CRA Member Newsletter

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May 16, 2024 | CRA Newsletter: Legislative, Budget, Regulatory, Local & Other Updates

Message from the President

It has been a busy month in Sacramento ending with Suspense committee where the fate of over 1,000 bills was in the balance. With the state facing a record budget deficit, we expected a bit more fiscal discipline from our friends in the State Capitol and while the Assembly showed some restraint the Senate was much more liberal in letting a number of bills out of committee to continue through the legislative process. While it was disappointing, I am confident that in the end CRA will continue to successfully advocate for the retail industry in California and either stop some of the onerous bills or significantly improve them.


Next week we anticipate the 12 bill Retail Theft package to be voted on in their respective houses. The Assembly has seven bills that bring new felonies for serial shoplifting, clarifying aggregation laws, bring back multi-jurisdictional prosecution, add sentence enhancements for property damages during a theft, add railroad to cargo theft, institute a "retail theft restraining order" and eliminate the sunset for the ORC Taskforce and statue in Penal Code 490.4. The State Senate is considering five bills in their package including a new felony for professional shoplifting, guardrails on offsite transactions related to on-line marketplaces, sentencing enhancements for arson in stores, sentencing enhancements for selling, exchanging or returning property acquired through theft and increase criminal penalties for car break-ins. This is the most comprehensive package of bills I have ever seen that has bi-partisan support in the Legislature as well as support from the Governor.  


I hope you will take a few minutes to read all of the updates in the May newsletter - there is a lot of information including California's new Cal Recycle Director, background on the May Revise that sets the stage for the State budget negotiations, updates on SB 54 and the work of the Advisory Committee as well as the rulemaking process and recent guidance released by the Attorney General on SB 478 related to hidden fees.


I also hope you will join me and the CRA team in Napa for our 2024 Annual meeting in September as we debrief on what happened in the legislative session and start planning for 2025.


As always, if you have any questions or need additional information, please don't hesitate to reach out.



Rachel

In CRA's April 2024 Newsletter Issue:

  • Suspense File and Other Legislative Updates
  • Regulatory Advocacy & Local Updates
  • CA Community Pharmacy Coalition Updates
  • Upcoming Events
  • Other Outreach and Activities
  • CRA In The News
  • Member News

Suspense File and Other Legislative Updates

The CRA team prepared a snapshot of results from both Assembly and Senate Suspense hearings, which were held today. Through our lobbying efforts, CRA secured a number of wins on legislation impacting our members. The recap is below. There are three options for results since we are in the second year of the 2023-2024 legislative session; Either the bill failed in committee, passed out of committee or passed out of committee with amendments. If the bill was amended, those amendments will be in print in the coming days. Two year bills that carried over from 2023 are waiting committee assignments, which are expected end of May or in June. CRA will send out a more comprehensive update on legislation next week.


Please reach out to Ryan@calretailers.com if you have any questions on the results or amendments. Also, please log in to your member portal account on Cal Retailers' website to view advocacy letters related to these bills. If you need assistance including creating a member portal account or resetting your password, please reach out to sarah@calretailers.com.


Reminder: The CRA team is holding our next monthly policy call tomorrow, May 16, to review these results with our members and discuss next steps. If you would like to be added to the monthly policy calls or believe you are on them, but did not receive the calendar invites, please reach out to sarah@calretailers.com.


CRA WINS

CRA Lobbying Helped Stop the Following Bills in Appropriations Committee:


AB 2066 (Reyes) The California Food Safety Act. Oppose.

AB 2491 (Lee) Cosmetic products: safety. Oppose.

AB 2762 (Friedman) Recycling: reusable beverage containers. Oppose.

AB 3204 (Bauer-Kahan) Data Digesters Registration Act. Oppose.

SB 903 (Skinner) PFAS. Oppose.


CRA lobbying helped move the following bills to the Floor:


RETAIL THEFT BILLS:

AB 2943 (Zbur/Rivas) Crimes: shoplifting. Support.

AB 1794 (McCarty) Crimes: larceny. Support.

AB 1960 (Soria) Sentencing enhancement: property loss. Support.

AB 1802 (Jones-Sawyer) Extends the sunset on retail crime task force. Support.

AB 3209 (Berman) Retail theft restraining order. Support.

SB 905 (Wiener) Crimes: theft from a vehicle. Support.

SB 982 (Wahab) Crimes: organized theft. Support.

