Californians are anxious.
The economy is growing, the state budget is balanced and the rains have resumed. Yet California voters are apprehensive about the future. They worry that state leaders are not addressing the issues that truly concern them, according to the third annual CalChamber Poll. For the first time in three years of polling, slightly more voters say that California is headed down the wrong track (52%) than in the right direction (48%). Their assessment for the nation is even worse: twice as many voters have a negative outlook on the country’s direction than have a positive impression. Parents are uneasy about their kids’ futures. Of the 28% of voters with children living at home, 61% agree that their children will have a better future if they leave California. Reasons include the high cost of living here, high taxes and worry about landing a good job. This is the Cal Exit to worry about. On jobs, where you live determines your perception of reality. San Francisco Bay Area voters see a strong job creation climate in their region, with nearly a quarter of voters seeing “a lot of new jobs” in the area, and nearly eight in ten seeing “a lot” or “some” new jobs. Elsewhere, the perception is dimmer. Coastal southern Californians see a moderate number of new jobs in their regions, while voters in the Inland Empire and Central Valley are more pessimistic, with only 5% seeing “a lot” of new jobs and less than two in five even seeing “some” new jobs. When asked about the quality of these new jobs, among voters who respond that “a lot” or “some” new jobs are being created, a majority statewide believe that most of these new jobs “tend to be dead ends that don’t lead to the middle class,” while a minority say the new jobs are “the type that lead to higher pay and middle class living.” Regional differences also are stark here. Most SF Bay Area voters believe the new jobs will lead to higher pay and the middle class, while – by a two-to-one margin – Inland Empire and Central Valley voters believe most new jobs will be dead end jobs. Crime is also increasingly on the minds of the public. Voters overwhelmingly agree that elected officials in Sacramento are not spending enough time on reducing crime (86%) or expanding police powers to limit panhandling, homelessness and public drug use in city parks (66%). They would be more likely to support legislative candidates who take a tough-on-crime approach, such as expanding the list of violent crimes for which early release is not an option, such as felony domestic violence and child sex trafficking (92%), reinstating DNA collection for certain misdemeanors to help law enforcement solve cases (77%), and revise upward the threshold for serial theft to be a felony (76% support). While most voters have heard a great deal about making California a “sanctuary state,” by a nearly two-to-one margin they believe elected officials are spending too much time on the issue. Democratic gubernatorial candidates may face calls to support a “single-payer” health care system, but voters are simply not impressed. Voters strongly support subsidies for people who cannot afford their own health care (75%) and for those who have pre-existing health conditions (81%), but are not ready to embrace government-run health care. Voters overwhelmingly prefer to keep their current health insurance (71%) over switching to a single-payer approach (29%). Voters feel disconnected from their elected leaders, agreeing that the Legislature (82%) and Governor (63%) are “out of touch with the issues that are important to people like me.” Issues that voters care about but believe the Legislature is not spending enough time on include crime, job creation, keeping energy prices low and building more highways. Speaking of transportation, considering alternatives to the gasoline tax, voters prefer a mileage-based user fee (29%) to other choices, such as a tax on carbon emissions (20%), issuing state bonds (19%), raising the state sales tax (9%) or reducing spending on schools, colleges and health care (9%). Voters were very supportive (61%) of paying for road repairs by replacing the gasoline tax with a mileage fee, in the context of increasing automobile fuel efficiency and the increasing number of vehicles that don’t use gasoline at all. Voters are far less supportive of other fees and taxes on driving. Only 37 percent support extension of the cap-and-trade program if it caused a fifty-cent-a-gallon hike in the price of gasoline. A $1.50 price increase drives support down to just 30% of voters. The news is even worse for advocates of mileage fees to reduce driving. By a three-to-one margin, voters oppose legislative limits on driving, such as new fees, purposely designing roads to be more congested, or not expanding highway capacity at all. Voters do not support (40%) banning gasoline-powered cars by 2030, although younger voters (67%) and voters in the San Francisco Bay Area (50%) seem intrigued by the idea. On the quintessential California tax issue, voters still vigorously embrace the Proposition 13 property tax reforms. Across the board, California voters (81%) have a very or somewhat favorable view of Proposition 13. This view is consistent, whether voters own their homes (85%) or rent (72%), and whether they are Democrat (75%), Republican (90%) or no party (83%). The CalChamber poll demonstrates that voter anxiety and disconnection is as present in California as elsewhere in the country, notwithstanding the steadfast dominance of Democrats in political leadership. The CalChamber poll was conducted online by Penn Schoen Berland (PSB) from October 4 to October 6, 2017 among n=1,000 definite California voters. The margin of error is +/- 3.1% at the 95% confidence level. We all need it. Many provide it for their employees, if that is still a viable option. But, healthcare costs are out of control. What is the future of healthcare – how will it be delivered and how will we pay for it? Will we be facing Medicare for all? Can California implement a "single-payer" system and figure out how to pay for it? What will happen to government entities who are currently strapped with funding healthcare benefits for retirees? Will the Trump administration be able to repeal the Affordable Care Act? These questions and more will be addressed at the Oxnard Business Outlook on November 9. Healthcare costs have an impact on every single Chamber member – business or individual. The more prepared we are for our options, the better we can advocate for reasonable outcomes. Our keynote speaker for the Oxnard Business Outlook is Loren Kaye. Mr. Kaye is the president of the California Foundation for Commerce and Education. The Foundation is affiliated with the California Chamber of Commerce and serves as a “think tank” for the California business community. The Foundation is dedicated to preserving and strengthening the California business climate and private enterprise through accurate, impartial and objective research and analysis of public policy issues of interest to the California business and public policy communities. Mr. Kaye has devoted his career to developing, analyzing and implementing public policy issues in California, with a special emphasis on improving the state’s business and economic climate. Mr. Kaye was also a gubernatorial appointee to the state’s Little Hoover Commission, charged with evaluating the efficiency and effectiveness of state agencies and programs. In addition to Loren Kaye's address, he will moderate a panel of experts in healthcare:
