522 is sponsored by two prominent labor groups, the Service Employees International Union and the California Labor Federation.

CLFP has joined a coalition of business organizations in opposing this measure and is urging legislators to consider the cumulative costs employers are struggling with in the state. Employers face higher taxes, higher energy costs, higher workers’ compensation costs and a higher minimum wage than many states in the nation. 

AB 1897 (Hernandez) passed the Assembly and will now be considered in the Senate. The measure mandates that any client employer that obtains or is provided workers for labor or services from a labor contractor, shall be liable for the (1) payment of wages of the contractor’s employees; (2) all contributions, including tax contributions of the contractor and its employees; (3) the contractor’s worker’s compensation coverage; and (4) occupational health and safety requirements. AB 1897 imposes liability upon a third party individual or business for the wage and hour obligations of another employer even though there is absolutely no evidence or proof that the third party exerted any control over the working conditions of the contractor’s employees. 

CLFP is actively engaged in a coalition of business organizations in opposing this measure.

SB 935 (Leno) passed the Senate is now in the Assembly.  This measure increases employer costs by increasing the minimum wage to $13 by 2017 and then increased thereafter according to the Consumer Price Index.  CLFP is actively engaged in a coalition of business organizations in opposing this measure.

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