SB 1144 (Skinner) Online marketplaces. Support.

SB 1242 (Min) Crimes: fires. Support.

SB 1416 (Newman) Sentencing enhancements. Support.


OTHER LEGISLATION:

AB 2223 (Aguiar-Curry) Industrial hemp. Support.

SB 1059 (Bradford) Cannabis: local taxation: gross receipts. Support.

SB 1231 (Allen) SB 54 clean up bill. Support.


CRA lobbying helped secure amendments that made these very bad bills much better


AB 2374 (Haney) Displaced janitors. Oppose


Legislation that was not on suspense and currently on the floor or in second house:

AB 1779 (Irwin) Cross-jurisdiction aggregation (PART OF RETAIL THEFT PACKAGE)

AB 1990 (Carrillo) Criminal procedure: arrests: shoplifting (PART OF RETAIL THEFT PACKAGE)

AB 2371 (Carrillo) Electrified security fences.

AB 2513 (Pellerin) Gas stoves and ranges: warning label.

AB 2863 (Schiavo) Automatic renewal and continuous service offers.

AB 2991 (Valencia) Alcoholic beverage control: retailer payments: electronic funds transfers

AB 3048 (Lowenthal) Alcoholic beverage control: retailer payments: electronic funds transfers

SB 1103 (Menjivar) Tenancy of commercial real properties: agreements: operating costs.

SB 1137 (Smallwood-Cuevas) Discrimination claims: intersectionality of characteristics.

SB 1272 (Laird) Gift certificates.

SB 1280 (Laird) Propane cylinders: reusable or refillable.

SB 1494 (Glazer) Local agencies: Sales and Use Tax: retailers.  


Legislation that died before Appropriations committees and suspense:

AB 2829 (Papan) Digital Advertising Services Tax Law.

AB 2896 (Valencia) Alcoholic beverages: tied-house restrictions: advertising.

AB 3058 (Low) Universal basic income: employment replaced by AI.

AB 3124 (Low) Internet websites: personal information.

AB 3151 (Gipson) Chassis

AB 3250 (Carrillo) Wage deduction: tardiness

SB 1154 (Hurtado) California Preventing Algorithmic Collusion Act of 2024.

SB 1167 (Blakespear) Solid waste: single-use drinking vessels.

SB 1309 (Padilla) Lithium Battery Production Council

SB 1345 (Smallwood-Cuevas) Employment discrimination: criminal history info

SB 1434 (Durazo) UI: benefit and contribution changes. 


Upcoming Legislative deadlines:

  • May 24 Last day for each house to pass bills introduced in that house (House of Origin deadline)
  • May 28 Policy committees can resume.
  • June 15 Budget bill must be passed by midnight
  • July 3 Summer recess begins
  • August 5 End of Summer recess; session resumes
  • August 31 Year 2 session ends at 11:59pm


CRA Monthly Policy Calls

The following includes the remainder of the 2024 monthly policy call calendar covering this year's legislative session (dates are subject to change). Policy calls are held on Fridays at 10:00am PT.

  • May 17
  • June 21
  • No meeting in July
  • August 16

State Budget Update

Governor Gavin Newsom unveiled the revised 2024-25 California State Budget, known as the May Revise. The May Revise is an annual tradition in Sacramento and is intended to update the Governor’s Budget that was released in January now that the State’s tax revenues have been received. The budget has been reduced by $23 billion compared to last year's, now totaling $288 billion. The budget reflects a growing deficit, now estimated at $44.9 billion, due to a $7 billion increase since the budget was initially proposed in January.


The Legislature adopted early actions to reduce current year spending, totaling $17.3 billion in solutions, as a result the shortfall is mitigated to approximately $27.6 billion. According to the Governor, despite substantial fiscal challenges, the revised budget aims to preserve current service levels across most health care, social services, and other essential programs. Governor Newsom emphasized that while some core services might be impacted, the plan primarily supports the continuation of existing programs without significant cuts. However, he also referred to over 200 cuts being made to the Budget, details of which are expected to be released next week. Read more.


Of special notes in the CRA team's recap of the May Revise:

  • One additional feature of the May Revise is the inclusion for the California Air Resources Board to implement two corporate climate disclosure laws, SB 253 and SB 261.
  • The California Department of Finance released their state budget trailer bills language ahead of schedule. Not all language is in yet, but the information that is out early can be viewed here.