The Oxnard Business Outlook will be held at the Tower Club, 300 E. Esplanade Drive, 22nd Floor in Oxnard. The event will run from 11:30 to 1:30. We would like to sincerely thank our Title Sponsor, Umpqua Bank for their ongoing support of the Oxnard Business Outlook. Additional sponsors committed to date are: Lead Sponsors: St. John's Regional Medical Centers/Dignity Health, UCLA Health, Port of Hueneme, and Western States Petroleum Association Supporting Sponsors: DCH Auto Group, SoCalGas, and Ventura County Credit Union Sponsor and individual reservations can be made via the Chamber's website (www.OxnardChamber.org) or by calling the office at 805-983-6118. Hurry! Reservations are due by Friday, November 3. California has received $500,000 from the U.S. Small Business Administration to increase export activities among small businesses. The funding, part of the State Trade Export Promotion program, will boost trade in foreign markets, – including China, Europe, Southeast Asia, and Mexico, – and encourage exports of information technologies, food and agricultural products, consumer goods and medical equipment. California is the one of the largest exporting states in the nation. The state exports more than $163 billion in products, about 11% of all U.S. exports. This international trade supports more than 706,000 California jobs. Top markets for California’s exports include Mexico, Canada and China. “On average, more than 25 percent of California’s agricultural production is exported,” said California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Secretary Karen Ross. “This federal funding is a victory for farmers and ranchers, food manufacturers, and the rural communities where they operate.” California’s State Trade Export Promotion (STEP) program is a partnership between the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), CDFA, the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office and the Centers for International Trade Development. The program brings together state, federal, private and nonprofit trade promotion organizations to promote export activities among targeted industries. California STEP is funded in part by a U.S. Small Business Administration grant. All day holiday festivities to be held at Channel Islands Harbor
Channel Islands Harbor kicks off the holidays with its 52nd annual holiday Parade of Lights, scheduled from noon – 8 p.m., Dec. 9, with the parade beginning at 7 p.m. This year’s parade theme is “Fairy Tales Afloat.” Everyone is invited to enjoy a full day of holiday activities and watch festively decorated boats in the parade while listening to carolers sing holiday songs. Beginning at noon, families can play in 36 tons of snow falling at the north end of Harbor View Park, off Harbor Blvd. near Marine Emporium Landing, 3600 Harbor Blvd. Santa will be there from noon – 4 p.m. and will take pictures with families free of charge. There will also be holiday arts and crafts vendors starting at 10 a.m. Santa and his reindeer will ride through the sky at 7 p.m. to mark the beginning of the parade. The parade starts in front of Peninsula Park and heads to the Main Channel, turns at Hobie Beach, loops in front of the launch ramp, then heads back to Pacific Corinthian Yacht Club and repeats the route for a second run. The parade can be viewed from parks and walkways that line the route as well as from most Harbor restaurants. Any size boat can register for the Parade of Lights. To participate in the parade, download an entry form from www.channelislandsharbor.org. Parade participants can take part in various decorating contests and compete for awards. For more information on the Parade of Lights visit www.channelislandsharbor.org. Blossom Tea House is a local, family-owned Thai food and Boba Tea café, featuring delicious made-to-order Thai Street Food. They have a wide variety of milk tea flavors, iced tea, smoothies, and slushes, which come with boba. Blossom Tea House offers special deals and a loyalty program for customers. Stop in for the Lunch Special, which includes a main dish, cream cheese wonton, and a small Thai Tea Boba for $7.50 (lunch deal Tue-Fri 11am -3pm). Or come in for an afternoon Tea Break Special (Tue-Fri: 3pm-6pm and Sat-Sun: 2pm-5pm). Tea Break includes your choice of a small appetizer and a small tea drink for $6.50 (Tue-Fri: 3pm-6pm and Sat-Sun: 2pm-5pm). The café is located at 814 N. Ventura Road and is open Tuesday to Sunday from 11:00am – 9:00pm. Blossom Tea House is a take-out restaurant; however there are tables and customers are welcome to stay. Customers can conveniently call in orders for pick up at 805-553-8402 or email blossomteaoxnard@gmail.com Changes to employment law require new posters at each place of business STATEWIDE - order your posters today to avoid fines The Oxnard Chamber is making it easy for businesses to comply with California’s labor laws. No matter how many employees you have in California, your business is required by law to post a current California and Federal Employment Poster centrally in every place of business. Severe fines and penalties will be assessed if a business doesn’t display a current poster. In partnership with the CalChamber, the Oxnard Chamber is currently taking pre-orders for the updated 2018 California and Federal Employment Poster. CalChamber is a trusted source for California and federal compliance products, with more than 125 years of experience helping California business do business. The 2018 all-in-one poster includes mandatory updates to the Cal/OSHA notice for January 1, 2018, plus recommended updates to the USERRA notice and the CFRA notice. Reminder: The first scheduled minimum wage increase (to $10.50/hour) takes effect for employers with 25 or less employees; second increase (to $11.00/hour) takes effect for employers with 26 or more employees. The all-in-one posting is available laminated or non-laminated and in your choice of English or Spanish. Posters must be displayed in a conspicuous place accessible to all employees. Employers must also display posters in each company location. Orders placed by December 15 will be available for pick up at the Chamber around January 1. Orders placed after mid-December may take two weeks to process depending on current inventory. Please call the Oxnard Chamber at 805-983-6118 or download the order form via our website www.oxnardchamber.org . Other labor law compliance resource materials are available as well. Need a supply of the required pamphlets and notices for new hires? We can provide those. A list of all products and pricing (discounts for members) is listed on the order form available on the Chamber's website. In light of various emergencies and disasters throughout the state, the California Chamber of Commerce is educating employers about a few things they should know about paying employees, leaves of absences and planning ahead in emergencies.
