CRA Member Newsletter
February 7, 2023 | CRA Newsletter: Legislative, Political, Regulatory & Other Updates
Message from the President

We are off and running for the 2023 Legislative session! Last week CRA hosted member companies along with over 25 state legislators as well as senior leaders in the Newsom Administration for our Advocacy Days. It was a little different than past years, since legislators came to us, but we had great discussions on key issues CRA will be advocating for over the next year.

Last week we hosted our “Retail Champion of the Year” awards at our Legislative Reception and honored over 30 legislators as our “Friend of Retail”. It was a great few days and allowed CRA to proactively share the impact our members have on California’s workforce and economy. We will follow up with “micro” advocacy days throughout the legislative session focused on specific topics (PAGA reform, labor issues, environmental responsibility, etc.). I encourage member companies to engage in these important opportunities to tell the retail story in California.

Following our Advocacy Days the CRA board of directors met and set an aggressive agenda for 2023. I will be sharing exciting new initiatives and proposals that will increase CRA’s visibility and allow members of the state legislature to see how retail can thrive in environments that are not as heavily regulated as we are in California. Stay tuned to learn how your company can be part of this exciting new initiative.

As we look to the 2023 legislative session CRA will be sponsoring two bills – one to try and amend Proposition 47 to help curtail the impact of retail theft while ensuring individuals seek treatment for mental health issues or drug addiction through diversion programs and a “test and treat” bill to allow community pharmacies to not only test for certain sicknesses, but provide treatment as well. We are also monitoring a potential receipts bill, which would make the default an electronic receipt and a paper receipt only upon request, legislation on greenhouse gas emissions, a moratorium on warehouses, possible statewide predictive scheduling, additional paid sick leave and bereavement, a possible tax on pet food, a port container tax and there will be many more. The deadline to introduce bills is February 17th – after that date we will share all the bills CRA will be engaging on for our members. I encourage members to engage in a committee or work group and engage subject matter experts. We need your help as we strategize how to defeat, amend or in some cases support important bills making their way through the legislative process.

As always, 2023 will be busy, but I am optimistic we can be successful with our legislative priorities and activities. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me directly if you have any questions, concerns or if we can be helpful to you and your teams in California.

Best,

Rachel

In this Issue:
  • Legislative
  • Political Updates
  • Regulatory Updates
  • Chain Drug Updates
  • CRA Outreach, Activities & Other Updates
  • CRA In The News
  • Member News
  • Call for Committee Sign Ups
  • CRA Member Portal
Legislative Updates
Political Updates
Regulatory Updates
Chain Drug Updates
Thank you to our Chain Drug committee members for meeting with us in-person in Sacramento last week during CRA's Advocacy Days event. We discussed legislative and regulatory priorities for the new year and met with the California State Board of Pharmacy. There were several takeaways from the meeting including a new branding and public affairs campaign the CRA team will be launching this year. Stay tuned. Additional committee updates are below.
CRA Outreach, Activities & Other Updates
Staff Promotions


Congratulations to Ryan Allain who was promoted to
Director of Government Affairs for the CRA team!
Advocacy Days Recap

Thank you to all those who participated in CRA's 2023 Advocacy Days, which were held over the course of two days in Sacramento. Our members had the opportunity to meet with policy makers and representatives from the Administration to discuss issues such as Privacy, PAGA, Goods Movement, Retail Theft/ORC, Environmental Issues, Labor and Workforce Development. The event included a series of in-depth educational sessions focused on the latest issues impacting California's retail industry- a driving force for the state economy, soon to be the fourth largest in the world. CRA met with Christy Bouma, Governor Gavin Newsom's Legislative Secretary and Dee Dee Meyers, Senior Advisor to the Governor and Director of the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development, as well as dozens of legislators from both the Senate and Assembly. The conversations were productive and included a lot of helpful insight and feedback between our member companies and elected representatives ahead of the bill introduction deadline, which is February 17. The CRA team is already planning followup advocacy meetings throughout this year. Stay tuned for more information.
Congratulations to CRA's 2023 Retail Champions and Friends of Retail Honorees

The California Retailers Association's Board of Directors and member companies also hosted a reception last week honoring legislators who have made a positive impact on California's retail industry. The event was packed! Congratulations to our 2023 Retail Champions Senators Anna Caballero and Brian Jones and Assemblymembers Blanca Rubio and Vince Fong. We also presented certificates to CRA's 2023 Friends of Retail. Thank you to the following legislators who showed a willingness to work with the retail industry during the last legislative session:

Senators: Brian Dahle, Bill Dodd, Steve Glazer, Shannon Grove, Melissa Hurtado, Janet Nguyen, Rosolia Ochoa Bogh, Kelly Seyarto, Nancy Skinner and Scott Wilk.

Assemblymembes: Ceclia Aguiar-Curry, Dr. JoaquinArambula, Marc Berman, Lisa Calderon, Sabrina Cervantes, Phillip Chen, Megan Dahle, Laurie Davies, Heath Flora, James Gallagher, Mike Gipson, Timothy Grayson, Tom Lackey, Brian Maienschein, Devon Mathis, Al Muratsuchi, Jim Patterson, Cottie Petrie-Norris, Sharon Quirk-Silva, James Ramos, Freddie Rodriguez, Carlos Villapudua, Marie Waldron and Lori Wilson.
Fresno Retail Theft Summit

CRA co-hosted a Retail Theft Summit in the Central Valley with Fresno City Councilmember Mike Karbassi and the Fresno Chamber of Commerce. CRA is proud to partner and collaborate with state and local leadership in working towards solutions to addressing organized retail crime and retail theft.
CRA In The News
In Case You Missed It...

