Members representing golf’s normative organizations lobby on issues including water and labor

Members of the California Alliance for Golf (CAG) met with legislators and other state officials at the California State Capitol in Sacramento, Calif. on March 18. CAG serves as the unified voice for the golf industry and educates decision-makers on the importance of the game and the industry to California.

The focus of the day’s lobbying efforts were water and labor, particularly regarding Assembly Bill 5 which affects the status of independent contractors. Below is a list of the bills the industry is closing following this legislative session:

AB 5 – Independent Contractors (Gonzales) – placeholder bill to state the intent of the legislature in codifying the Dynamex decision and clarifying its application. [Support if amended to include a narrowly drawn accommodation for PGA Class A teaching professionals who comprise less than 5% of those who perform ongoing services at California’s golf facilities]

AB 332 – Water (Hertzberg; Weiner) – bill to declare the discharge of treated wastewater from ocean out fills as a waste of water and unreasonable use.  [Watching to determine if it includes the kinds of onsite recycling provisions for Large Landscapes as last year’s SB 966 provided for residences/small businesses]

AB 533 – Water (Holden) – bill would provide an exclusion from gross income any amount received as a rebate, voucher or financial incentive issued by a local water agency or supplier for any water conservation or efficiency program or water runoff management improvement program.  [Support]

AB 556 – Recreation (Carrillo) – bill would authorize the Natural Resources Agency to develop a grant program for innovative transportation programs that provide disadvantaged and low-income youth with outdoor experiences.  [Support]

AB 1180 – Water (Friedman) – Bill would require on or before January 1, 2023 the State Board to update the uniform statewide criteria for non-potable recycled water uses.  [Support with strong recommendation that onsite recycling be included in the mandate]

AB 1111 – Recreation (Friedman) – bill would create an Office of Sustainable Outdoor Recreation to support the outdoor recreation economy.  [Support with hope that to the extent to which specific outdoor recreational activities are included as part of the envisaged advisory committee, golf would be among those designees]

A special thanks goes to CAG’s lobbyist, Tony Rice of Englander, Knabe & Allen for setting up the day’s visits. CAG will continue to diligently follow the above bills on behalf of the state golf industry. For more information on CAG and its activities, visit the website.