Backlog of Bills Swells as Sept. 12 Deadline Looms

Business and industry lobbyists have been absent from the relatively quiet halls of the Capitol in recent weeks as legislative committee hearings have been canceled in favor of closed-door negotiations on welfare reform and the overdue state budget. All of that will change shortly.

Progress has been made on both fronts--a budget agreement could come as early as this weekend--but the number of bills awaiting action in each house of the Legislature has welled up as the Sept. 12 deadline to pass bills looms.

Legislators already have missed most of their one-month summer recess. Should they opt to sneak in a week of relaxation after a budget deal is inked, they will have little time to act on hundreds of measures, many being watched closely by business interests.

The Senate has 142 bills on the floor awaiting attention; the Assembly has 206. And there are 540 bills stacked up in the Senate Appropriations Committee and 267 in the Assembly Appropriations Committee, the committees that consider bills with financial impact. Many of those bills will make their way to the floors of each house in the coming weeks.

The result of the backlog will be the usual end-of-the-legislative-year flurry, a legislative pyrotechnic display that will produce late-night sessions and bleary-eyed lawmakers.

Business advocates not only are prepared for the onslaught, but also plan to add fuel to the fire.

Many have been busy behind the scenes, plotting strategy, joining forces and readying a $500,000 media blitz against dozens of mostly Democrat-backed bills that they have dubbed “job killers” and bad for business.

Led by the California Chamber of Commerce (https://www.calchamber.com) and the California Manufacturers Assn., the group calling itself the Coalition on California Jobs will launch its high-profile campaign once a state budget is finalized.

The legislation targeted for defeat involves issues ranging from workers’ compensation to overtime pay to managed health-care reform to protection for endangered species.

Appointments

* Dana W. Reed of Newport Beach has been appointed to the California Transportation Commission, which helps develop and evaluate transportation policies and programs. Reed, 53, is a partner with the Costa Mesa law firm Reed & Davidson. No salary. Senate confirmation required.

Hot Bills

* Wage Garnishments

Bottom line: Lets businesses deduct $1 from an employee’s paycheck to cover extra payroll and processing costs associated with withholding income for wage garnishment orders. Employers now are allowed to deduct $1 to help offset costs involving withholding for child or spousal support. This bill extends the deduction to withholding for creditors, unpaid state taxes, criminal penalties and traffic fines.

Chances: After clearing the Assembly in May on a 71-1 vote and passing the Senate by a 36-0 margin, the bill was signed into law by Gov. Pete Wilson last month.

Next step: Will take effect Jan. 1.

Details: AB 519 author Assemblyman Bernie Richter (R-Chico) can be reached at (916) 445-7298.

* Time Off for Day Care

Bottom line: The law currently permits parents, grandparents and guardians to take off up to 40 hours of work to participate in the school activities of their children and grandchildren in kindergarten through 12th grade. This bill extends the provisions to include workers with children in day care or preschool. The legislation grew out of research touting the benefits of early parental involvement in the education of their children.

Chances: The bill passed the Assembly in May on a 61-13 vote, passed the Senate by a 21-15 margin and was signed by the governor last week.

Next step: Will take effect Jan. 1.

Details: AB 47 author Kevin Murray (D-Los Angeles) can be reached at (916) 445-8800 or via e-mail at [email protected]

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