Survey/ Automobile Insurance/ AB 722

Tuesday will be the closing of our annual survey.  If you haven’t done so already please take a few moments to complete.  We have received 632 responses so far.  The survey can be found at http://www.smallbusinesscalifornia.org on the bottom left hand side.  If you click on the Annual Surveys tab, you can also see the results of past surveys.  We will be sending results of 2015 out next week.

Some insurance companies are beginning to charge on auto policies for citations for using cell phones and texting.  This could affect the cost of your individual auto policy and commercial autos.  One company considers texting, which includes even just looking at your phone while driving, as severely as they do drunk driving.  Be sure to let your employees who are driving your vehicles know this.

As I said in a previous email, Small Business California crowd funding legislation has been introduced by Assembly member Henry Parea [AB 722].  We are putting together a letter which will include the signatures of small business associations around the state.  So far we have about 20 that will sign.  If you are part of an association and would like your association to be added to the letter please let me know.  I can send a copy of the letter to you.

Scott Hauge
President
Small Business California
2311 Taraval Street
San Francisco, CA  94116
shauge@cal-insure.com
415-680-2188 

Access to Capital Crowdfunding Legislation

We are going to try again.
Last year AB 2096 failed in Senate Appropriations in large part due to a financing issue.  We have addressed this issue in AB 722 and we now have labor support.  Last year they were not involved.  We are optimistic and excited about its prospects.  You can see the press release below.  Thank you Assemblyman Perea.  
 

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                       

Contact: Alicia Isaacs, (916) 224-8488
February 25, 2015

Perea Introduces Crowdfunding Bill to Assist Small Businesses

SACRAMENTO – Today, Assembly member Henry T. Perea (D-Fresno) introduced Assembly Bill (AB) 722 which would help start-up and emerging small businesses gain access to capital. Under this proposed legislation, small businesses would be able to find investors who can provide capital through a process known as crowdfunding to help them grow and create jobs. Crowdfunding is the practice of funding a project or venture by raising monetary contributions from a large number of people, typically via the internet.

“Access to capital is an issue I hear about from small businesses and constituents consistently,” said Assembly member Perea. “This bill will enable businesses to get the investors they need to jumpstart their businesses and boost our local economies and provide good paying jobs while providing peace of mind for investors.”

“Lack of capital continues to be a major impediment to job creation for small businesses, including, California's small union and nonunion manufacturers and contractors,” said Scott Hauge, President of Small Business California. “As our economy improves, employers will require expansion capital to grow. Equity crowdfunding will enable these businesses to access sources of capital previously untapped by small business.”

Small Business California represents the interests of the more than 3.6 million small businesses in California. 

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www.asmdc.org/perea
https://www.facebook.com/AssemblymemberPerea
Follow @AsmPerea on Twitter

Alicia Isaacs
Assembly member Henry T. Perea
State Capitol, Room 3120
Sacramento, CA  95814
(916) 319-2031 Phone
(916) 319-2131 Fax
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As I said we will be closing our survey March 3.  I have about 600 surveys in and I want to  encourage those of you that haven’t completed to do so.  You can access by going to www.smallbusinesscalifornia.org.
Thank you.



Scott Hauge
President
Small Business California
2311 Taraval Street
San Francisco, CA  94116
shauge@cal-insure.com
415-680-2188 

Small Business California Updates

We are in the last week of our annual survey.  As of today we have 515 responses.  We will close the survey March 3.
Thank you to all of you that have completed and for those that haven’t please take a few moments to do so.
Below is the live link to the survey: 
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SBCAL2015

Friday February 27 is the last day to introduce legislation in the first year of a two year session.

Small Business California will continue to review bills but here is an initial list of bills we will be supporting:

AB 184 Garcia.  This bill establishes the Small Business Technical Assistance Center within the California Infrastructure  and Economic Development Bank.  For the first time  in over a decade, California will have a link to key federal small business assistance centers including those that focus on services, women, veterans and prospective government contractors, as well as all service offices of the SBDCs.

AB 185 Garcia.  This bill would establish a New Markets tax credit for small businesses with up to 250 employees. This was vetoed by the Governor last year.

AB312 Jones. This bill would eliminate the 100% requirement that a product be Made in the USA to use the Made in USA or Made in America label.  It replaces the 100% requirement all or virtually all made in USA.

AB437 Atkins. This bill would allow for the monetization of tax credits for Research and Development where small businesses do not have enough taxes to take full advantage of the tax credit.  It allows 10-15% of the unused portion of the credit.

SB 178 Leno.  This bill would require a warrant before a  government  agency can search electronic equipment.  There are provisions allowing a search under certain circumstances.  This bill was vetoed last year by the Governor.

SB 197 Block.  This bill would allow  licensed lender to pay referral fees to unlicensed individuals and remove a competitive advantage that alternative lenders have as they are not licensed lenders.  The fees would only be paid once the loan is made and it requires the loan to be for at least a year and be underwritten by the lender.  This is sponsored by our friends at CAMEO.

For the full language of bills go to www.leginfo.ca.gov.

Scott Hauge
President
Small Business California
2311 Taraval Street
San Francisco, CA  94116
shauge@cal-insure.com
415-680-2188