As California businesses look to emerge from the COVID-19 economic downturn, they continue to face a host of operating regulations that a new bill, AB 2, seeks to streamline in an effort to ease the road to recovery.
The reform measure will help advance the state’s reopening process, Assemblyman Vince Fong, R-Bakersfield, the bill’s sponsor, told the Northern California Record by email.
“When we survey the business community, they overwhelmingly tell us that the best way to help them during the pandemic is to remove or reform burdensome California regulations and policies,” Fong said. “AB 2 will reduce the onerous burdens imposed on businesses by duplicative, outdated regulations that are not only hard to follow, but are often times unnecessary by today’s standards.
“This will help businesses get employees rehired, get goods and services back on the market, and provide more clarity for how to follow agency regulations.”
Fong added that AB 2 also will require legislative review of all proposed major regulations – defined as a cost impact of $50 million or more – that could significantly hamper the ability of a business to succeed.
“Amidst the prolonged shutdowns this past year, businesses had to navigate multiple executive orders and constantly changing regulations, while still trying to keep employees on payroll and serving their communities,” Fong said. “AB 2 will make it easier for these businesses to stay up-to-date on relevant regulations and will help chart a less onerous path to recovery.”
AB 2, which Fong introduced in December, has been referred to the Assembly Committee on Accountability and Administrative Review and is pending a hearing date.
The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) also has announced its support for the measure.
“One of the top priorities for California right now is to re-open our economy safely and efficiently,” Fong said.
“If government truly wants to help the many Californians who are unemployed due to the pandemic, they need to remove the barriers that prevent businesses from re-hiring employees quickly. California businesses are at a disadvantage because they operate in the worst business climate in the nation. With AB 2, we recognize their real need and seek to address the obstacles that Sacramento has the power to remove in order to allow our business community to rise again.”