January 31, 2024 | CRA Newsletter: Legislative, Political, Regulatory, Local & Other Updates | |
Message from the President | | |
Happy New Year! We are off to a fast and productive start to 2024. The California State Legislature is back in session and focusing on a number of critical issues facing retailers in the state. Retail Theft/ORC is certainly at the top of the list.
In addition, CRA is actively working to help bring much needed relief through PAGA (Private Attorney Generals Act) reform and I am very appreciative of the members who have contributed to the public affairs campaign. If you are interested in being part of the groups who will direct CRA’s policy related to PAGA, please reach out so we can discuss engagement in the legislative process through the industry-wide public affairs campaign.
Other important issues we are looking at include artificial intelligence, environmental sustainability including new EPR programs, labor issues and how the state will close a pretty significant budget deficit – all while dancing around a very active election year.
As you can tell – there is a lot going on, so I encourage you and your teams to sign up for our list serves and work groups, so you get all of the information we share with our members.
Next week I am thrilled to be joined by over 40 CRA members as we meet with over 80 members of the State Legislature and as we recognize Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas as our “Retail Champion of the Year.” Cal Retailers' Advocacy Days provides retailers the opportunity to share all the great things the industry does throughout California and advocate on issues important to the industry. It is a jam-packed two days, but well worth it as we continue to increase the CRA brand in the halls of the State Capitol.
Later this week I am excited to join the FIRST meeting of the SB 54 Advisory committee. At this meeting I will have the opportunity to meet the other members, we will elect a chair and start laying out what we will do as an advisory committee. I am sure this will be the first of many very lively meetings.
Finally, plans are already made for CRA’s 2024 Annual Meeting in Napa, California. I hope you will join us on Monday, September 16th and Tuesday, September 17th. More details to follow.
As the deadline for bill introduction looms, please do not hesitate to reach out to me or anyone on the CRA team if you have any questions, concerns or suggestions. We welcome your input and look forward to a productive 2024!
Rachel
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Special CRA Newsletter Feature: Retail Theft Podcast Episode by Assemblymember Rick Zbur
Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur, Chair of the Assembly Select Committee on Retail Theft, is featured in a podcast episode focused on Retail Theft. The episode is part of the "Look West: How California is Leading the Nation" podcast series, which provides a personal view of the California leaders in the State Assembly and their unique perspective on different issues affecting California.
Listen on Spotify
Listen on Apple Podcast
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In CRA's January 2024 Newsletter Issue:
- Legislative Advocacy Updates
- Regulatory Advocacy Updates
- Federal and Local Advocacy Updates
- CA Community Pharmacy Coalition Updates
- Upcoming Events
- Other Outreach and Activities
- 2023 End of Year Report
- Member News
- CRA In The News
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2024 Legislative Advocacy Updates | | |
Regulatory Advocacy Updates | | |
Federal and Local Advocacy Updates | | |
Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act
CRA joined state retail associations urging Congress to immediately enact pro-growth H.R. 7024, the “Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act", which will restore three tax policies vital to workers and America’s future:
- immediate expensing of domestic R&D expenses;
- enhanced interest deductibility;
- and 100% accelerated depreciation.
Read the letter here.
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Alliance for Economic Fairness Update
The CRA team attended the first Alliance for Economic Fairness meeting of the new year for updates on the effort to stop local minimum wage ordinances including the renewed push from proponents of the $30 wage ordinance in Los Angeles. The Alliance is currently focused on a grassroots advocacy campaign to ensure the Los Angeles City Council hears the voices of coalition partners in opposition to their measure. Advocacy efforts include:
- The LA City Council has hired Berkeley Economics Advising and Research (BEAR) to conduct an economic impact analysis of the measure. BEAR will be reaching out to local businesses to gain input on the potential impact.
- Media prep for coalition interview requests related to BEAR.
- Gathering of selfie style opposition video testimonials - especially from small businesses opposing the LA minimum wage ordinance
- Opposition letters
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California Community Pharmacy Coalition Updates | | |
Legislative Updates
PrEP
Lawmakers passed a bill that CCPC supports, which removes barriers for pharmacists to distribute PrEP, a preventative HIV medication, to patients without a prescription. The bill’s author, San Francisco Democrat Sen. Scott Wiener, called it an “essential part of any strategy” to prevent 4,000 HIV infections a year in California. The measure builds on a 2019 law, increasing the supply amount from 60 to 90 days, and requiring health plans to cover related pharmacist services when furnishing the medication. It now heads to the governor’s desk.
Remote Processing
Additionally, UFCW sent an email notice to legislative offices regarding remote processing and their opposition to the Board of Pharmacy's legislative proposal. In the email, Jassy Grewal wrote to legislative staff to let them know that "UFCW will be opposing the measure due to concerns related to giving the Board of Pharmacy open regulatory authority to adopt remote processing provisions with limited safeguards, concerns related to HIPAA compliance and patient safety, lack of enforcement capacity to ensure compliance with the measure, impacts on reduction of staffing within existing community chain pharmacies, among other concerns."
SB 362 (NEWMAN - 2021)
Senator Newman sent a letter to the Board of Pharmacy outlining concerns with how the Board is interpreting his bill. CRA President and CEO Rachel Michelin spoke with the Senator directly and is keeping a line in with him to see how the meeting went. The CRA team will update the CCPC as soon as we have information.
