AB 393 makes California more business-friendly
Rancho Cordova- Assemblyman Ken Cooley’s AB 393, a bill focused on helping small businesses, received bi-partisan approval today from the Assembly Governmental Organization Committee. AB 393 requires the “GO-Biz” website to house information on the fees state agencies charge businesses and when they are due throughout the year so that start-ups, as well as small businesses, can budget accordingly throughout the year for the expenses.
“Small businesses are integral to maintaining California’s diverse and vibrant economy,” said Cooley. “Government can act as a facilitator to bring key information to business owners to give them an edge in today’s lean economy. One way to do this is to provide access to a user-friendly website, where they can easily locate their business fee requirements and fee schedules.”
Rancho Cordova- Assemblyman Ken Cooley’s AB 724 was approved today by the Assembly Transportation Committee. AB 724 is sponsored by the California Association of Highway Patrolmen, and extends California’s Graduated Driver Licensing program to include 18 and 19 year olds- requiring them to take drivers training in order to obtain a license.
“A grim California reality is that 18 and 19 year old novice drivers have the highest accident and fatal crash rates of any group on the road. The data proves that teenagers who go through the GDL program are significantly and consistently safer drivers,” said Assemblyman Ken Cooley. “This legislation makes them—and every other driver—safer.”
(Sacramento) - For the past nine years, the California State Assembly has honored survivors of the Holocaust during the California Holocaust Remembrance Week. This year, Assemblyman Ken Cooley (D-Rancho Cordova) rose to speak during the ceremonies on the Assembly floor about Liz Egra, who, along with her mother fled a Jewish ghetto. Her father died in one of the Nazi death camps. AssemblymanCooley praised Egra for dedicating her life to educating others about the horrors of the Holocaust. Here’s more in this Assembly Access video.
Rancho Cordova- Assemblyman Ken Cooley’s effort to help strengthen California’s preparedness for natural disasters and catastrophic events moved forward today with bipartisan approval of AB 355 by the Assembly’s Governmental Organization Committee. AB 355 will restore funding to the 2013-14 budget year to continue to maintain three mobile field hospitals in California, strategically placed throughout the state for rapid deployment.
“Scientists forecast California will almost certainly experience a devastating earthquake over the next 30 years,” said Assemblyman Cooley. “In a state of 37 million, the capacity these hospitals offer to establish 600 hospital beds in any area within 72 hours of a disaster occurring is a key part of preparedness. It is our responsibility to be ready for the inevitable.”
(Rancho Cordova)- Assemblyman Ken Cooley announced the unanimous approval by the Assembly Accountability Committee of two bills that strengthen the accountability and transparency requirements for state agencies. The bills, AB 12 and AB 117, respectively, are part of the Assemblyman's overall strategy to make state government more efficient and answerable to all Californians.
"As a guardian of the public trust, I want to ensure that California's regulations are not burdensome for our businesses and every taxpayer dollar spent is a dollar spent efficiently," said Cooley. "My bills strengthen the accountability and transparency of the major regulatory adoption process and provide for more legislative oversight of state agencies."
Sacramento – Assemblyman Ken Cooley (D-Rancho Cordova) today announced support for Assembly Bill 113, a bill that would immediately reduce the delays California businesses encounter when filing documents and articles of incorporation with the Secretary of State’s office. Currently, the Secretary of State’s office is faced with a 45-85 day backlog on processing important business documents and articles of incorporation. AB 113 would allocate $2 million to the overwhelmed Secretary of State's office to expedite the processing of 122,000 backlogged business filings. “A function of government is to release the energy in our economy and shouldn’t be an obstacle that causes people of industry and vision to wilt at the prospect of dealing with it," said Assemblyman Cooley. “AB 113 will speed things along and release that energy into our economy." Watch Assemblyman Cooley's comments on the Assembly Floor regarding AB 113, in this Assembly Access Video.
SACRAMENTO – Assemblyman Ken Cooley (D-Rancho Cordova) today announced support for Assembly Bill 113, a bill that would immediately reduce the delays California businesses encounter when filing documents and articles of incorporation with the Secretary of State's office.
Currently, the Secretary of State's office is faced with a 45-85 day backlog on processing important business documents and articles of incorporation.
"California is home to some of the most innovative companies in the world," said Assemblyman Ken Cooley.
SACRAMENTO COUNTY, CA – (MPG) As Wind Walker stood in line at the 99 Cent Only Store, he noticed the woman in front of him purchasing a large number of school supplies.
“I asked if she was buying out of her pocket, and she said ‘yes.’ I told her, ‘We’ll bring you books.’”
True to his word, on February 28, 2013, Holly Smith’s second grade class at Main Avenue Elementary School in Sacramento was visited by Walker and a crew of retired combat veterans from Forgotten
Warriors.
They brought several books, thermometers, blood pressure kits, coffee for the teachers, and cookies for the kids.
(Sacramento) -- Assemblyman Ken Cooley (D-Sacramento) wore a special ribbon when he spoke on the Assembly floor about Assembly Concurrent Resolution 22, which declared March 11th to the 15th as Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week. The ribbon was made for him by a constituent who has Multiple Sclerosis. MS is a neurological disease of the central nervous system that affects an estimated 400,000 Americans across the country, and nearly 200 new cases are diagnosed each week nationwide. The California chapters of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society report that more than 40,000 people in California are affected by this devastating disease.
Legislators are proposing several bills that add lengthy prison terms for people who violate their parole, which could challenge the state's realignment plan to address overcrowding.
California has been under pressure for years to address chronic overcrowding inside 33 adult prisons. In 2011, federal courts required the state to make drastic reductions in its prison inmate population. Gov. Jerry Brown and the Legislature launched a prison "realignment" that shifted responsibility for thousands of lower-level offenders and parole violators from state prisons to county jails.
Three bills challenge that arrangement.