News You Need to Know in Two Minutes

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Unemployment Insurance Crisis – What employers need to know
MARCH 11, 2024

Unemployment Insurance Crisis – What employers need to know

The independent Legislative Analyst’s Office projected the state’s budget deficit at approximately $73 billion dollars. However, there is another budget deficit that the CRA continues to push lawmakers to address. The state’s Unemployment Insurance (UI) Fund is now $20 billion dollars in debt. The required repayment of the debt has resulted in automatic tax increases on employers, and now Senate Bill 1116 would only add to those employer costs. Sabrina tells us more in this week’s News You Need to Know.

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Environmental policy progress + proposals that could undermine the restaurant community’s efforts
FEBRUARY 26, 2024

Environmental policy progress + proposals that could undermine the restaurant community’s efforts

The CRA has been involved in environmental policy at both the state and local levels for many years working to reduce environmental footprints, while being sensitive to operator challenges. Some of the more recent efforts include helping create a statewide model to reduce the distribution of single-use foodservice accessories and a separate effort to help create a robust, statewide process to review- and approve- food packaging products for use throughout the state.

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CRA supports Prop. 1- “Treatment, not Tents”
FEBRUARY 20, 2024

CRA supports Prop. 1- “Treatment, not Tents”

On the March 5 ballot, Proposition 1, also known as “Treatment, Not Tents”, will refocus billions of dollars in existing state funds to better prioritize those with the most severe mental health needs, living in encampments, or struggling with substance abuse. CRA members have been organizing locally to help drive solutions in their communities, and Proposition 1 is a comprehensive, statewide approach that is critical to addressing these challenges. Sabrina tells us more in this week’s News You Need to Know.

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Your voice can make a difference. See you at the NRA’s Public Affairs Conference in April.
JANUARY 29, 2024

Your voice can make a difference. See you at the NRA’s Public Affairs Conference in April.

Join the nation’s largest grassroots advocacy event for restaurants! Registration for the National Restaurant Association’s Public Affairs Conference is now open this April. Restaurant operators from all over the nation will head to Capitol Hill to lobby Congress to lower swipe fees and reject the Federal Trade Commission’s proposal to eliminate your discretion on whether to have service or other mandatory fees as part of your pricing structure.

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Easing of Cal/OSHA COVID-19 workplace rules and a look to 2024
JANUARY 16, 2024

Easing of Cal/OSHA COVID-19 workplace rules and a look to 2024

The state legislature has resumed its session, and has until February 16th to propose new legislation. Last year, 3,028 proposed new laws were seen. Last week, Governor Newsom announced that the state is facing a budget deficit of approximately $38 billion. The state budget process will take place between now and July 1st and will play a crucial role in determining what new legislation California will see. The CRA will remain involved in those deliberations and will continue to safeguard local restaurants.

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A look back at 2023 – what you need to know
DECEMBER 11, 2023

A look back at 2023 – what you need to know

This year, there were some significant statewide victories in various forms. Many of these victories were due to the engagement of our restaurant community, and we want to express our gratitude for your support. AB 1217 has reduced red tape and costs for restaurants seeking to maximize their outdoor dining footprint. This law extends the life of the restaurant relief into future years. SB 533 was amended to better suit the industry at large when it comes to implementing workplace safety and violence prevention plans, thanks to tremendous lobbying efforts.

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2024’s new state laws and SB 1383 what you need to know
NOVEMBER 06, 2023

2024’s new state laws and SB 1383 what you need to know

This year’s end brings a lot of change to the restaurant industry as we prepare for the new laws taking effect in January. In the video, Sabrina gives us a rundown of crucial new laws taking effect in 2024. Plus, SB 1383, which was signed into law back in 2016 – restaurants with 250 or more seats or a total facility size of at least 5,000 square feet will need to gear up for the January 1st compliance.

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Deadline for Governor’s Action on Pending Legislation Comes and Goes
OCTOBER 16, 2023

Deadline for Governor’s Action on Pending Legislation Comes and Goes

Governor Newsom has signed several bills that will impact employers and restaurants in California. SB 476 mandates that restaurant employers compensate employees for food handler training time and testing, while SB 616 increases the statewide paid sick leave mandate. The CRA has successfully advocated for AB 1217, which streamlines the permitting process for outdoor dining areas. Plus, Newsom vetoed other key bills that would have negatively impacted restaurants. Sabrina tells us more in this week’s “News You Need to Know.”

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Legislature adjourned – we still need your help + 3 bills you need to know about
OCTOBER 02, 2023

Legislature adjourned – we still need your help + 3 bills you need to know about

The CRA needs your help! The legislature has adjourned, and it’s up to Governor Newsom to take action on several important bills. We encourage our members to use our Voter Voice system to “Take Action” and amplify our message. S.B. 476 (Limon) proposes that the employer, not the employee, bears the costs and responsibility of obtaining a California Food Handler Certification and CRA-sponsored bill A.B. 1217 (Gabriel), which simplifies the permitting process for serving alcohol and satellite food in expanded outdoor dining areas.

