Farm Bureau at work California Farm Bureau’s government affairs team is at the Capitol, advocating for farmers, ranchers and agriculture’s future. Here are some key issues Farm Bureau is focused on this week.
Air Quality The California Farm Bureau is caution- ing members about an effort in the San Joaquin Valley to place air quality monitors on or near agricultural facilities. The San Joaquin Valley Center for Community Air Assessment and Injustice Reduction, which is based at the University
Climate Change Senate Bill 253, by state Sen. Scott Weiner, D-San Francisco, would require the California Air Resources Board to develop and adopt regulations requiring U.S. companies with annual revenues of $1 billion or more to publicly disclose their greenhouse emissions “in a manner that is easily understandable and accessible to residents of the state.” The so-called Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act would also require the Air Resources Board, while drafting regu- lations, to consult with the state attorney general, other government stakeholders, investors and representatives for consum- er and environmental justice interests. The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 requires the ARB to make available—and update at least annu- ally—greenhouse gas emissions data for each facility that reports to the state board. Under the Act, a violation of regulations, including emission reduction measures adopted by the state board, is a crime. Another recent bill, SB 261, by Sen. Henry Stern, D-Los Angeles, would ex- pand on the 2006 law by requiring com- panies earning more than $500 million in annual revenue to prepare climate-related financial risk reports. The bill is a companion to SB 253. It would require the state Climate-Related Risk Disclosure Advisory Group, which was created in 2021, to collect and review climate-related financial risk reports. Both bills are designed to complement a proposed U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s rule for climate disclosures by public companies. While farmers and ranchers wouldn’t be required to report directly to the SEC un- der the proposed rule, agricultural groups protested in a letter to the SEC last year that the rules could still create paperwork bur- dens and “significant financial disruption” for family farms, ranches and agricultural businesses that don’t have the luxury of teams of accountants and lawyers. The letter was signed by the California Farm Bureau, the American Farm Bureau Federation and 117 other agri- cultural organizations. Employment On the last day allowed under state laws governing regulatory processes for the agency to take action, the Department of Finance on Feb. 3 approved the COVID-19 Non-Emergency Standard, making it immediately effective. It will remain in effect until Feb. 3, 2025. The Non-Emergency Standard is very similar to prior Emergency Temporary Standard iterations except that it does not require employers to furnish exclu- sion pay. Exclusion pay includes main- tenance of pay, benefits and seniority for employees in cases in which the employer must exclude employees from the work- place because they may pose a COVID-19 infection hazard.
of California, Merced, is attempting to gath- er air quality data from Stockton to Fresno. Representatives involved in the effort are approaching producers and asking them to place these air monitors on their operations. The effort seeks to gather data on air quality by location for poten- tial impacts on public health. Program
participants say information will be used to develop strategies to improve air qual- ity, and that research results would be shared with stakeholders. Farm Bureau was not consulted about the program. It is letting property owners know they are not obligated to place air monitors on their land to support this effort.
Join us in standing up for California’s farmers and ranchers. REGISTER NOW • MARCH 27–29, 2023 Join the grassroots process with California Farm Bureau President Jamie Johansson and special guest speakers. Hilton Sacramento Arden West Featuring Commodity Advisory Committee Meetings & Legislative Day
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For event information and to register, visit cfbf.com/capitol-ag . Registration deadline is March 10.
16 Ag Alert February 15, 2023
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