Paying Employees Even in an emergency, employers must be mindful of obligations under state employment laws and consider pay issues for exempt and nonexempt employees related to office closures. Employers must pay exempt employees a full weekly salary for any week in which any work is performed. If the business is closed for the whole week, however, employers don’t need to pay exempt employees. In emergencies, special pay rules apply for nonexempt employees. If your business shuts down for any of the following reasons, you must only pay nonexempt employees for the hours they worked prior to being sent home:
However, if you shut down your business at your discretion (and not for one of the above reasons), reporting time pay may be owed. When a nonexempt employee shows up for work as scheduled and is not put to work or is given less than half of his/her scheduled hours, the employee would be eligible for reporting time pay: pay for one half of the scheduled shift, no less than two hours and no more than four hours. Of course, employers are always free to pay employees or let them use vacation or other personal time. Many employers may choose to provide some paid time during emergency situations. Just remember to be consistent! Leaves of Absence for Emergency Personnel Some of your employees may serve as volunteers for local fire departments or other emergency response entities. All employers must provide leaves of absence for employees who are required to perform emergency duty. Employers are not required to compensate the employee during this time off. Leave for Health Issues Employees may be entitled to time off to deal with health issues that occur as a result of the disaster. For instance, employees may use their California mandatory paid sick leave for the care or treatment of a health condition for themselves or a family member, as defined by the law. They also may be eligible for time off for family or medical leave for themselves or to care for family members with any serious health conditions under the federal Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) or the California Family Rights Act (CFRA). The FMLA and the CFRA cover employers with 50 or more employees and provide a maximum of 12 weeks of unpaid leave in a 12-month period. Employers may have obligations to reasonably accommodate an employee under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the state Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Should an employee suffer a physical or mental injury because of a natural disaster, they may be entitled to protections under these laws. School or Childcare Leave Employers with 25 or more employees working at the same location may need to provide unpaid time off to employees whose children’s school or child care is closed due to a natural disaster, such as a fire, earthquake or flood. For emergency situations, the time must not exceed 40 hours per year. Protecting Workers Employers must remember their obligations to provide a safe workplace. Cal/OSHA is advising employers to take special precautions to protect workers from hazards from wildfire smoke. Cal/OSHA has posted materials that provide guidance for employers and workers on working safely in conditions with heavy smoke caused by the wildfires. Planning Ahead The single, most important thing employers can do is create an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) and communicate that plan to employees. Employers should inform employees that the plan exists and what steps the plan outlines. As an employer, you have an obligation to create and maintain a safe workplace for your employees. All California employers are required to have an EAP designating the actions that must be taken to protect employees from fire and other emergencies. California employers must also have a Fire Prevention Plan (FPP) that details the fire hazards your employees may face and how to handle a fire should the situation arise. When employees are initially assigned to a job or transferred to a new position, the employer should review parts of the EAP and FPP employees must know so they can protect themselves in the event of an emergency. Employers should retrain employees if they change the EAP or FPP and should periodically conduct emergency training and drills. When considering emergency situations, employers should plan how they will handle and communicate office closings and determine who will make the final decision on whether to close. Determine also if alternative workplaces are available, whether certain employees can work from home or whether to shut down all work during the emergency. CalChamber members can find more information on Emergency Action Plans and Fire Prevention Plans during emergencies on HRCalifornia. Cal/OSHA offers resources as well. Not a member? See how CalChamber can help you. The Oxnard Chamber Board of Directors has scheduled their annual planning session for Friday, November 3. This is the once-a-year opportunity for the Board to set aside a full day to look at what the organization has accomplished and where they would like to see it go. Thank you to our members who completed the recent survey conducted by the Western Association of Chamber Executives to evaluate how we are doing in some core competency areas. That feedback is essential to decision-making for the coming year. The Chamber Board is made up of volunteer representatives from member businesses. They are tasked with setting policy for the organization and taking positions on issues. On October 12 the California Coastal Commission met in Chula Vista to address a myriad of agenda items. The Fisherman's Wharf project in Channel Islands Harbor was one of those items. The reason it was on the agenda stems from a dispute that has escalated between the city of Oxnard and county of Ventura over who has approval and permitting authority for the redevelopment project.