Regulatory Advocacy & Local Updates

CalRecycle Updates


Governor Appoints New CalRecycle Director

California Governor Gavin Newsom announced the new Director of Cal Recycle Zoe Heller replacing Rachel Machi Wagoner who stepped down earlier this year. This is an encouraging sign for internal restructuring with the Agency as many in the recycling space believe Heller will be much more engaged with regulatory communities outside of CalRecycle, in particular those impacted by SB 54. The CRA team looks forward to working with Heller and, once she is settled in her new role, will be reaching out. Read more.


SB 54

CRA Submits Comments Ahead of Formal Rulemaking Deadline

CRA submitted comments to CalRecycle ahead of the May 8 deadline for formal rulemaking activities regarding the SB 54 Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act regulations. Read the letter here.


CalRecycle Announces New Needs Assessment Online Comments Portal

CalRecycle has rolled out a new online comments portal for SB 54 Needs Assessment. Access the portal here.


SB 54 Non-Regulatory Workshop Recap

On May 1st CalRecycle held a public workshop for SB 54, which covered non-regulatory topics, including an update on the Needs Assessment and potential updates of Covered Material Categories (CMCs). Read the CRA team's coverage of the Q&A portion here. The Q&A portion of CalRecycle's workshops provide useful information for our members and is not recorded. View the workshop slides here. View the discussion documents here and here, which have workshop concepts that include overall outline of what was discussed, and the specific feedback CalRecycle solicited from workshop participants. Note- the Needs Assessment document was updated with the following changes: NA Item 1 and NA Item 2 to reflect the recently released solicitation for the Source Reduction Baseline Study; and 

NA Item 7 to provide a more comprehensive description of the process for contracted studies. View the workshop agenda here.


As a reminder, CalRecycle will be accepting non-regulatory comments on CMCs through tomorrow, May 17, 2024. All written feedback can be submitted to packaging@calrecycle.ca.gov with the subject line: SB 54 Covered Material Categories Feedback.


Future Workshops

CalRecycle does not have currently have future scheduled workshops on SB 54. The CRA team will keep our members apprised of workshop information as soon as it is shared by the Agency.


SB 54 Needs Assessment: First RFP Released

CalRecycle posted DRR24011 - the SB 54 Source Reduction Baseline Request For Proposal. The data collected in this Contract will estimate the Source Reduction Baseline and be used to further inform the statewide Needs Assessment pursuant to Public Resources Code (PRC) § 42067. This is an RFP Secondary and the submittal due date is May 28, 2024, at 2:00 pm PST. View the contract solicitation on CalRecycle’s website for more information.


Next SB 54 Advisory Board Meeting Tomorrow, May 17

Tomorrow, Friday, May 17th, 2024, from 10:00AM - 4:00PM PST the SB 54 Advisory Board will host the next Advisory Board meeting for the implementation of SB 54 (Allen, Chapter 75, Statutes of 2022). During this meeting, the Advisory Board will discuss:

  • Discussion of Advisory Board Charter
  • Update from CalRecycle on Timelines for Regulations and Needs Assessment
  • Update from the Producer Responsibility Organization
  • Discussion of Process for Formulating Recommendations Regarding Barriers and Solutions to a Circular Economy, Consistent with SB 54
  • Update on Efforts to Define “Administrative Support”


A link to the advisory board public notice and agenda are posted on the Advisory Board online repository - SB 54 Advisory Board - Google Drive.


To join In-Person: 

Sierra Hearing Room at CalEPA Headquarters 

1001 I St, 2nd floor 

Sacramento, CA 95814

No registration is necessary to participate in-person.


To join through Zoom register here.


To join through Webcast click here. Webcast participants will not be able to provide public comment. If you are participating remotely and would like to make public comments, please join through Zoom. No registration is necessary to view the webcast.


As a reminder, Cal retailers' President Rachel Michelin is a member of the Advisory Board, providing the retailers an important voice in the SB 54 rulemaking process.


Recap of Latest Producer Working Group Meeting, Next Producer Work Group Meeting and PRO Registration Reminder

Circular Action Alliance (CAA), California's approved Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) for the implementation of SB 54 held its seventh Producer Working Group (PWG) meeting. The PWG provides a monthly opportunity for producers, producer legal representatives and trade associations to learn about and discuss priority producer issues (reporting, fees, source reduction, recyclability, etc. ). View the recap of the 7th workshop meeting here. View the presentation/slide deck and all past workshop meeting materials here.