CRA News
Cal Retailers Announces 2023 Board of Directors
California Retailers Association

State Budget
California Retailers Association Releases Statement in Response to Governor Newsom’s 2023-2024 State Budget Proposal
California Retailers Association

Gov. Newsom Unveils $297 Billion Budget Proposal With $22.5 Billion Deficit
California Globe

Retail Theft/ORC
California bill aims to protect retail businesses and the public amid spike in smash-and-grab thefts
ABC 7 Los Angeles

‘Sick and tired’: Karbassi rallies shop owners, law enforcement over millions in brazen retail thefts
 
Fresno holds Retail Theft Summit ahead of holidays
ABC 30 Fresno
 
"Retail Theft Summit" set to talk strategy on how to tackle theft across Fresno
KMPH Fox 26 News

Big Lots Just Announced 'An Accelerated Number of Closures'
CBS Sacramento
Additional coverage:

Retail theft on rise as holiday shopping season picks up
KNX News 97.1 FM, Audacy Los Angeles
 
Target Attributes $400M Loss to Organized Retail Crime
Newsmax

Major retail brands threaten to close stores over rampant retail theft
KTVU Fox 2
Additional coverage:

Supply Chain
Businesses face more supply chain issues as West Coast port negotiations continue into new year
Northern CA Record

Theft and supply chain issues could affect Black Friday shopping
KTXL-TV Fox 40 News Sacramento

Prop. 12 (Pork)
Prop 12 Enforcement Waits for SCOTUS
Progressive Farmer

Implementation of California Proposition 12 Delayed, NPPC Reports
Pork Business
 
Prop 12 implementation expected to be delayed until July 1, 2023
Feedstuffs.com

Predictive Scheduling
LA City Council passes ordinance providing schedule stability for retail workers
Daily Bruin
 
LA Gives Retail Workers More Scheduling Control
INSTORE Magazine
 
LA City Council considers ordinance to add protections for 70K retail workers – Daily News
Los Angeles Daily News
 
LA Council Approves Fair Work Week Ordinance Aimed at Helping Retail Workers
MyNewsLA.com
 
LA's 'Fair Work Week' ordinance passes first City Council vote 
CBS Los Angeles

LA Council Approves Fair Work Week Ordinance Aimed to Help Retail Workers
KFI AM 640
 
Los Angeles Moves to Implement Stricter Policies on Retail Employers 
The Epoch Times

Other
Permitting and red tape are major obstacles for small-business owners
Sacramento Business Journal

Retail industry legislation and policies to watch in 2023
Modern Retail

Think those bags are recyclable? California says think again
KSBY 6 NBC-San Luis Obispo
Additional coverage:
Member News
Commercial and Industrial Fans Regulatory Update

On November 16, 2022, the California Energy Commission (CEC) adopted a new standard for commercial and industrial (C&I) fans under the California Appliance Efficiency Regulations (Title 20). Title 20 sets minimum efficiency requirements for energy and water consumption in appliances. It is estimated that this standard will result in significant energy savings in California - about 1,755 gigawatt-hours per year according to a report by the CEC. This is equivalent to the electricity used by 242,000 homes in a year!

Under this new standard, manufacturers of C&I fans are required to test, mark and certify their products to the CEC’s Modernized Appliance Efficiency Database System (MAEDbS). However, everyone has a role to play in the compliance process – not just manufacturers. California retailers of C&I fans should verify the products they sell and/or purchase for their retail locations or commercial/industrial facilities are Title 20 compliant by confirming that the model number is listed in the MAEDbS. Manufacturers, retailers, distributors and installers will be required to comply starting in the fall of 2023.

Fortunately, Energy Code Ace has resources available to support you in the compliance process. The MAEDbS 101 fact sheet can show you how to navigate the database and ensure the products you are offering for sale are Title 20 compliant. For more resources on Title 20, the compliance process and more, visit Energy Code Ace or email title20@energycodeace.com.
Calling All CRA Members:
Committees and List Serves Review
We are updating CRA’s committees and list-servs for 2023. Those of you who have signed up for existing committees in the past, we will follow up under a separate email to confirm your participation for 2023. These groups are an opportunity for you to receive updates on CRA’s activities with respect to key legislation and other actions in areas of importance to your company and also to provide input on CRA policy positions. We encourage your technical experts and others to join subject-matter committees in line with their expertise. 

The following are CRA’s policy committees for 2023. 
  • Campaign
  • Chain Drug (new name coming soon)
  • Legislative Committee (*one representative per member)
  • Labor and Workforce Development
  • Environmental Responsibility
  • Online Marketplace
  • Privacy
  • Retail Theft
  • Supply Chain/Goods Movement
 
In addition, CRA operates list-serves for particular issues important to retailers. Those include:
  • Alcoholic Beverage
  • CalOSHA
  • COVID-19
  • Energy
  • Food & Grocery
  • Healthcare
  • Homelessness
  • Prop. 65/Green Chemistry
  • Retail Crime
  • Tax Issues

If you have any questions or need additional information please reach out to Ryan at ryan@calretailers.com.
CRA Member Portal
CRA members get access to CRA's exclusive online member portal, which contains coalition letters, floor alerts, regulatory comments and testimony that California Retailers Association authored or signed on to during previous and current Legislative sessions. The portal also contains newsletter, news alert archives, advocacy materials and important association governance documents for your reference. If you have not yet received your login credentials and access instructions please email cra@calretailers.com. We are also available to answer any questions you may have regarding portal navigation.