The dispute was taken to the Coastal Commission in an effort for resolve the matter. However, after miles of travel and hours of waiting the Commission basically said, go back and figure this out yourselves. So here we are back to square one. The Chamber supports the redevelopment project at Fisherman's Wharf because it revitalizes a blighted corner that is the gateway to Channel Islands Harbor. It also provides high quality rental housing, which is in extreme demand. Those additional housing units will also help support other retail, restaurants and service industries in the Harbor area. We encourage the two government agencies to seek a third party mediator to resolve the dispute and move the project forward. What is the future of healthcare – how will it be delivered and how will we pay for it? Will we be facing Medicare for all? Can California implement a "single-payer" system and figure out how to pay for it? What will happen to government entities who are currently strapped with funding healthcare benefits for retirees? Will the Trump administration be able to repeal the Affordable Care Act?
These questions and more will be addressed at the Oxnard Business Outlook on November 9. Healthcare costs have an impact on every single Chamber member – business or individual. The more prepared we are for our options, the better we can advocate for reasonable outcomes. Our keynote speaker for the Oxnard Business Outlook is Loren Kaye. Mr. Kaye is the president of the California Foundation for Commerce and Education. The Foundation is affiliated with the California Chamber of Commerce and serves as a “think tank” for the California business community. The Foundation is dedicated to preserving and strengthening the California business climate and private enterprise through accurate, impartial and objective research and analysis of public policy issues of interest to the California business and public policy communities. Mr. Kaye has devoted his career to developing, analyzing and implementing public policy issues in California, with a special emphasis on improving the state’s business and economic climate. Mr. Kaye was also a gubernatorial appointee to the state’s Little Hoover Commission, charged with evaluating the efficiency and effectiveness of state agencies and programs. In addition to Loren Kaye's address, he will moderate a panel of experts in healthcare:
We would like to sincerely thank our Title Sponsor, Umpqua Bank for their ongoing support of the Oxnard Business Outlook. Additional sponsors committed to date are: Lead Sponsors: St. John's Regional Medical Centers/Dignity Health, UCLA Health, Port of Hueneme, and Western States Petroleum Association Supporting Sponsors: DCH Auto Group, SoCalGas, and Ventura County Credit Union Sponsor and individual reservations can be made via the Chamber's website (www.OxnardChamber.org) or by calling the office at 805-983-6118. Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. signed legislation on October 12 mandating that small businesses provide a new protected leave of absence.
SB 63 (Jackson; D-Santa Barbara) was identified by the California Chamber of Commerce as a job killer. Also signed today was AB 168 (Eggman; D-Stockton), which bans employers from inquiring about a job applicant’s salary history. Both bills take effect on January 1, 2018. SB 63 will require employers to provide 12 weeks of baby bonding leave to employees in addition to the myriad of other leaves of absence programs California already imposes. This bill affects small employers with as few as 20 employees and applies to those employees who:
Combined with other protected leaves, the bill could result in small employers having to provide up to seven months of protected leave for the same employee. This bill will have the greatest impact on employers with 20 to 49 employees who are not already required to provide family leave under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act or the state California Family Rights Act. The bill also prohibits an employer from refusing to maintain and pay for coverage under a group health plan for an employee who takes this leave. In addition, the bill carries the threat of litigation for employers. SB 63 labels an employer’s failure to provide a requested leave as an “unlawful employment practice.” The employer is subject to a lawsuit should the employee allege that his or her employer: • Did not provide the 12 weeks of protected leave; • Failed to return the employee to the same or comparable position; • Failed to maintain benefits while the employee was out on leave; or • Took any adverse employment action against the employee for taking the leave. In addition, SB 63 will require the Department of Fair Employment and Housing, upon receiving funding from the Legislature, to create a parental leave mediation pilot program. Under the pilot program, within 60 days of receipt of a right-to-sue notice, an employer may request all parties to participate in the department’s Mediation Division Program. If the employer makes such a request, the bill would prohibit an employee from pursuing any civil action under these provisions until the mediation is complete, which would include an employee’s election not to participate in mediation. The bill would provide that the employee’s statute of limitations