Board of Pharmacy Updates
The CRA team attended the Board of Pharmacy's January Licensing Committee, Communication/Public Education Committee and Enforcement and Compounding Committee meetings covering issues we are tracking for the CCPC including Pharm Tech Ratio and Pharm Tech Training Requirements, Central Fill, Mail Order, AB 1286 FAQs and Medication Error Reporting. With regards to AB 1286 FAQs, the CRA team is working on a letter to the Board of Pharmacy requesting clarification on the enforcement of provisions of AB 1286 via the board’s draft AB 1286 FAQs, which can be viewed here. Please send specific questions/scenarios you’d like to see addressed by COB Friday, February 2 by emailing cra@calretailers.com.
The CRA Team is also working with the Governor's appointment unit to fill Jig Patel’s position on the Board of Pharmacy.
Medi-Cal Rx Updates
The Commercial Paxlovid™ Reimbursement and Update on Billing for Pharmacists Prescribing Paxlovid alert has been published. Read the alert here.
The Planned UAC System Migration for January 13, 2024 alert has been published. View the alert here.
Reject Code 16 Implementation was Postponed. View the alert here.
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Cal Retailers Legislative Reception to Honor Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas
Join the California Retailers Association Board of Directors for our annual Legislative Reception featuring the Honorable Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas on the evening of Tuesday, February 6 (next week!). Mingle with retailers from across the state and nation, our state's policymakers and those working in and around the Capitol while we honor Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas as Cal Retailers' 2024 Legislative Retail Champion of the Year. The event starts at 5:30PM PST and will be hosted at SMIC's Sip & Quip Wine Bar in Downtown Sacramento. Register here. View sponsorship opportunities here.
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Save the Date!
CRA Annual Meeting
Tuesday, September 17
Napa, CA
The California Retailers Association will host this year's Annual Membership Meeting on 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, Artifical Intelligence and more. We will also have the latest Legislative, Regulatory and Political Updates. Details including registration, sponsorship opportunities, special guests and other programming will be released soon.
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Save the Date!
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 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 Joins Sacramento County District Attorney's Office in Press Conference Announcing new Measures to Combat Retail Theft in Sacramento County
CRA Government Affairs Director Ryan Allain joined Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho and representatives from Walmart, Arden Fair, Zanzibar Trading Company, American Petroleum & Convenience Store Association, Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce, California Highway Patrol, Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office and Sacramento Police Department to announce a “new day” in Sacramento County for organized retail theft. Watch the press event here.
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CRA President and CEO Honored at California Women Lead's 50th Anniversary Reception
The CRA team attended the CA Women Lead Winter reception celebrating the organization's 50th anniversary where CRA President and CEO Rachel Michelin was honored for her 17 years of leadership to CAWL.
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Additional CRA team Outreach and Activities
CRA President and CEO Rachel Michelin presented to Cal Cities (League of California Cities) Public Safety Committee on Cal Retailers' advocacy work on combatting ORC and Retail Theft.
CRA President Rachel Michelin and Government Affairs Director Ryan Allain attended NRF's 2024 Retail Big Show in New York. California's legislative delegation included Assemblymembers Blanca Pacheco (Rules Committee Chair), Rick Zbur (Chair of Select Committee on Retail Theft and Assembly Democratic Caucus) and Juan Alanis (Vice Chair of Public Safety Committee). The Big Show provides an educational opportunity for Cal Retailers to share with state legislators to help tell the retail story in support of our legislative advocacy efforts in California.
Michelin spoke on a Securing the Supply Chain: Crime Prevention in Trucking Panel at the California Trucking Association's Annual Membership Meeting. She was joined by the California Highway Patrol.
The CRA Team announced Cal Retailers 2024 Board of Directors and newest team member Erica V. Quarles. Read the announcement here.
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CRA released our Annual Report for 2023, which provides a road map of the CRA team's advocacy work on behalf of our members including legislative, regulatory, local and other outreach efforts. Click on the image below to be taken to the report. | |
Lowe's Hometowns Grant Program
As a part of its goal to make communities better for all, Lowe’s is accepting project nominations for the third year of Lowe’s Hometowns, its five-year, $100-million impact program to revitalize community spaces.
Since 2022, the Lowe’s Hometowns signature grant program has renovated 149 community centers, affordable housing facilities, shelters and food pantries; refurbished 15 first responder, veteran and military family facilities; and built and improved 54 community gardens, parks and playgrounds – among many other impactful projects. More than 2.5 million people are anticipated to benefit from the first two years of Lowe’s Hometowns projects within one year of project completion.
Any type of project that involves the physical improvement or renovation of a community space is eligible. All grants must go to a local nonprofit that is willing and able to take on the project. You can see past projects here, but these have included:
- Community Resources/Space (e.g. park, senior citizen center, youth center, etc.)
- Safe Affordable Housing (e.g. critical repairs for shelters, block of homes, accessible home needs, etc.)
- Cultural Preservation (e.g. theatre or memorial renovation, etc.)
- Area Revitalization (e.g. a new playground at a community park, community garden, renovations to downtown areas, etc.)
- Skilled Trades Education initiatives (e.g. mobile training programs, high school vocational, etc.)
Now through Feb. 19, we encourage you to visit Lowes.com/Hometowns to nominate a project and share this opportunity with the constituents and communities that you serve.
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