The next CAA Producer Working Group (PWG #8) will be held on June 11 at 9:00AM PST. Register here. CRA will attend and, as always, provide a recap to our members.


Reminder: CAA has set a deadline for Producer registration with the PRO by July 1, 2024. REGISTER HERE.


To continue to have access to CAA’s producer working group meetings, CAA has limited access to producers who have registered with the PRO. Starting in June, producers have to register in order to continue participating in the PWGs. It is a simple registration process with no legal or financial obligation - CAA is simply seeking company name, contact name and contact info. and a selection of where companies expect to be a producer (Colorado, Oregon, California). Registration can be changed/amended at a later date if needed.


Additionally, of note: Earlier official deadline for producer registration from CalRecycle is likely April 1, 2025 - CAA has requested CalRecycle set a date requirement as the one they currently have- in 2027- is too late for CAA to set accurate fee schedules and other compliance needs for producers. As such, CAA has set an internal deadline that is more ambitious as a backstop to collect as much info as possible from the largest producer universe as possible.


Registration with CAA (CA's PRO) will reduce free riders in the system i.e.) non-compliant obligated producers, and provide CAA with more precise data for rate setting and other SB 54 compliance requirements for producers.


Latest NSAC SB 54 Working Group Meeting Recap

The CRA Team continues to participate in the National Stewardship Action Council (NSAC)'s monthly SB 54 working group meetings, Access the recap of the latest meeting here, which includes CalRecycle letters shared by members of the working group. NSAC is made up of a diverse array of industries impacted by the regulation and their working groups include CAA.

CalOSHA Updates


Indoor Heat

The CRA team covered the Cal/OSHA Standards Board meeting, which was a much calmer iteration than their last meeting they held in March. The April meeting laid out the next likely steps for the state’s Indoor Heat regulation, which will be voted on this summer again.


We expect the Cal/OSHA Board will vote on the indoor heat regulation later this month or in June and it will be in effect shortly thereafter. Non-correctional employers are advised to review this text and prepare for compliance later this year. Read more.


Silica

Cal/OSHA considered readopting emergency regulation for an additional 90 days for exposures to respirable crystalline silica. The regulation will require employers in the artificial stone fabrication industry to implement safeguards that will prevent RCS exposures among their employees and will apply to other industries where workers cut, grind or polish natural stone materials with a silica content of 10% or greater.

CA AG Releases SB 478 Guidance


California Attorney Rob Bonta released guidance on SB 478 (Dodd), which was passed last year. The law takes effect July 1, 2024. SB 478 makes it illegal for businesses to advertise or list a price for a good or service that does not include all required fees or charges other than certain government taxes and shipping costs. The new law applies to the sale or lease of most goods and services that are for a consumer’s personal use including event tickets, hotels and other lodging, restaurants and food delivery. View the FAQ’s here

Los Angeles County Fair Workweek


Los Angeles County passed their version of a countywide Fair Workweek ordinance, which will go into effect July, 2025 and applies to any retailer or grocer in unincorporated LA County with 300 or more employees nationwide. View a copy of the ordinance here. As a reminder, we have prepared a document that details the differences between the LA City and LA County ordinance, which can be viewed here.


Leading up to the vote the CRA team worked on behalf of our members to make the county ordinance as identical as possible to the City of Los Angeles ordinance. We were successful with the exception of the written notice and right to cure. Unfortunately, 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.


LA County’s Department of Consumer and Business Affairs will be responsible for enforcing the Fair Workweek policy. Each violation comes with a penalty of $500 to $1,000.


If you have any questions, please reach out to Ryan on our team.


CARB Updates


Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF)

Next TRIG Outreach Meeting

CARB's next ACF Regulation Truck Regulation Implementation Group (TRIG) Outreach Meeting is scheduled for Friday, May 31, 2024, from 1:00pm to 2:30pm. TRIG meetings are open to the public with time set aside for oral comment and questions at the end as time permits. Each member of the panel will be emailed a Zoom panelist link for their topic area meeting in advance. The public and members of other TRIG topic areas will need to register to participate. Register here.


ACF High Priority Fleet Questions & Answers Session

CARB will hold an online Q&A session for High Priority Fleet Requirements on June 20 from 9:00AM - 11:00AM PST. The High Priority Fleet requirements are a component of CARB’s Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) regulation. Register here.