would be tolled during the course of the mediation, as specified. The pilot program will end on January 1, 2020. Under AB 168 employers are banned from asking about a job applicant’s salary history and from relying on salary history information as a factor in determining what salary to offer an applicant. An employer could be penalized for failing to provide a pay scale for the position upon demand. Any violation of the provisions in AB 168 carries a huge threat of costly litigation under the Labor Code Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA). CalChamber will provide information, including a November webinar, to members about how to ensure compliance with these new laws and develop appropriate policies for their businesses. Oxnard Chamber of Commerce to lead a ribbon-cutting ceremony
while students from area schools to enjoy the new indoor playground OXNARD, Calif., (October 17, 2017) --- Centerpoint Mall is set to open its new PlayTime Free Indoor Playground on Friday, October 27 at 11 a.m. To celebrate the opening, Centerpoint Mall is hosting Lazer Broadcasting for its 10th Annual live broadcast to raise funds for Children's Miracle Network from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. Centerpoint Mall is located at 2655 Saviers Rd. Joining Centerpoint Mall officials will be Nancy Lindholm, president and CEO of the Oxnard Chamber of Commerce, to lead the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Also scheduled to attend are Tim Flynn, Mayor of Oxnard; Bryan McDonald, City Councilmember of Oxnard; Alyce Bosacki, Associate Executive Director at the Oxnard Convention & Visitors Bureau; Scott Whitney, Chief of Police of Oxnard; and Andrew Salinas, Chief of Police of Port Hueneme. Representatives are also scheduled to attend from the offices of Julia Brownley, United States Congress Member, District 26; Jacqui Irwin, California State Assembly Member, District 44; and John Zaragoza, Ventura County Supervisor. “We are grateful for the support in the Oxnard community for the opening of our new indoor playground at Centerpoint Mall,” said Tony Shooshani, managing member of Shooshani Developers and owners of Centerpoint Mall. “As the retail environment continues to change, it’s important that we still maintain a connection with our core customers and the surrounding community. We feel with the opening of the new free indoor playground we can provide a safe place where kids can play and families to shop all in the center of Oxnard.” The nearly 1,000-square-feet PlayTime Indoor Playground features a highly colorful floor design with a jungle themed pattern and river-print running through it. The area is dotted with butterflies, ladybugs, dragonflies, and colorful flowers, along with rock designs and shorelines. The PlayTime Indoor playground structure is strategically positioned in the center of the mall with a parameter of play panels measuring 40 feet long and 24 1/2 feet wide. A whimsical Monkey anchors the entrance to the playground and is the Welcome Greeter and Keeper of the Rules and Regulations. The monkey measures 5 feet long by 1 foot wide by 5 feet tall. Eight fun-filled protruding animals and obstacles are strategically positioned in the free indoor playground including: - Dueling Elephants tunnel that functions as a climber and are 11 feet long by 3 feet wide by 3 feet tall. - Jeep on Dirt tunnel that functions as a climber with seats and is 6 feet long by 4 feet wide by 2 1/2 feet tall. - Giraffe tunnel that functions as a climber and is 5 feet long by 2 feet wide by 2 feet tall. - Gorilla Over Log Crawl tunnel that functions as a climber and is 4 feet long by 4 feet wide by 3 1/2 feet tall. - Rock Waterfall tunnel that functions as a ramp and climber and is 6 1/2 feet long by 5 1/4 feet wide by 3 feet tall. - Swimming Gator that functions as a climber with its head size 2 feet long by 1 foot wide by 1/2 foot tall and its body size is 2 feet long by 1/2 foot wide by 1/2 foot tall. - Beetle that functions as a climber and is 2 feet long by 2 feet wide by 1 foot tall. - Monarch Butterfly that functions as a climber and is 3 feet long by 2 feet wide by 1 foot tall. “We’re very pleased with the design of the PlayTime playground. The kids will enjoy themselves while the parents will have an opportunity to rest and enjoy a refreshing drink or delicious meal at the nearby restaurants,” added Shooshani. For a complete list of the 49 retail stores, specialty shops and dining outlets at Centerpoint Mall, please visit Facebook: facebook.com/centerpoint. About Centerpoint Mall Centerpoint Mall is a 383,000-square-foot vibrant, mixed-use shopping center with a variety of national and local retail stores located in the center of Oxnard, California. Centerpoint Mall is the City Center of regional enclosed shopping. The broad mix of tenants consistently serves the needs of the surrounding community featuring tenants of various sizes with creative, unique, and moderately priced goods. Centerpoint Mall provides free parking in its parking lots throughout the area. For additional information, please call 805-487-1142, or Like at Facebook: facebook.com/centerpoint. ### The Oxnard Chamber of Commerce supports comprehensive immigration reform that will contribute to the safety of all Americans while supporting the U.S. economy.
