CSSA Announces Legislative Updates, Theft Act

CSSA has been involved with several organizations on key legislative issues. As CSSA Legislative & Legal Chair, Steve Mirabito says, “If you question the value of letter writing or contacting your legislator, look at the results below, especially on the Homelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act and SB 1116. These would not have been stopped except for CSSA and individual self-storage contacts. Thank you!”

PAGA REFORM

After months of discussions between labor advocates, the Fix PAGA coalition, representing non-profits, social justice advocates, family farmers, health care providers and businesses, together with Governor Gavin Newsom, Senate President pro Tempore Mike McGuire and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas proposed and passed legislation to reform California’s broken Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA). The legislation would reform PAGA to ensure workers retain a strong tool to resolve labor claims and receive fair compensation, while limiting the shakedown lawsuits that hurt employers and employees. Benefits are:

• Replaces PAGA with alternative enforcement mechanisms through the state
• Ensures 100% of penalties go to workers
• Speeds-up recovery of wages and penalties for workers
• Doubles penalties where employers willfully violate the law
  
  

See PAGA Reform News Release

Homelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act

Whether it’s rampant retail theft causing neighborhood store closures and higher prices for working families, or the growing epidemic of fentanyl overdoses, Californians can’t afford half-measures when it comes to addressing these pressing issues. Many self-storage facilities are experiencing frequent break-ins and when contacting local police, most do not do much about this, partly because they know these criminals will not be prosecuted. This measure:

• Targets Organized and Serial Retail Theft
• Confronts the Fentanyl Crisis in Our Communities
• Prioritizes Mental Health and Drug Treatment
  
  

CSSA has joined the Californians for Safer Community to a bipartisan coalition of small businesses, public safety organizations, elected officials, victim advocacy groups, and hundreds of thousands of residents to reform Prop 47.

The Governor and certain members of the legislature attempted to use a loophole to circumvent the legislative process and introduce competing legislation and insert a “poison pill” in the coalition’s proposition. It was just announced that they have now abandoned their efforts to this public safety measure.

See CA for Safer Communities FACT SHEET 

See Governor and Legislature Abandons Attempt to Thwart CA Safety Measure

SB 1116

This law would have increased Unemployment Insurance Taxes to Subsidize Striking Workers. It would have allowed striking workers to claim UI benefits when they choose to strike. Because the UI Fund is paid for entirely by employers, SB 1116 will effectively add more debt onto California employers. Basically, it would have effectively forced employers to subsidize strikes at completely unrelated businesses because the UI Fund’s debt adds taxes for all employers, regardless of whether they’ve had a strike.

CSSA joined the Govern for California Network, a coalition with dozens of organizations and businesses, including our close partners the CA Business Roundtable, CA Business Properties Association, and the CA Chamber of Commerce to support a letter of opposition to the bill. Due to the 247 letters from the Govern for California Network, the bill failed to advance in committee.

See Opposition Letter to SB 1116 

Further Reading:

California Rules on Taxpayer Protection Act

California To Reform PAGA, Create A Better System