CARB anticipates a large number of participants and questions and, as such, is requesting questions be submitted in advance. Submit questions here. Multiple questions can be submitted. Staff will review the questions, combine those that are similar and provide answers during the session. While CARB will not be able to answer detailed and specific fleet questions during the webinar, information on how to get individualized fleet assistance will be provided. Questions can be submitted until Monday, June 17, 2024.


Weekly Posts with Resources

CARB is sharing weekly posts about the ACF regulation and the latest one covers ACF calculator tool and HVIP Incentive tools. The ACF Calculator tool helps fleet owners project the number of zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) needed to comply with either the High Priority Fleets Model Year Schedule or the ZEV Milestones Option. Discover the many HVIP tools like the HVIP Vehicle Catalog that can help determine which vehicles are available for incentives and the HVIP Purchaser Resources that provides guidance on grant calculations, voucher redemptions and more. 


Resources:


View previous weekly posts for ACF here.


Public Meeting to Consider Proposed 2024 State Implementation Plan Adoption and Submittal of Five CARB Regulations

CARB will conduct a public meeting on May 23 at 9:00AM PST to consider adopting a revision to the California State Implementation Plan (SIP) to include five previously adopted or amended CARB regulations into California’s SIP via submission to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). The proposed action is exclusive to submitting the regulations into the California SIP and has no impact on the regulatory language or other aspects of the already completed rulemakings for these regulations. Get more information here.


Interested members of the public may present comments orally or in writing during the meeting and may provide comments by postal mail or by electronic submittal before the meeting. To be considered by the Board, written comments not submitted during the meeting, must be received no later May 13, 2024, and addressed to the following: Clerks' Office, California Air Resources Board, 1001 I Street, Sacramento, California 95814. View electronic submittal information here. View the agenda and other meeting materials and access info here.


Innovative Small e-Fleet (ISEF) Pilot Program Update

Flexible Zero-Emission Truck Funding for Small Fleets with 20 Trucks or Fewer

CARB released the FY 2023-2024 Innovative Small e-Fleet Pilot (ISEF) Implementation Manual with an effective date of June 3, 2024. The ISEF program allows small trucking fleets to access enhanced funding for zero-emission vehicles when using innovative business models – this includes flexible financing, trucking as a service, charging as a service, short term rentals and other options. ISEF is a set aside of the Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP).


ISEF is open to privately-owned or non-profit trucking fleets with 20 or fewer trucks and an annual revenue of less than $15 million. Key changes in the updated Manual include:

  • ISEF is now solely dedicated to innovative offerings. Straight purchases are included in standard HVIP.
  • Non-profits are exempt from the revenue limit.
  • Public agencies with 20 or fewer vehicles may now participate.
  • The manufacturer soft rolling cap exemption expands to fleets of 20 or fewer vehicles.


Program guidelines are now available through Appendix F of HVIP's Fiscal Year 2023-24 Implementation Manual. An additional $14 million will become available in ISEF on June 3, 2024.


Dealers and Companies Interested in Participating as a Provider or Dealer

ISEF works through a partnership between fleets, manufacturers, dealers and providers. Providers develop and propose innovative zero-emission product offerings that are designed to meet the needs of small fleets, examples could be short-term leases or rentals or monthly service agreements that incorporate charging/fueling, maintenance/service or insurance. Providers must submit proposals for approval prior to submitting voucher requests. A webinar to discuss the updated guidelines is scheduled for May 16 from 10:00AM - 11:30AM PST. Register here.


How Can Small Fleets Participate?

ISEF provides a higher voucher amount designed to help small fleets and owner-operators overcome the barriers to zero-emission truck adoption such as high upfront costs, limited financing & insurance options, and complex planning for fueling infrastructure. Small fleets interested in accessing zero-emission vehicles work directly with an approved provider who will coordinate with an eligible dealer to request the voucher on the fleet's behalf. Note that some dealers may also offer provider services. Each provider’s solution may differ, and small businesses should carefully explore each solution based on their own unique business needs, flexibility, and situation. A list of approved providers and innovative solutions can be found at the HVIP website.


CARB Medium- and Heavy-Duty Zero Emission Fleet Seminars

CARB is hosting a Next-Stop Event Series that include presentations and an interactive roundtable discussion with manufacturers, incentive and funding program representatives, CARB staff, various other subject matter experts and real-world fleets leading the way in medium- and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles.