Border Security The federal government must allocate adequate resources to employ both technology and enforcement to secure our borders. Border security policy needs to include cooperative efforts with neighboring countries. Such efforts must incorporate data on international criminal and terrorist information. Additionally, a comprehensive approach should include support for economic development and security in countries of origin for illegal immigrants. Undocumented Immigrants currently in the U.S. The estimated 11 to 12 million undocumented immigrants currently residing in the United States are contributing to our economy. The federal government needs to establish an earned pathway to legal status program for these workers that include:
Deferred Action Programs In the absence of comprehensive immigration reform, legislative action should be passed as soon as possible to shield individuals covered under the DACA program from deportation action and provide a pathway for legalization of their status in the United States. Guest Worker Program The federal government should continue and expand the current guest worker programs to assure employers are able to fill jobs due to a lack domestic workers. Guest worker programs are also critical in some high tech sectors where sufficient qualified U.S. citizens are not able to qualify for many jobs. Guest worker programs should have clear requirements and streamlined processes for employers to be certified to participate in the program. Additionally, these programs should provide sufficient protections for certified employers / employees to allow for the employees to return to their country of origin and return to meet the needs of the industry where they are working. Approved by the Oxnard Chamber Board of Directors on September 28, 2017 The Oxnard Chamber drafted an Immigration Reform position in 2007. We sent it to then Congresswoman Lois Capps every time the topic came up in Washington, DC. Unfortunately the issue was placed on hold numerous times because other, more pressing matters surfaced. In addition, the topic was never broached during election years, which is every other year for Congress. Obviously a lot has changed in our political climate recently, so the Chamber's Business Advocacy Committee dusted off the 10-year old policy to update it. We sought and received input from agriculture, hospitality, and construction industry experts. We also weighed the impact on our economy and families with legal status issues. The revised Immigration Reform position for 2017 was adopted by the Chamber's Board of Directors on September 28. It contains four components:
Click here to read the complete, but brief, policy. We certainly hope our elected officials will consider all the impacts revising policy and enforcement efforts may have. The Oxnard Business Outlook is an annual program of the Oxnard Chamber of Commerce. Each year we look at a different segment of the economy that is integral to our business community. In the past couple of years we have focused on agriculture and tourism. In 2017 we are taking a look into the future of healthcare – how will it be delivered and how will we pay for it? Our keynote speaker for the November 9 lunch event is Loren Kaye. Mr. Kaye is the president of the California Foundation for Commerce and Education. The Foundation is affiliated with the California Chamber of Commerce and serves as a “think tank” for the California business community. The Foundation is dedicated to preserving and strengthening the California business climate and private enterprise through accurate, impartial and objective research and analysis of public policy issues of interest to the California business and public policy communities. In addition to his keynote address, Mr. Kaye will moderate a panel of experts on healthcare:
We would like to sincerely thank our Title Sponsor, Umpqua Bank for their ongoing support of the Oxnard Business Outlook. Title Sponspor:
Wage and hour changes are on the horizon once again. In 2016, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. signed SB 3, making California the first state in the nation that committed to raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour statewide. Under the bill, California’s minimum wage increases annually so it hits $15 per hour for all businesses by 2023. Large businesses with 26 or more employees began complying on January 1, 2017, and will reach $15 per hour in 2022. The increase in 2018 for large businesses is 50 cents — from the current rate of $10.50 per hour to the new rate of $11 per hour. Small businesses with 25 or fewer employees had a one-year delay; they will see their first increase on January 1, 2018, and will have until 2023 to reach the $15 per hour rate. The increase in 2018 for small businesses is from the current rate of $10 per hour to the new rate of $10.50 per hour. In the midst of all the statewide changes, various localities throughout California continue to pass their own ordinances that will affect how employees are paid. Employers should start preparing for these changes by examining all pay practices that may be affected. Minimum Wage The staggered minimum wage increases over the next several years are as follows: California employers must pay employees no less than the state minimum wage per hour for all hours worked.
When laws differ, employers must comply with the more restrictive requirement — in other words, the requirement that gives the biggest benefit to the employee. Since California’s state minimum wage is higher than the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, most employers will be required to pay that rate. As mentioned above and discussed further below, local ordinances may also come into play. The obligation to pay the state minimum wage can’t be waived by any agreement, including a collective bargaining agreement. Remember that a top priority for state enforcement agencies is to stop employers from engaging in so-called “wage theft,” which includes not paying the minimum wage for all hours worked. The minimum wage increase affects not only your nonexempt minimum wage workers, but also has other ramifications, such as exempt/nonexempt classification and posters and notice requirements, discussed below. Preparation, as always, is key. Overtime Rate The minimum wage rate change also affects overtime pay. Effective January 1, 2018, the overtime rate for minimum wage employees increases but varies depending on whether you’re a large or small business:
Classifying Employees Exempt/nonexempt classification is always a tricky issue, as employers must ensure that employees meet the salary basis test for the particular exemption claimed. For an employee to meet a “white collar” exemption from overtime (the commonly used administrative, executive or professional exemptions), California law states that the employee must earn a minimum monthly salary of no less than two times the state minimum wage for full-time employment, in addition to meeting all other legal requirements for the exemption. Effective January 1, 2018:
Future increases will also affect the salary threshold. Also, certain commissioned inside sales employees can be eligible for an overtime exemption under Wage Order 4 and Wage Order 7. Generally, the exemption applies if the employee earns more than 1.5 times the minimum wage and more than half of the employee’s compensation represents commission earnings. Employers will need to make sure that commissioned inside sales employees continue to meet this test after the January 1 minimum wage increase. Outside salespeople do not need to meet the minimum salary requirements. Misclassification is costly. Employers who are unsure whether their employees ought to be exempt or nonexempt should always check with their legal counsel. Posters and Notice Requirements The minimum wage rate change affects notice requirements for the minimum wage posting, itemized wage statements and wage notices. First, all California employers must post the state’s official Minimum Wage Order (MW-2017) in a conspicuous location frequented by employees. The official notice includes the increase for both 2017 and 2018. Second, California employers must provide each employee with an itemized statement, in writing, at the time wages are paid (Labor Code Section 226). Among other mandatory information, the itemized wage statement must include all applicable hourly rates in effect during the pay period and the corresponding number of hours the employee worked at each hourly rate. Itemized wage statements will need to reflect any increased wages. Finally, employers in California must provide nonexempt employees with a wage notice pursuant to Labor Code Section 2810.5. The written notice must be provided at the time of hire and again within seven calendar days after any information in the notice is changed. Among other things, employers are required to notify nonexempt employees, in writing, when there is any change to:
NOTE: If an employee’s rate of pay will increase on January 1, 2018, due to the state minimum wage increase, the employee must receive notice from his/her employer by January 7, 2018. However, if the employer has reflected the change on a timely itemized wage statement and the statement meets all legal requirements, the separate wage notice is not required. Meals and Lodging Most of California’s Wage Orders allow employers to credit meals and lodging furnished by the employer toward the employer’s minimum wage obligation (Section 10 of the Wage Orders). The 2018 credit amounts for meals and lodging are listed on the official MW-2017. Piece-Rate Employees The minimum wage increase also affects piece-rate employees. Piece-rate workers must receive at least the minimum wage for each hour worked. A law that took effect in 2016 requires payment of rest and recovery periods or other non-productive time at specified hourly rates. Employers with piece-rate compensation systems need to ensure they are complying with the new minimum wage standard. Draws Against Commissions A commissioned employee may receive a sum of money that is intended as an advance, draw or guarantee against the employee’s expected commission earnings. In California, employers must pay these sums at least twice per month. If an employee receives a draw against commissions to be earned at a future date, the “draw” must be equal to at least the minimum wage and overtime due to the employee for each pay period (unless the employee is exempt). Employers with commissioned employees should make certain that any draw against future commissions uses the new minimum wage rate as a basis. Tools or Equipment When an employer requires that employees use certain tools or equipment, or when the tools or equipment are necessary for an employee to perform the job, the employer must provide and maintain the tools or equipment. There is an exception, however, for employees whose wages are at least two times the minimum wage; they can be required to provide and maintain their own hand tools and equipment customarily required by the trade or craft in which they work. If you require employees to provide and maintain their own hand tools and equipment, make sure that the employees earn at least two times the minimum wage rate in effect. Subminimum Wage There is no distinction between adults and minors when paying the minimum wage. A limited exception exists for “learners,” but that exception does not depend on a person’s age. “Learners” are employees who have no previous similar or related experience in the occupation. California’s Wage Orders permit you to pay learners 85 percent of the minimum wage, rounded to the nearest nickel. State law allows the subminimum wage to be paid for only the first 160 hours of work, after which the employee must be paid at least minimum wage. The subminimum wage rate will increase to $9.35 per hour effective January 1, 2018, for employers with 26 or more employees. It will increase to $8.93 per hour for employers with 25 or fewer employees. Federal and state laws provide different definitions of learners. California employers must be careful to comply with both federal and state subminimum wage requirements and give employees the benefit of whichever law is more favorable to the employees. If you use the “learner” rate, ensure that you follow the strict guidelines for when you can pay the lower rate and use the appropriate rate calculation beginning January 1. Keep accurate records of time worked and do not pay the subminimum wage after the employee reaches 160 hours of work. Local Minimum Wage Ordinances Keep in mind that some cities and counties in California adopted their own local minimum wage rates that may exceed the state rate. This is part of a growing trend in which several cities are enacting local ordinances. If you’re covered by a local ordinance with a higher minimum wage rate, you will have to pay that rate to employees. In addition, if you are covered by a local minimum wage ordinance, you must make sure to post the current local ordinance poster. Best Practices for California Employers
On Saturday, October 28th, The Oxnard Downtown Improvement District will present “Halloween Haunt in the Park.” The kid-friendly thrills occur all evening from 4-7:00pm at Plaza Park in Downtown Oxnard.
Be sure to register for the free Costume Contest. Everyone wearing a costume can enter to win great prizes. Contests start at 5:30pm starting with the youngest group: 3 and under, 4-12, and 13 and above. From 4-7:00pm children can hit up the Trick-or-Treat Village. Booths created by local non-profits and businesses await trick-or-treaters with games, tricks and goodies to be gained. Additionally, there will be free activities including bounce houses, face painting, games, hands-on crafts for the kids, Halloween themed movie clips and music, and more. There is much to do at Downtown Oxnard Halloween Haunt in the Park and Costume Contest. Come out for the games and crafts, participate in the Costume Contest, win great prizes, and go "door-to-door" for the "trick-or-treating" experience within the safety of the caring community of downtown Oxnard. As I was surveying all the local progress to our economy while in one of Aspen Helicopters’ aircrafts on a recent Oxnard Chamber business visit, I couldn’t help feeling that this must be what it’s like to be a drone. At approximately 1,500 feet above the ground, we had an excellent aerial view of Oxnard’s impressive business growth and beautiful landscapes. Drones, officially called an Unmanned Aircraft System or a “UAS”, came onto the scene a few years ago rather quickly. You can purchase a drone online or in a store for as low as $49.99 or spend thousands of dollars with sophisticated added capabilities ranging from cameras to high definition live video. What you may not know is that there are rules, regulations and legislation being implemented just as fast as the newest drone models hits the market. According to the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Safety Briefing (May/June 2017), the following are guidelines that an owner of a UAS needs to adhere to even if you are flying your drone as a hobbyist:
