April 16, 2024 | CRA Newsletter: Legislative, Political, Regulatory, Local, Federal & Other Updates | |
Message from the President | | |
Last week, CRA was proud to secure some big wins for our members around an issue I know is important - Retail Theft. The California Retail Theft Reduction Act bill package flew out of Assembly Public Safety committee and now heads to the Assembly Appropriations committee. This package of bills includes: a NEW felony for repeat offenders; strengthens the ability to aggregate to the $950 threshold; ELIMINATES the sunset for the ORC Taskforce and the 490.4 ORC statue; brings back cross jurisdictional prosecution for local DAs; brings back sentencing enhancements for destruction of property; adds cargo and railroad theft to the ORC statue; and establishes a new "retail theft restraining order".
In addition to the work CRA is doing on retail theft, we are also hyper focused on our PAGA Reform efforts. Thank you to CRA's PAGA Reform committee for your partnership as we work collaboratively on language to provide relief to businesses throughout California who are targeted by these class action lawsuits. If you are interested in supporting CRA's efforts and joining the PAGA committee, please reach out.
I also want to remind members that if you are a "producer", that you need to register with the PRO for SB 54 compliance. CAA's registration form is accessible here. Registering with the PRO is important, not only for compliance, but also to ensure the PRO has the most accurate number of producers possible to help with rate setting and other crucial pieces of implementing the new packaging EPR. As a reminder, I am on the SB 54 Advisory Board AND on the PRO Advisory Board providing Cal Retail members a crucial voice in the regulatory process. Please reach out with any questions, concerns, comments or feedback as the formal rulemaking is underway. The deadline for official comments to be entered into the record has been extended and is now May 8.
The next few weeks will feel like a sprint as we approach California's budget deadline (June 15th) and our Legislative Summer Recess (July 4 - August 5). Lots of information will be coming your way. As always, if you have any questions or need information about what is happening in California, please do not hesitate to reach out to anyone on the CRA team.
Rachel
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In CRA's April 2024 Newsletter Issue:
- Legislative Advocacy and Political Updates
- Regulatory Advocacy Updates
- Federal and Local Advocacy Updates
- CA Community Pharmacy Coalition Updates
- Upcoming Events
- Other Outreach and Activities
- CRA In The News
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2024 Legislative Advocacy & Political Updates | | |
Regulatory Advocacy Updates | | |
Federal and Local Advocacy Updates | | |
HELP CRA PUSH FOR FEDERAL ORC LEGISLATION
CRA is supporting the National Retail Federation in their push to advance the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA) in Congress this year. We encourage all CRA members to contact the office of Rep. Tom McClintock directly. As a member of the House Judiciary Committee, his support is critical to the advancement of CORCA. Here’s what you can do;
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Utilize the provided letter template below and contact list as resources to help shape your message. This template also includes news articles on recent ORC incidents and the contact list features up-to-date data on retail locations and jobs within their congressional district, allowing for further customization of the letters.
Letter Template
Key Staff Contact List
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Los Angeles County Fair Workweek Ordinance Update
Los Angeles County released a draft of their version of the LA County Fair Workweek Ordinance ahead of their April 9 County Board of Supervisors meeting. View that meeting agenda here and a copy of the ordinance here.
The CRA team is working, on behalf of our members, to make the two ordinances as identical as possible, which it appears is the case. However, there is one big difference: the County ordinance does not require an employee to provide written notice nor an opportunity to cure before an employee files litigation or an administrative complaint. Please reach out to Ryan with questions.
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City of Los Angeles Plastics Reduction Program
The City of Los Angeles' is soliciting comments on the Plastics Reduction Draft Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR), pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The City is seeking to implement a citywide Comprehensive Plastics Reduction Program. The Draft PEIR analyzes and discloses the potential environmental effects of the proposed Program, identifies ways to reduce significant environmental effects and identifies feasible alternatives to avoid or minimize significant environmental effects. Written comments and input to the City of LA will be accepted throughout a 45-day public review period, ending at 5:00 p.m. PST on April 26, 2024. Get more information here.
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California Community Pharmacy Coalition Updates | | |
Legislative Updates
The CRA team met with state legislators/stakeholders, submitted advocacy letters and testified on the following bills:
The CRA team also confirmed that AB 2445 (Wallis) is being dropped by the author and no longer on our list of legislative concerns.
CCPC's next meeting is scheduled for this Friday, April 19 at 11:00 A.M. PST. View meeting info here.
Regulatory Updates
The CRA team attended the Board of Pharmacy's latest Licensing, Enforcement and Compounding Committee meetings and gave public comment on a number of issues including Central Fill and Mail Order/PIC Licensure. Due to a request by a majority of BoP Board members to receive more presentations and info on both issues, the Board did not take action on Central Fill and Mail Order during the meeting and punted them to a future meeting.
Next up, the BoP will have a full meeting of the board on April 24 and 25. View the meeting materials including agenda and access options here.
Medi-Cal Rx Updates
For information about reinstatement plans for Phases II, III and IV visit the Medi-Cal Rx Education & Outreach page and select the “Reinstatement” tab. Information regarding New Resources for Reinstatement Education and Support can also be found here.