This series of informational presentations and discussions will occur over two non-consecutive days with different topics covered each day. Hear panelist discussion by industry experts on topics such as Switching to Zero-Emission Vehicles, Infrastructure, Utilities and Permitting and a presentation on the Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) regulation. Discover a diverse array of opportunities, where state and local agencies, vendors offering various services and products and local utilities will be present, ready to engage with attendees and discuss valuable insights and collaborations. In-person attendance is limited.


This event will also be webcast over Zoom, and a recording will be made available after. The next Next-Stop Event will be held on May 29 from 8:00AM - 3:00PM PST at the Energy Education Center - Irwindale located at 6090 N. Irwindale Ave. Irwindale, CA 91702. Learn more here.

Privacy Updates


California Privacy Protection Agency Statewide Pre-Rulemaking Stakeholder Sessions

The California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA) is conducting three statewide stakeholder sessions related to their proposed regulations on ADMT, risk assessments and cybersecurity audits. These have been/are open to the public to learn about and provide preliminary feedback on the Agency’s proposed regulations before The Agency moves to the formal rulemaking process.


Each session has/will include a brief presentation by CPPA staff on the draft regulations and an overview of the rulemaking process, including information on how to participate when the formal comment period opens, likely later this year.


The CPPA has not begun the official rulemaking process for the draft regulations. These sessions are being held in advance of the formal rulemaking process. The goal is to inform the public about the draft regulations, answer common questions and gather feedback. If the draft regulations are approved by the CPPA Board later this year, additional public meetings will take place as part of the formal rulemaking process.


There is one remaining stakeholder session scheduled for May 22 from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm. The meeting is Hybrid: streamed via Zoom and in-person located at Sacramento CCAP, 400 R Street, Sacramento, CA 95811.


Read the recaps the CRA team compiled for members from the first two sessions here.


SB 362 Draft Regulations

The CPPA Board met to consider advancing draft regulations that would implement SB 362, which “transferred the administration and enforcement of the Data Broker Registry from the Office of the Attorney General to the Agency as of Jan. 1;” staff memo stated regulations “largely memorialize the Agency’s existing practices related to the registry, but also clarify key terms and concepts,” including “how data brokers must pay their registration fees” and “what it means for a data broker to have a ‘direct relationship’ with a consumer, and what data qualifies as ‘minor’ data and ‘reproductive health care data’ for reporting purposes. View CRA's recap here and the meeting agenda here.


New CPPA Board Member Appointed

The California State Senate Committee on Rules appointed Drew Liebert, an attorney who most recently served as the Senate majority leader's chief of staff, to the California Privacy Protection Agency Board. Liebert replaces Lydia de la Torre, whose three-year term ended in March. Read more.


Reminder: CA Privacy Rules Expected by July

The California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA) plans on starting the formal process for finalizing its last set of regulations under CA's Consumer Privacy Law. Read more.


California Community Pharmacy Coalition Updates

The CCPC met on April 19 and May 10 to discuss legislative and regulatory updates and activities, which include the information provided below.


Legislative Updates

Suspense file updates:


The CRA team sent supplemental label language to Assemblymember Juan Alanis' office regarding his AB 1902. Once that language is incorporated into the bill, the CCPC will move to a support position.


CRA submitted a CCPC support letter to Assembly Appropriations Committee for AB 3063 (McKinnor).


Board of Pharmacy

The BoP held a board meeting on April 25th. Included in our recap are the following takeaways from the meeting:

  • The full board did not vote to pursue central fill regulations or new non-resident pharmacy requirements;
  • upcoming sunset report was discussed;
  • additional potential requirements for nonresident pharmacies and mail order;
  • Formall oppose position taken by the Board on SB 1365 (Glazer).

Get the full recap here.


Renee Armendariz Barker, of San Carlos, has been reappointed to the State Board of Pharmacy, where she has served since 2022. Armendariz Barker has been Sterile Products Manager at the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford since 2019. She is a board-certified Sterile Compounding Pharmacist and received a Compounded Sterile Preparations Certificate from the American Society of Health System Pharmacists.


The Board of Pharmacy (Board) released a Notice of Proposed Action to amend Article 4.5, add Articles 4.6, 4.7, and 4.8, and repeal Article 7 of Title 16, Division 17, of the California Code of Regulations related to Compounded Drug Preparations. The Board will accept comments to the proposed text through Monday, June 3, 2024. Read more here.


