Stopping several bills impacting agriculture labor relations have been the focus of the association and other ag interests this year. We have been actively opposing three bills AB 1313 (Allen) which would require overtime for ag employees after 8 hours in a day and 40 hours in a week, AB 2346 (Butler) which would address heat stress regulations by authorizing a private right of action for enforcement and joint liability for farmers and AB 2676 (Calderon) which dramatically increases fines for violations of heat stress regulations.

AB 1313 and AB 2676 are both on the Senate Floor available to be taken up any time. AB 2346 passed out of appropriations committee yesterday with amendments and will be on the Senate Floor next week.

AB 1313 (Allen) would eliminate agriculture's exemption from the 8-hour workday. This bill would:

• require overtime to be paid for all work in excess of 8 hours.

AB 2346 (Butler) was recently amended. The new language eliminates the unworkable regulatory requirements for providing heat and shade. However, the bill continues to create joint and several liabilities for property owners who utilize labor contractors and would allow employees to sue their employer for heat stress violations. The bill would:

• Impose joint liability for growers utilizing the services of a Farm Labor Contractor who is a repeat offender of the Heat Prevention Standard. Repeat offender is defined as anyone with more than one violation in a five year period. This includes technical paperwork violations.
• Create a private right of action allowing an employee to sue the employers for violations of the Heat Prevention Standard

AB 2676 (Calderon) was amended last month to create new criminal penalties for agricultural employers. The bill would:

• Allow for extreme fines of up to $10,000 and six months in jail for failure to provide shade that is 'sufficient to allow the body to cool' at all times and one quart of 'suitably cool' water per employee per hour. If an injury or death occurs as a result of the violation, the penalty is $25,000 and one year in jail.
• The language in the bill is not consistent with the current CalOSHA Heat Stress Standard which would set up employers for frivolous claims of violation.

The association has been supporting other ag labor bills including AB 1675 (Bonilla) which creates civil penalties for unlicensed farm labor contractors. Working with a large coalition of agriculture and business groups to fight these bills, the association has taken an active role testifying in committee negotiations with the proponents and working to educate lawmakers about the detrimental impact these measures will have on both the farmer, and in the case of overtime the employee whose hours may be reduced.

MEMBER ACTION! Now is the time to contact your local legislator and inform them to oppose AB 1313, AB 2346 and AB 2676.

AB 1581 passed out of the Senate on 8/13 with 29 Aye votes and 7 Noes.  The Bill is in Engrossing and Enrolling.  It is up to the Assembly desk as to when they send the bill to the Governor for action.  If he receives the Bill before August 20th he will have a 12 day sign timeline.  Bills received after August 20th will have a September 30th action date.

AB 1581 is intended to provide interested consumers relevant information about the location of a business and prevent unscrupulous retailers from parasitical advertising activities on existing community based local flower shops.  This bill will provide those consumers who believe they are purchasing from a local floral retailer the information necessary to make an informed decision.

This bill will likely be sent to the Governor as early as next week.  It is very important that we have everyone involved in the floral industry send letters to the Governor asking him to sign AB 1581 into Law.

The Honorable Jerry Brown

Governor of California

State Capitol Building

Sacramento, CA  95814

CC:  Brian Putler, Deputy Legislative Secretary

The Governor's fax number is 916-558-3160

AB 1581 is intended to provide interested consumers relevant information about the location of a business and prevent unscrupulous retailers from parasitical advertising activities on existing community based local flower shops.  This bill will provide those consumers who believe they are purchasing from a local floral retailer the information necessary to make an informed decision.

Please see attached CSFA Support letter to Governor Brown.   Copy of Letter

PLEASE ACT NOW!

Labor unions are making a late-blooming effort to raise long-frozen benefits for workers with job-related illnesses and injuries and promising employers enough administrative savings to pay for them. A 45-point summary of the proposed legislation is circulating seeking to undo, in part, the reforms that former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger pushed through the Legislature eight years ago.

The changes could be placed into Senate Bill 863, a workers' compensation measure being carried by Sen. Ted Lieu, D-Torrance, when their labor union sponsors line up enough support. Business support is critical because Gov. Jerry Brown has indicated that he wouldn't sign legislation on the subject that's opposed by employers.

The legislation promises about $700 million a year in benefit increases for those with permanent injuries, while saving more than $1 billion. The savings would come from, among other things, scaling back considerations of future earning capacity in setting disability benefits and eliminating certain medical conditions as factors.

A water bill sponsored by environmental justice activists moved out of the Appropriations committee this week after being held for most of the session. SB 685 (Lieu) will establish as state policy a "Human right to water."  There are many identified concerns with the bill, most may not surface for years until law suits on the issue get settled. Many believe this could impact water bond grants, BDCP projects, federal spending and local projects as well as many other impacts still not identified.

The association is actively opposed and working with other ag and water interests in a coalition attempting to either amend the bill or stop it on the floor.  

The California State Floral Association

Presents....

Calif Flora 2012  "LEGENDS"

October 13-14, 2012

Hosted by:  Mayesh Wholesale Florist, Inc.

• Click Here for Program   
   
• Click Here for Registration Form 

Key members of the wholesale florist industry will learn all about What's Next as they experience unparalleled Networking at this year's Floral Distribution Conference, October 24-26, 2012 at the Doral in Miami.  Enhance your Education with timely business topics including leadership and the emerging generations; how to make better buying decisions; and the latest in social media applications and benefits.    Benefit from Xtreme Commerce at the Table Top Displays and Hospitality Suites and peer into the future with a look at floral Trends.

Strategies to Upgrade Your Techniques & Styles From a Euro-Perspective

Sympathy Work, Bridal, Everyday, Special Events/Table-scape

MONDAY: Sales and design of classic and contemporary sympathy work, including stands, wreaths and European sheaths.
 
TUESDAY: Selling "everyday" designs and price-point-specific designs with minimal insertions. Vegetative, Phoenix and parallel design will also be covered.
 
WEDNESDAY: Designing with Tropicals and every-day flowers for commercial accounts that need to last at least a week! High-style and contemporary design will be covered.
 
THURSDAY: Table-top, table-scape, special event design and working with rental props. Pricing is part of this topic and includes working with large scale productions. (Logistics).
 
FRIDAY: European style fashion-forward bridal bouquets and body flowers. Hand-tied bouquet techniques and styling as well as creating affordable cascading bouquets and working in Oasis™ bridal holders will be covered.
 
Floral Design Experience Required
Limited Class Size. Full Registration Only Please.
(9am - 5pm, Monday - Friday)
 
$1495 (all materials & tax included)
$200 deposit required with registration
Discounted corporate hotel rate with Carlsbad By The Sea Resort @ $99/night
(free shuttle, parking & internet)
 
To register and for more information, contact our office
at rene@renevanrems.com  or tel. 888 824 7363.
 
Rene van Rems International
5451 Avenida Encinas, Suite F
Carlsbad, CA 92008

www.renevanrems.com 

California Certified Florist (CCF) Prep Classes are being held September 23rd at:

Brannan Street Wholesale in San Francisco.  (flyer)

A To Z Wholesale in Santa Ana. (flyer) 

Don't delay - sign up now to confirm your registration  

For further information and to register, contact the CSFA office at 916-448-5266 or email Ann Quinn at aquinn@cgfa.org.

www.californiacertifiedflorist.org