(July 17, 2003) A number of California Chamber opposed 'job killers' and other bad bills were no longer moving in their original form by last Friday’s deadline for bills to pass policy committees in the second house, which is good news for California employers.

Some of these bad bills were amended, or held in committee, while others appear to be dead for now. Following is a list of bills that were targeted by the Chamber as bad for business, and which are no longer moving in their original form:

• AB 1690 (Leno) - Local Income Tax - 'JOB KILLER'
  Gives local governments the unprecedented authority to enact a personal income tax assessed at the local level with a simple majority of voters. This bill did not have the votes to pass in its original form and now merely states the Legislature’s intent to grant the taxing authority to local governments. Original language could still re-emerge.
• ACA 16 (Hancock) - Non-Residential Property Taxation Assessment - 'JOB KILLER'
  Constitutional amendment that changes the definition of 'full cash value' to destroy the constitutional protections afforded non-residential property under Proposition 13. Did not move out of Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee.
• SB 64 (Speier) - Homeowners Insurance - 'JOB KILLER'
  Purports to address concerns regarding the availability and affordability of homeowners insurance in California, but will decrease competition and drive up the cost of homeowners insurance and make it more difficult to obtain homeowner’s insurance, thereby making it more difficult to attract jobs to the state. Failed in Assembly Insurance Committee; reconsideration granted.
• SB 551 (Speier) - Insurance: Automotive Repair Dealers
  Prohibits an insurer from recommending that that an automobile be repaired, or nor be repaired, at a specific auto body repair shop. Amended to remove the Chamber’s opposition.
• SB 584 (Alarcón) - Advertising
  Requires any person who advertises, promotes, or markets a service or product in a language other than English to, upon consumer request, provide specified materials and information, in that other language. Held in committee.
• SB 691 (Escutia) - Credit History: Homeowners Insurance
  Attempts to address concerns regarding the availability and affordability of homeowners insurance in California by prohibiting the use of credit history by insurers. This would decrease competition and drive up the cost of homeowners insurance. Failed in Assembly Insurance; reconsideration granted.
• SB 888 (Dunn) - Public Utilities: Electrical Restructuring - 'JOB KILLER'
  Places California’s electrical energy markets under a command-and-control regulatory structure. FAILED in Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee. Language could re-emerge.

'In their original form these ‘job killers’ and bad bills would have added to the problems already plaguing California’s business climate,' said Richard Costigan, Chamber vice president of government relations. 'Our hope is that legislators will not re-introduce these measures, and will focus on stimulating California’s economy by passing legislation that puts jobs first.'

Staff Contact: Richard Costigan