CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS CONTINUING A LEGACY OF POWERFUL ADVOCACY FOR CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURE.
AB 857 – WG led opposition to this bill which would have expanded the circumstances under which an employer would be required to provide H-2A employees with travel time pay. WG staff negotiated late amendments to the bill that removed these changes. The bill was ultimately vetoed. We have developed a successful track record in defending attempts to change travel time pay requirements. A previous attempt was made in 2020 with SB 1102. WG also led opposition to that bill which was similarly vetoed.
Given the political environment in California, Western Growers’ state advocacy efforts are more critical than ever. The California Advocacy team in 2022 achieved remarkable success in protecting the public policy priorities of our members:
CROP PROTECTION: AB 2146 – Western Growers was part of a coalition effort in opposition to this bill which would have prohibited the use, sale, possession, and use of neonicotinoids for non-agricultural uses. Original language in the bill also classified
PACKAGING: SB 54 – This bill establishes the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act. The act requires minimum recycling standards for single-use packaging and food service ware. Producers will have responsibility for their products via an extended producer responsibility program. WG was a key player within a large coalition that worked on language to create a workable, feasible and cost-effective recycling program. WG staff was successful in getting exemption language relating to farming and fresh produce packaging. As a result, the proponents of the ballot initiative pulled it from the November 2022 ballot.
neonicotinoid pesticides as restricted use materials; a designation which would have also impacted agriculture’s ability to utilize these products. The opposition was able to remove the restricted use provisions and remained opposed to the bill. We argued to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office that pesticides should not be regulated through the legislative process but, rather, through the rigorous science-based process at the California Department of Pesticide Regulation. The governor agreed and AB 2146 was vetoed. LABOR: AB 364 – WG led opposition over several years to thwart attempts to expand California’s foreign labor contracting regulations to also cover farm labor contractors (FLCs) who employ H-2A farmworkers. This would essentially subjugate FLCs to additional licensing obligations that they already undergo via the California Labor Commissioner’s Office. We argued, and the governor agreed, that AB 364 was unnecessary and duplicative of existing law.
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