How your elected representative voted in 2009/2010

Legislation in the State of California

S.B. 565 (water rights). The San Joaquin Farm Bureau urged a NO vote to this legislation that would greatly expand fines for water rights "infractions" that will be enforced by 20-30 new regulators at the State Water Resources Control Board. In essence, this bill will increase fines to help pay for these additional bureaucrats so they can go out and challenge the water rights held by our members.

S.B. 1121 would extend the 40-work week requirements. California is one of the few state in the nation that authorizes overtime pay to agriculture workers for greater than 60 hours per week. This bill would require overtime pay for anyone working more than 5 days in any week or 40 hours in a workweek. This bill was vetoed as it represented unfair practices to agriculture and would undermine the lives of farm workers in our state. The San Joaquin Farm Bureau urged a No vote on this measure and a VETO from the Governor.

Legislation similar to S.B.1474 has passed the legislature and was vetoed by the Governor. The bill would allow union members access to workers homes to gather "cards" to show support for unionization in agriculture. Most recently, it was amended to allow a Union to claim any action by an employer could be considered grounds to "certify" or approve a union contract between a farm business and that union. This invasion of our employee’s rights should not be tolerated. The current requirement for a secret ballot protects the identity of the workers and maintains a level playing field when it comes to unionization attempts in our industry. The San Joaquin Farm Bureau urges the Governor to Veto this legislation.