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Bill would make all employers pay wages to striking workers
SEPTEMBER 05, 2023

Bill would make all employers pay wages to striking workers

A bill introduced late in the legislative session this year resurrects an idea to pay unemployment benefits to workers on strike. The CRA and other business organizations are fighting the bill because, among other reasons, all California employers pay into the state’s unemployment insurance fund – whether or not those employers are in unionized industries or the subject of a strike.

See the full list of Hot Bills.  

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Minimum wage in 2024 + web accessibility for all
AUGUST 07, 2023

Minimum wage in 2024 + web accessibility for all

The minimum wage will rise in 2024 to $16 per hour. In this week’s News You Need to Know, Sabrina tells us how state officials determined that amount. Also, the CRA is working with lawmakers on a bill that would clarify how you can make your website accessible to users with disabilities. Without state law around these standardized guidelines, this process is rife with legal pitfalls. 

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Lawmakers launch end-run around voters in new effort resembling the “Fast Act”
JULY 10, 2023

Lawmakers launch end-run around voters in new effort resembling the “Fast Act”

The state legislature has quickly passed a bill that will bring back California’s Industrial Welfare Commission (IWC), a body that will make labor regulations targeting certain industries including quick-service restaurants. In this week’s News You Need to Know, Sabrina tells us the history of the IWC and why bringing it back will lead to the same results intended by the so-called Fast Act. A referendum on the Fast Act has already qualified for the ballot in 2024.

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Fight over joint employer liability moves to Senate, + update on Prop 12
JUNE 05, 2023

Fight over joint employer liability moves to Senate, + update on Prop 12

The California State Assembly has narrowly passed AB 1228, the bill that would create “joint employer” liability for franchisors, reducing franchisees to middle managers. The CRA and many other organizations strongly oppose this bill. In this week’s News You Need to Know, Sabrina details that debate and also has an update on Prop 12, the California law that regulates animal confinement conditions for meat sold in this state.

Resources mentioned in the video:

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Bills we oppose, bills we support this year
MAY 22, 2023

Bills we oppose, bills we support this year

In this edition of the News You Need to Know, hear about key bills that face votes in the coming days. Sabrina breaks them down into two categories – the ones opposed by the CRA, and the ones we support. Each and every one of these bills will impact California restaurants. CRA members, for our handy, updated “Hot Bills” list that you can print out and refer back to, click here.

Remember to click ‘Log in CRA Content’ at the top right of our website to access that document.

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California tries again to regulate paper receipts
MAY 08, 2023

California tries again to regulate paper receipts

A bill aiming to reduce the use of paper receipts by mandating electronic options is back in the State Legislature. Assembly member Phil Ting, D-San Francisco, has reintroduced this idea, which failed in the legislature the first time it was considered. His bill would mandate that you offer your guests the option of an electronic receipt. It would also severely restrict commercial speech, prohibiting things like coupons and loyalty program information from being printed on a receipt. 

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Friendly and unfriendly bills: they are all being considered this week
APRIL 10, 2023

Friendly and unfriendly bills: they are all being considered this week

California lawmakers must consider a flurry of bills this week that include several proposals the CRA opposes. Sabrina tells us about them in this week’s video, along with the CRA-sponsored and supported bills that include efforts to eliminate the red tape and cost linked to alcohol permits and food prep in outdoor areas; a proposal to allow cocktails into the mix of drinks that can be delivered from a restaurant; and a proposal to allow local areas to create outdoor “entertainment zones.” What is an entertainment zone and how would it help restaurants?

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CRA-sponsored bill would extend ability to serve alcohol on expanded patios
MARCH 20, 2023

CRA-sponsored bill would extend ability to serve alcohol on expanded patios

Without any action this year by the state legislature, your low-cost, no red-tape ability to serve alcoholic drinks in your expanded outdoor dining area will end next February. That’s because the relief we fought for during the pandemic was temporary. Now, we are reintroducing this conversation in the legislature through a new bill, AB 1217, authored by Assembly member Jesse Gabriel, (D-Encino). The bill would extend the time period that this relief is available to restaurants, so that you can keep serving your guests fully in expanded outdoor spaces.

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New bill would require restaurants to pay for food handler training
MARCH 6, 2023

New bill would require restaurants to pay for food handler training

More than a decade ago, when a state bill required food handler training, the proposal remained silent on who should pay for the training – the restaurant, or the trainee. Two bills introduced this year would change that: one requires restaurants to pay for food handler training; the other requires all employers to pay for mandated training specific to their industries. 

These bills are among 2,600 new bills the CRA Government Affairs Team has reviewed over the last few weeks.