Medi-Cal Rx

The Medi-Cal Rx Diagnosis Crosswalk has been updated. View the update here.


The How to Address Reject Code 80 – Diagnosis Code Submitted Does Not Meet Drug Coverage Criteria alert has been published. View the alert here. Effective April 30, 2024, Medi-Cal Rx will implement claim UM edits for Code I diagnosis restriction (Reject Code 80) for members 22 years of age and older.

 

Refer to the Medi-Cal Rx Diagnosis Crosswalk to identify accepted diagnosis or International Classification of Disease – 10th Revision (ICD-10) code(s) to meet the Code I diagnosis restriction.

Upcoming Events

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:

  1. Enter company credentials
  2. Select All-Access Pass
  3. Fill in your information
  4. Select any additional add-on experiences you would like to add
  5. 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.
  6. Complete payment
  7. Contact registration@nrf.com for any registration related questions


Learn more at https://nrfprotect.nrf.com/

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.


CRA Member: $375

CRA Non-member: $450

REGISTER HERE

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


Registration now open!


Join the National Retail Federation and the California Retailers Association for the second annual California Retail Law Summit, Sept. 16 in beautiful Napa, California at the Napa Valley Marriott. This leading legal summit for retailers only is an unparalleled event convening retail in-house counsel for expert-led discussions and CLE-eligible sessions designed to help retailers navigate the complexities of California’s ever-evolving legal landscape. Some of California’s top retail law experts will share insights and tactics on how to get ahead of the most pressing issues impacting retailers operating in California, including the hottest litigation threats, regulatory compliance requirements and legislative developments.


Retail Member (NRF/CRA): $200

Retail Non-member: $250

REGISTER HERE

The booking link for NRF/CRA group rate will be provided following payment of event registration

Other Outreach and Activities

CRA President Speaks at Cal Chamber Capitol Summit Panel on Retail Theft


CRA President Michelin particpated in a panel discussion on tackling retail theft and public safety at the California Chamber of Commerce's Capitol Summit alongside CA Assembly Select Committee on Retail Theft Chair Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur, Assemblymember Juan Alanis and Senator Tom Umberg.

CRA President Speaks at Sacramento Press Club Luncheon Focused on Prop. 47


CRA President Michelin spoke on a panel titled “What is the future of Prop. 47?” sponsored by Sacramento Press Club and moderated by KQED’s Marisa Lagos. Other panelists included Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho; Californians for Safety and Justice Executive Director Tinisch Hollins and Public Policy Institute of California's Magnus Lofstrom.


CRA President Speaks at PPIC

Statewide Leadership Council Meeting


CRA President Michelin spoke at the Public Policy Institute of California's (PPIC) Statewide Leadership Council meeting in San Francisco. Michelin was on a panel focused on crime in California, which also included PPIC's Magnus Lofstrom, Cal Chamber President Jennifer Barrera, American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California's Executive Director Abdi Soltani and CA Senate Committee on Public Safety's Chief Counsel Mary Kennedy.

Additional CRA team Outreach and Activities


CRA Government Affairs Director Ryan Allain spoke at the VCCM lunch meeting focused on Organized Retail Crime.


The CRA team attended the grand opening of Target's new food distribution center in Sacramento, which is providing hundreds of jobs for the region. Local elected representatives were also in attendance including Sacramento County Supervisor Phil Serna and staff from Assemblymember Kevin McCarty and Senator Angelique Ashby.

CRA In The News

In Case You Missed It...


Here's what supporters and opponents say about CA proposal that would regulate self-checkout

ABC 7 San Francisco


New CA bill could force stores to close self-checkout

NBC Bay Area


The Current State of Retail Theft

AirTalk w/Larry Mantle/Laist


California retailers lobby Gavin Newsom, lawmakers on theft

Sacramento Bee


California Panel Advances Ban on Retailer Tax Deals with Cities

Bloomberg Law News

Member News

Visit California: Tourism Spending in California Reaches Record High


Travel spending in California reached a new record in 2023 as visitors from around the world flocked to the Golden State. According to a new report released by Visit California, the state’s tourism economy generated $150.4 billion in travel spending last year, surpassing the prior record $144.9 billion spent in 2019 before the pandemic halted travel. Tourism created 64,900 new jobs in California in 2023, bringing total industry employment to 1,115,000 (98% of pre-pandemic employment levels). Read more.

California Retailers Association https://calretailers.com/
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