#2. Regulations & Paper

Reducing the burdens imposed by paperwork and government regulations continues to be the major concern of small business owners. Government agencies must build more effective partnerships with small businesses in the design, implementation and impact of regulations.  Increases in fees and fines must also be restructured.

Bill Summaries

Bill Summary
AB 29 – J. Perez: Creates the Office of Economic Development which will serve as the lead entity for economic strategy and the marketing of California on issues relating to business development, private sector investment, and economic growth. Moves the Office of Small Business Advocate to the Office of Eco Dev. Watch
AB 213 - Silva: Requires an agency to send a notice of proposed action to adopt, amend, or repeal a regulation to local government agencies or local government agency representatives, as defined, that are likely to be affected by the proposed action. Support
.AB 376 – Fong: Makes it unlawful for any person to possess, sell, offer for sale, trade, or distribute a shark fin. Oppose
AB 535 – Morrell: Requires a state agency to review and report on regulations it will include 10 specified factors, including a summary of the written criticisms of the regulation received by the agency within the preceding 5 years and the estimated economic, small business, and consumer impact. Support
AB 569 – Berryhill: Creates the Business Master License Center, which develops and administers a computerized one-stop master license system capable of storing, retrieving, and exchanging license information, as well as issuing and renewing master licenses. Support
SB 639 – Cannella: Requires the CalEPA, the entities that comprise that agency, and the Division of Occupational Safety and Health, when proposing to adopt, amend, or repeal an administrative regulation, to complete an economic impact analysis of that action prior to the adoption, amendment, or repeal. Support
AB 699 – Wagner: This bill would, until January 1, 2017, create the revocable transfer on death deed (revocable TOD deed), which would transfer real property on the death of its owner without a probate proceeding. Support
AB 642 – Calderon: Expresses the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to create the California Business Development Authority in state government. (Spot Bill) Watch
AB 858 – Jones: Provides that a product that is made all or virtually all in the United States, within the meaning of a specified policy statement of the Federal Trade Commission, shall be deemed made within the United States. Support
AB 1003 – Smyth: Intent of the Legislature to enact legislation requiring that all professional and vocational licenses currently issued by the Dept of Consumer Affairs and its affiliate boards, and specified licenses issued by the State Dept of Public Health, be issued from one central location (Spot Bill). Watch
SB 221 – Simitian: Increases the jurisdiction of the small claims court includes various actions into $10,000. Support
SB 366 – Calderon: Requires each state agency, to undertake specified actions in regarding to the regulations that have been adopted by state agencies, including, identifying any regulations that are duplicative or out of date, and adopting regulations to reconcile any duplication of out-of-date provisions, after conducting a publicly noticed hearing. Support
SB 460 – Price: Authorizes the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency to coordinate, encourage, and provide support for international trade marketing and promotion. Support
SB 560 – Wright: Requires the State Agency, if it does not, or is unable to, consult with these parties to inform in writing the Office of Small Business Advocate and the Department of Finance of its decision and the reasons for not consulting the impacted businesses. Sponsor
SB 603 – Berryhill: Requires a court to make its decision in writing regarding its own motion, or the motion of a party, and to specify the reasons for the decision in writing. Support
SB 639 – Cannella: Requires the CalEPA, the entities that comprise that agency, and the Division of Occupational Safety and Health, when proposing to adopt, amend, or repeal an administrative regulation, to complete an economic impact analysis of that action prior to the adoption, amendment, or repeal. Support
SB 688 - Wright: Requires an agency to produce, as part of the required impact assessment, a detailed estimate of the total actual costs of compliance for affected businesses and individuals. Support
SB 823 – Corbett: Defines made in California products as made in California, including that the company that manufactures the product is headquartered in California, and primarily designs and manufactures a physical product rather than a digital product or service. Support
SB 869 – Yee: Provides that an automotive repair dealer who prepares a written estimate for repairs that includes replacement of a deployed airbag, who fails to repair and fully restore the airbag, is guilty of a misdemeanor that is punishable by a $5,000 fine, by one year imprisonment in a county jail. Oppose
SB 921 – Lieu: Sets forth the Legislature's findings that unlicensed activity in the professions and vocations regulated by the Department of Consumer Affairs is a dire and immediate threat to the health, welfare, and safety of the people of the State of California. Support
SCA 6 – Emmerson: Requires the Legislature to convene in regular biennial session, but would require, commencing on December 3, 2012, that the sessions held in odd-numbered years be budget sessions, and that sessions held in even-numbered years be general sessions. Support

For more information on bills, please visit www.sen.ca.gov and enter the bill number.