SB 869

I just received word that our bill SB 869 by Senator Ridley Thomas passed the Senate this morning on a vote of 34-2. The two opposed were McClintock and Hollingsworth. As you will recall the purpose of the bill is to go after businesses that have filed with EDD but have no workers compensation coverage. It is estimated there are about 100000 of these businesses.
It will now go to the Assembly where we fully expect it to pass and be signed ultimately by the Governor. Lori Kammerer ,our lobbyist has really made this bill happen.
Thank you to all that wrote letters of support.
On the energy front our small business energy bill HR2389 went to mark up yesterday in the House. It is being introduced by the Chair of the Small Business Committee Nydia Velazquez. The initiative to get this introduced was Speaker Nancy Pelosi. This bill will do a number of things to help small business reduce energy use and assist in financing those energy efficient technologies. It also will require the SBA to provide information and promote energy efficiency ideas. We are working closely with the Center for Small Business and the Environment, the National Small Business Association and the Small Business Majority association. We have had tremendous help and guidance from Russ Orbin who is a staff member of the House Small Business Committee

I hope you feel like Small Business California is out there fighting for you and if you are not a member please consider joining. You can get information on how to do so by visiting our website at www.smallbusinesscalifornia.org

Scott Hauge President Small Business California

Supreme Court Finally Sets Guidelines For Apportionment Cases

From: Scott Hauge

Sent: Friday, May 04, 2007

Subject: Supreme Court Finally Sets Guidelines For Apportionment Cases


This is a major decision for employers. Had the discussion been different it would have undermined the reforms of 2004. The outlook on workers compensation cost is very positive and we await hearing what rate decreases the companies will file for July 1. The Insurance Commissioner held this hearing yesterday on the pure loss rate and will be coming out with his recommendations shortly. The Bureau has recommended 11.3%. Since the reforms in 2003 the average work comp rate has gone from $6.47 to $3.25.

Last year, I started a program of asking small business people who in Government have been helpful to the small business cause. Please send me who you think should be recognized and I will send a letter to them from Small Business California and acknowledge your nomination. From my perspective, the names that jump out are:

-Luanne Morikawa in Senator Mark Ridley Thomas' office for help on SB 869 ( SB Cal Workers' Comp Bill ).
-Herb Schultz, John Ramey, and Richard Figuroa in the Governor's office for their outreach to us on the Governer's Health Plan.
-David Panush from Senator Perata's office for his outreach to us on the Senator's Health Plan.

Please make sure your nominee is in state government.

Scott Hauge
President
Small Business California
shauge@cal-insure.com