Ride share driver in car using the rideshare app in mobile phone. Image by Tero Vesalainen. AB 1340 represents roughly a decade or more of work by labor in the state. Ever since Uber launched in 2009, there’s been an ongoing, global debate on whether rideshare drivers are indeed independent contractors, as claimed by the apps, or bona fide employees, as claimed by workers and labor advocates.
Mauricio Torres. Photo by Ellie Appleby for Capitol Weekly. Whether he’s deciphering complex policy language or hiking renowned trails like the Inca Trail or the W Trek in Patagonia, Mauricio Torres Jr. approaches it all with confidence, curiosity and a deep connection to the communities he serves.
The California State Capitol Building in Sacramento. Image by t:Marcopolo9442It has been a big budget week, with lots of ups and downs. In today’s briefs we look at some of those as well as a few more happenings in and around the Capitol.
Image by Robert Way. OPINION – OpenAI needs the state of California to approve a corporate restructuring that would fundamentally alter its commitments to the public. But its plans are remarkably short on details, and the public deserves to know much more about how restructuring would affect them.
Vacaville Correctional Medical Facility. Photo by AP.Without emergency legislation, a little more than two dozen disabled people, including veterans, who work as janitors at a state prison facility in Vacaville are poised to lose their jobs at the end of this month due to a protest lodged by the Service Employees International Union Local 1000.
Image by RawpixelOPINION – Governor Newsom’s release of the May Budget Revise included a shortfall of $12 billion and proposed reductions that would have affected older adults and people with disabilities. We had deep concerns about these proposals, especially those related to health care and home and community-based services (HCBS).
Image by John BlottmanOPINION – Now is the worst time for California’s leaders to inflict unforced errors and bad laws that will make the healthcare system even more unstable—especially when they will do nothing to lower costs. Senate Bill 41 (SB 41)—a bill currently under consideration in the State Capitol—is exactly such a mistake.
Image by nilimageOPINION – Even though the state estimates payments for children in subsidized programs only cover 30% of the time and expense providers put into keeping children safe and learning, the Administration is walking away from a commitment to reimburse child care providers for the full cost of the care we provide.
Image by Jair Ferreira Belafacce. OPINION – California’s public works construction market is worth a staggering $46 billion—and growing. But behind this impressive figure lies a problem that’s costing workers, taxpayers, and responsible contractors alike: outdated penalty and registration systems that effectively reward cheaters and leave regulatory agencies dangerously underfunded.
OPINION – The story of the Digital Age is one of rapid innovation, with people quickly adopting new tools while institutions meant to ensure everyone shares in the benefits often lag behind.
AI continues to advance at astonishing speed. More than 500 million people around the world—including 80,000 developers representing the next wave of business