(March 15, 2010) The California Chamber of Commerce has identified a number of bills as job creators. If passed, these proposals will improve the state’s job climate and stimulate economic recovery.

Job creator bills identified so far will provide balanced regulatory policies, encourage investments and increase construction jobs.

Other job creators are likely to be identified as CalChamber staff members continue to review the thousands of bills introduced shortly before the February 19 deadline to introduce legislation.

Following are job creators identified by the CalChamber and their status:

Balanced Regulation

• SB 356 (Wright; D-Inglewood) Small Business Impact Analysis — Improves the small business climate in California by reforming the regulatory development process to include a specific small business economic impact analysis and other provisions that mitigate the cost of regulation to small business. (Last Amended 1/12/10). Awaiting action in Assembly Business and Professions Committee.

Encourages Investments

• AB 222 (Adams; R-Hesperia) Green Energy — Encourages new investment and job creation by allowing conversion of solid waste to energy at a biorefinery to count toward meeting the state mandate that 20 percent of energy come from renewable sources by 2010. (Last Amended 7/8/09). Awaiting action in Senate Environmental Quality Committee.
• AB 697 (C. Calderon; D-Montebello) Removes Onerous Tax Burden — Relieves employers of a onerous, costly tax burden by prospectively repealing an unfair, strict liability tax penalty that applies even to reasonable tax disputes, that was enacted as part of the September 2008 budget. (Last Amended 6/1/09). Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee suspense file.
• AB 1565 (Ruskin; D-Redwood City) Research and Development Credits — Encourages investment and jobs in research and development by increasing the research and development tax credit rate from 15 percent to 20 percent, in conformity with federal law, beginning in 2012. (Last Amended 5/28/09). Awaiting action in the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee.

Increased Construction Jobs

• AB 1805 (C. Calderon; D-Montebello) Increases Construction Jobs — Facilitates job creation by giving a limited number of environmentally sound development projects protection from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) lawsuits. This benefit will allow projects that have met their CEQA requirements to break ground sooner, which will create badly needed jobs and spur economic growth. Assembly Natural Resources Committee hearing 3/22/10.
• ABX8 37 (C. Calderon; D-Montebello) Increases Construction Jobs — Facilitates job creation by giving a limited number of environmentally sound development projects protection from CEQA lawsuits. This benefit will allow projects that have met their CEQA requirements to break ground sooner, which will create badly needed jobs and spur economic growth.
• SB 1010 (Correa; D-Santa Ana) Increases Construction Jobs — Facilitates job creation by giving a limited number of environmentally sound development projects protection from CEQA lawsuits. This benefit will allow projects that have met their CEQA requirements to break ground sooner, which will create badly needed jobs and spur economic growth. Awaiting action in Senate Environmental Quality and Judiciary committees.
• SBX8 34 (Padilla; D-Pacoima) Supports Construction of Vital Projects — Ensures the expedited permitting of environmentally sound solar thermal projects, enabling them to qualify for grants under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. (Last Amended 3/8/10). Assembly Floor.
• SBX8 42 (Correa; D-Santa Ana) Increases Construction Jobs — Facilitates job creation by giving a limited number of environmentally sound development projects protection from CEQA lawsuits. This benefit will allow projects that have met their CEQA requirements to break ground sooner, which will create badly needed jobs and spur economic growth. Held in Senate Environmental Quality 2/24/10.