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NRF Protect
Tuesday, June 4 - Thursday, June 6
Long Beach, CA
SPECIAL OFFER for NRF PROTECT!
California Retailers Association members will always receive the NRF Member rate when registering for NRF PROTECT using NRF's special offer code!
With a focus on solving complex security challenges like organized retail crime, data breaches, crisis management and e-commerce fraud, NRF PROTECT is where you will find the experts and insights to help mitigate risks, safeguard your assets and reduce potential loss. Explore session topics and discover opportunities to dive further into certain topics with NRF's expanded number of featured sessions focusing on role-specific and cross-functional engagement during moderated group table talks and special add-on programs during the registration process.
California Retailers Association promo code: CRASAVE
Steps to Register:
- Enter company credentials
- Select All-Access Pass
- Fill in your information
- Select any additional add-on experiences you would like to add
- Enter Unique Promo code CRASAVE. If you are not already a member of NRF, once the code is entered you will see the price drop to the member rate.
- Complete payment
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Contact registration@nrf.com for any registration related questions
Learn more at https://nrfprotect.nrf.com/
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CRA Annual Meeting
Sunday, September 15 - Tuesday, September 17
Napa, CA
Rooms must be booked by August 16 to secure discounted group rate
The California Retailers Association will host this year's Annual Membership Meeting on Sunday, September 15 through Tuesday, September 17 at the Napa Marriott. CRA members will hear from industry leaders and policymakers on a variety of issues impacting the retail industry including EPR, Retail Theft, Labor & Employment Issues, PAGA Reform, Artificial Intelligence and more. We will also have the latest Legislative, Regulatory and Political Updates. Be sure to book your room by Friday, August 16, to secure our discounted group rate. Additional details including sponsorship opportunities, special guests and other programming will be released soon.
Cost to attend: $375 members / $450 nonmember rate
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The booking link for CRA's group rate will be provided following payment of event registration | |
Cal Retailers' Annual Meeting will include the
Second Annual California Retail Law Summit
Tuesday, September 16
Napa, CA
The California Retailers Association and National Retail Federation is hosting the second annual California Retail Law Summit on Monday, September 16 at the Napa Marriott. CRA and NRF members as well as nonmembers will gather with legal experts to discuss and deep dive on a variety of issues impacting the retail industry in California including litigation threats, privacy, labor and employment matters, Cal/OSHA and more. Attendees will also receive the latest exclusive updates on California’s legislative and regulatory environment. Details including registration, sponsorship opportunities and programming will be released soon.
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Other Outreach and Activities | | |
CRA President Speaks at Capitol Weekly
Conference on Crime
CRA President Rachel Michelin spoke at Capitol Weekly's Crime Conference, which included Senators Dave Cortese and Kelly Seyarto; Assemblymembers Rick Chavez Zbur (Chair of the Select Committee on Retail Theft) and Kevin McCarty (Chair of Public Safety Committee); San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins; Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper; Sacramento Bee's Lindsey Holden; KCRA 3's Ashley Zavala; San Francisco Chronicle's Emily Hoeven; Eric Brown from the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom; Marc Beaart from the Office of Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon; Cristine Soto DeBerry with the Prosecutors Alliance of California; Gretchen Burns Bergman with Parents for Addiction Treatment & Healing; Diane Goldstein with Law Enforcement Action Partnership; Lenore Anderson with Alliance for Safety and Justice. The conference hosted a series of discussions surrounding “California’s complex approach to criminal justice policy" including a panel focused on Retail Theft, which Michelin participated in.
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San Francisco Chamber of Commerce
CRA President Michelin addressed the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce delegation during their annual Visit Sacramento event, which included meetings with state legislators. Michelin discussed efforts related to retail theft and organized retail crime and answered questions on how CRA and SF Chamber can work collaboratively on issues facing retail/business in San Francisco. Read more.
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Additional CRA team Outreach and Activities
Michelin spoke on a panel at the Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute's (AHRI) State Summit in Sacramento. The panel focused on CA's new rules passed last year via SB 253 (Wiener) and SB 261 (Stern) that require companies to divulge information about their contributions to climate change and their risks to global warming.
Michelin attended a Food Industry Executive Association (FIAE) meeting in Las Vegas to meet with colleagues and discuss issues related to plastic bag bans, AI, minimum wage and other issues facing the grocery industry throughout the country.
Michelin attended the Women in California Politics Women's History Month celebration event at the Women in Politics Museum.
CRA's Director of Government Affairs Ryan Allain spoke with the West Sacramento and Beverly Hills Chambers of Commerce and the San Francisco District Attorney's Office regarding Retail Theft.
The CRA team received word from the Sacramento Business Journal that Michelin will be among the honorees of the Journal's annual Women Who Mean Business Awards.
Michelin attended private events for Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire and his leadership team, which included Senator Aisha Wahab, Chair of the Senate Public Safety Committee, and Assemblymember Blanca Pacheco, Chair of the Assembly Rules Committee.
CRA President Michelin spoke at the California Restaurants Association Board meeting.
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