Last year, the FAA released its Small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) regulations with the new Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 107. New owners of a drone should check the website at www.faa.gov/uas before launch. This will educate drone operators on whether they need a Remote Pilot certificate or not. For the legislative cycle that ended September 15, 2017, there was one additional drone-related bill passed by the legislature. AB 527 (Caballero) will make modest revisions to existing law regarding licensure requirements for those who operate pest control aircraft. If Governor Brown signs AB 527 by October 15, any person operating an unmanned aircraft for pest control will need to be certified to do so by the California Department of Health. It will require additional training and expertise than is currently mandated. If you are using a drone for pleasure or business-related activities, make sure you follow all UAS requirements to avoid fines and penalties that can add up to more than the cost of the new toy. What can we expect to see in the healthcare arena for California and the US? The field is rapidly changing with nationwide repeal-and-replace efforts and a push for a "single payer" system in our state. Loren Kaye will be the keynote speaker on healthcare for the 2017 Oxnard Business Outlook. Mr. Kaye was appointed president of the California Foundation for Commerce and Education in January 2006. Loren has devoted his career to developing, analyzing and implementing public policy issues in California, with a special emphasis on improving the state’s business and economic climate. Mr. Kaye was a gubernatorial appointee to the state’s Little Hoover Commission, charged with evaluating the efficiency and effectiveness of state agencies and programs. He served in senior policy positions for Governors Pete Wilson and George Deukmejian, including Cabinet Secretary to the Governor and Undersecretary of the California Trade and Commerce Agency. Loren Kaye has represented numerous private sector interests, managing issues that affect specific business sectors to promote an improved business climate or to resist further regulation or costs on business. He lives in Sacramento with his wife and daughter. The California Foundation for Commerce and Education is affiliated with the California Chamber of Commerce and serves as a “think tank” for the California business community. The Foundation is dedicated to preserving and strengthening the California business climate and private enterprise through accurate, impartial and objective research and analysis of public policy issues of interest to the California business and public policy communities. The Oxnard Business Outlook will be held at the Tower Club on November 9 from 11:30 to 1:30. Umpqua Bank has stepped up once again as the Title Sponsor for the event. Other sponsorship opportunities are still available. Individual reservations can be made via the Chamber's website or by calling the office at 805-983-6118. Title Sponsor
The Western Association of Chamber Executives (WACE) launched a survey for the Oxnard Chamber this morning. Email messages with a link to the brief survey were sent to the main contact person on file for each member. The survey should take no more than seven minutes to complete and the results will provide the Chamber Board with much direction when they hold their annual planning session next month. WACE is a repository of a lot of data about local chambers of commerce. They will take our survey results and compare them to the aggregate of data from chambers throughout the western United States. The survey also gives the Oxnard Board of Directors a good indication of how our Chamber is performing in certain key competencies. Please complete the brief survey in a timely manner. Your feedback is important to us! Thank you!! A 2014 California Chamber of Commerce job creator bill is being credited with encouraging some film and television productions to remain in or return to the state in a recent report from the California Film Commission.
The film commission report, released September 25, says the expanded Film and Television Tax Credit Program 2.0 led to a sustained 12% increase in hours worked in state, the relocation of a growing number of established TV series to California from out of state, and more filming outside the greater Los Angeles zone. Program 2.0 resulted from the 2014 job creator AB 1839 (Gatto; D-Glendale; Chapter 413). California GainsIn the two years of the expanded program, according to the film commission report, California has gained 38 feature film projects and 50 TV projects—eight pilots, two movies of the week, 27 TV series, one mini-series and 12 TV series relocating to California. Tax credit projects are projected to spend $28 million across 10 counties outside of Los Angeles County, the report says. All the projects are generating an estimated $3.7 billion in direct spending to the state, including $1.4 billion in below-the-line wages (for production workers and the like). The 12 TV series relocating to California after previously receiving tax credits in other states are on track to spend more than $891 million in California, according to the film commission report. Increased Incentives Taking effect in January 2015, the five-year Program 2.0 more than tripled the size of California film and TV production incentives—from $100 million a year to $330 million a year through the 2019–2020 fiscal year. Program 2.0 allows productions previously excluded from seeking the credits to become eligible for the funding. The newly eligible projects included big-budget feature films costing $75 million or more, TV pilots and one-hour series for any distribution outlet. While eligibility is expanded, the program caps the maximum credit any one project can receive. The report notes that each big-budget feature film employs thousands of workers and typically uses more than a thousand support businesses. Moreover, a big-budget film also may require the use of several large sound stages to build elaborate sets. To encourage filming throughout the state, the program offers an additional 5% tax credit to productions that shoot outside the 30-mile zone around Los Angeles or have qualified expenditures for music scoring or track recording. Local Economic Gains The report notes that when productions film on location outside the Los Angeles area, they typically spend $50,000–$100,000 per day in the local region. The spending benefits many small businesses, including grocers, hardware stores, gas stations, hotels and other retail businesses, as well as local hires for services such as catering and construction work. Local governments gain from payments made to local police and fire departments, plus revenue from local permit fees. Previous Job Creator Bills Earlier legislation helping contribute to the return of film and television productions to California includes two 2012 CalChamber job creator bills. Both AB 2026 (Fuentes; D-Los Angeles; Chapter 841) and SB 1197 (R. Calderon; D-Montebello; Chapter 840) helped protect jobs in the film industry by extending the film tax credit for two years, until July 1, 2017. More Information For more information, see the Progress Report on film and television tax credit programs on the California Film Commission website, www.film.ca.gov. |