Highlights of Labor’s priority bills for 2015:
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FEDERATION SPONSORED BILLS
AB 219 (Daly): Current law on prevailing wage covers some ready-mix drivers while excluding others. This has made it hard for good union contractors to compete. AB 219 will expand prevailing wage to cover all ready-mix drivers. (Co-sponsored with the Teamsters & the SBCTC) Signed by the Governor.
AB 465 (Hernández): AB 465 would have prevented workers from being forced to sign away their rights as a condition of employment. (Co-sponsored with the Teamsters) Vetoed by the Governor.
AB 787 (Hernández): AB 787 would have prevented for-profit companies from operating charter schools. (Co-sponsored with CFT, CSEA, & CTA) Vetoed by the Governor.
AB 1509 (Hernández): AB 1509 will strengthen retaliation protection for workers in the subcontracted economy by holding a company liable if its contractors engage in retaliation. Signed by the Governor.
SB 546 (Leno): SB 546 will require plans to provide our trust funds with information about rate increases to help us negotiate better rates for our members and union employers. (Co-sponsored with UNITEHERE!) Signed by the Governor.
SB 548 (de León): SB 548 would have enhanced existing training and education programs for child care providers to create better outcomes for children. (Co-sponsored with SEIU and AFSCME) Vetoed by the Governor.
INCREASING WORKER PROTECTIONS
AB 359 (Gonzalez): Will require that workers be retained for ninety days when grocery stores have a change of ownership. (UFCW sponsored) Signed by the Governor.
AB 883 (Low): Would have prohibited local agencies from discriminating against workers because they have been public employees or participants in a public employee retirement system. (CPF sponsored) Vetoed by the Governor.
SB 588 (de León): Will improve enforcement and collections efforts for workers facing wage theft by making employers with unpaid judgements post a bond and allowing the Labor Commissioner to file a lien on their property. (SEIU sponsored) Signed by the Governor.
SB 599 (Mendoza): Would have created a bid preference for companies seeking state contracts that agree to retain existing workers. (Teamsters & ILWU sponsored) Vetoed by the Governor.
SB 730 (Wolk): Will protect worker safety by requiring that train crews have at least two workers. (Teamsters sponsored) Signed by the Governor.
RAISING STANDARDS IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
A package of bills advanced to the Governor to ensure a skilled workforce and protect public investment in infrastructure.
AB 251 (Levine): Would have closed a loophole that allows developers receiving a significant public subsidy to bypass the prevailing wage because of the Department of Industrial Relation’s interpretation of what constitutes a “de minimis” public subsidy. (SBCTC sponsored) Vetoed by the Governor.
AB 566 (O’Donnell): Will mandate prequalification of contractors and subcontractors on K-12 facility construction projects above $1 million, require all lease-leaseback contractors and subcontractors hire a skilled workforce, and permit compliance requirements to be satisfied by a PLA with the skilled workforce requirements. (SBCTC sponsored) Signed by the Governor.
AB 852 (Burke): Will require hospitals electing to receive tax-exempt conduit bond financing from a public agency for construction projects to pay workers the prevailing wage. (SBCTC sponsored) Signed by the Governor.
AB 1308 (Perea): Will revise conditions for when the apprentice training needs of the building and construction trades justify a new apprenticeship program in order to protect existing programs that supply and graduate apprentices. (SBCTC sponsored) Signed by the Governor.
AB 1358 (Dababneh): Will authorize and extend design-build authority for school districts until 2025, require contractors and sub-contractors to employ journeypersons who have graduated from state approved apprenticeship programs, and allow compliance requirements to be satisfied by a PLA with the skilled workforce requirements. (SBCTC sponsored) Signed by the Governor.
AB 1431 (Gomez): Will provide school districts that enter into Project Labor Agreements for all public works in excess of $25,000 with the ability to utilize an alternative bidding procedure known as Job Order Contract (JOC) and increase accountability, penalties, and reporting requirements. (SBCTC sponsored) Signed by the Governor.
IMPROVING TRANSPARENCY OVER PUBLIC FUNDS
Several bills to protect the public interest when agencies contract out reached the Governor’s desk.
SB 239 (Hertzberg): Will increase transparency and oversight when a local agency proposes to expand fire service outside of their current service area. (CPF sponsored) Signed by the Governor.
SB 331 (Mendoza): Will extend audit and disclosure requirements applied to union contracts to all other contracts entered into by a local agency. (OCEA & AFSCME sponsored) Signed by the Governor.
SB 376 (Lara): Would have required that a bidder for a UC contract certify that their compensation package does not undercut existing employees. (AFSCME 3299 sponsored) Vetoed by the Governor.
SB 682 (Leno): Would have enacted standards around the contracting out of trial court services to protect the public, the workforce, and the taxpayers. (SEIU/AFSCME/LIUNA 777&792/OCEA sponsored) Vetoed by the Governor.
REGULATIONS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST
AB 266 (Bonta)/AB 243 (Wood)/SB 643 (McGuire): Will regulate the medical marijuana industry and provide for good jobs with labor peace. (Supported by UFCW & Teamsters) Signed by the Governor.
AB 525 (Holden): Will create new protections for franchisees to help improve standards in the fast food industry. (SEIU supported) Signed by the Governor.
AB 533 (Bonta): Would have prevented our members, employers, and trust funds, as well as consumers, from the practice of “surprise billing” from out-of-network doctors. Leg