​(August 3, 2012) Eleven California Chamber of Commerce-opposed “job killer” bills remain alive for consideration in the closing weeks of the legislative session.

Barriers to Economic Recovery

AB 2408 (Skinner; D-Berkeley) Creates Inequity in the Tax Structure — Harms struggling small businesses and start-ups by repealing the Net Operating Loss (NOL) carryback deduction, a lifeline that helps employers stay afloat, retain employees, and continue investing in their businesses in an economic downturn.Will be heard in Senate Appropriations Committee; no hearing date set.

Costly Workplace Mandates

AB 1313 (Allen; D-Santa Rosa) Increased Cost on Agricultural Employers — Drives up the cost of commodities to consumers by removing the existing overtime exemption allowed for agricultural employers. Will be heard in Senate Appropriations Committee; no hearing date set.

AB 1450 (Allen; D-Santa Rosa) Exposure to Costly Discrimination Litigation — Subjects employers to unjustified charges of discrimination for legitimately inquiring into an applicant’s most recent employment history. Hearing in Senate Appropriations Committee, August 6.

AB 1999 (Brownley; D-Santa Monica) Expansion of Discrimination Litigation — Makes it virtually impossible for employers to manage their employees and exposes them to a higher risk of litigation by expanding the Fair Employment and Housing Act to include a protected classification for any person who is, perceived or associated with a family caregiver. Hearing in Senate Appropriations Committee, August 6.

AB 2039 (Swanson; D-Alameda) Expansion of Protected Leave Requirements for California Employers — Creates a burdensome, California-only mandated benefit that significantly expands the category of individuals with serious health conditions for whom an employee can take a leave of absence beyond what is currently included under the federal Family Medical Leave Act. Hearing in Senate Appropriations Committee, August 6.

AB 2346 (Butler; D-Los Angeles) Increased Costs and Unreasonable Requirements — Could increase the price of food and force growers to move their crop production to other states and countries, thereby hurting California exports, by creating excessive, unnecessary new rules regarding heat illness prevention with unreasonable consequences for violations. Hearing in Senate Appropriations Committee, August 6.

Regulatory Burdens

SB 568 (A. Lowenthal; D-Long Beach) Polystyrene Food Container Ban —Threatens thousands of manufacturing jobs within the state by inappropriately banning all food vendors from using polystyrene foam food service containers, ignoring the numerous environmental benefits associated with polystyrene products. To Assembly Inactive File September 8, 2011. Assembly Floor.

Fuel Price Increases

AB 1532 (J. A. Pérez; D-Los Angeles)/ SB 535 (De León; D-Los Angeles)/ SB 1572 (Pavley; D-Agoura Hills) Illegal Tax Increase — Increases energy costs, including fuel prices, on consumers and businesses by allocating funds from an illegal tax to various programs that are not necessary to cost-effectively implement the marketbased trading mechanism under AB 32. AB 1532 hearing in Senate Appropriations Committee on August 6. SB 535 and SB 1572 hearing in Assembly Appropriations on August 8.

Inflated Liability Costs

SB 1528 (Steinberg; D-Sacramento) Inflates Litigation and Insurance Costs — Artificially inflates medical damage awards in personal injury cases by allowing an injured party to recover expenses never actually incurred, which will ultimately increase legal costs as well as insurance rates. Assembly Floor.