David A. Alvarez

This bill declares that physicians and surgeons commit "unprofessional conduct" if they "disseminate misinformation" related to COVID-19, including false or misleading information regarding the nature and risks of the virus, its prevention and treatment; and the development, safety, and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines". Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this politicized measure promotes government censorship and prevents physicians from best serving their patients - which is especially problematic considering the everchanging guidelines and determinations being made by the government concerning COVID-19.

Allowing the State Medical Board to Punish Doctors for Spreading Alleged "Misinformation" about COVID-19.

This bill expands Family PACT (government-provided healthcare) to include prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases for individuals who already may be insured and are not at risk of experiencing or causing an unintended pregnancy. The bill is primarily directed at LGBTQ individuals who may have confidentiality concerns using their insurance for treatment. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this bill further grows government-provided healthcare and dependency while also estimated to place tens of millions of dollars of additional costs onto taxpayers.

Increasing Government Dependency by Providing STD Treatment to all LGBTQ Individuals at the Expense of Taxpayers.

This bill further boosts payouts under the state's Paid Family Leave (PFL) program, which is funded through an additional 1.1% payroll tax on most workers. Specifically, the bill increases the wage replacement rate from 70% to 90% for workers who earn up to $57,000 a year. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this bill will inevitably lead to a further increase in the state payroll tax due to the higher payout and greater incentive for individuals to utilize the benefit. Instead of further growing this state wealth transfer initiative, lawmakers should eliminate the program and allow individuals to choose whether or not to purchase paid leave insurance through the private marketplace.

Further Expanding Wealth Redistribution Under the State's Paid Leave Program by Hiking the Wage Replacement Rate to 90%.

This bill provides a $1,000 refundable tax credit to single-filers earning up to $40,000, and joint-filers earning up to $60,000, who do not own or purchase a car. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as lawmakers should not use the power of government to centrally plan the lives of individuals and wage war against the internal combustion engine. Furthermore, growing the size and scope of the government welfare state disincentivizes advancement and traps individuals into government dependency and poverty.

Growing Government Dependency by Providing $1,000 to Income-Eligible Individuals without Automobiles.

This bill expands the state's "Gun Violence Restraining Order" (GVRO) or "red flag" law to expand the category of persons who may petition a court to issue an order. Specifically, roommates, dating partners and those with "substantial and regular interactions" may now seek to have a firearm immediately taken away from another person through an "ex-parte" (one-sided) petition to a court if the individual alleges the person in possession of the firearm is in danger to themselves or others. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as the one-sided petition violates due process under the law (an individual can't provide their defense) and this program lacks provisions that prevent nefarious individuals from abusing the system to harass or harm law-abiding individuals, thus unduly infringing their Second Amendment protections and leaving them defenseless.

Further Expanding Firearm Seizures Without Due Process Through the "Gun Violence Restraining Order".

This bill establishes the "Housing California Challenge Program" to provide $5 billion in direct rental assistance over the next 5 years to individuals who are at risk of homelessness. This program is in addition to a number of other state programs, and funding under the bill may be utilized to help individuals locate and obtain housing as well as for long-term rental assistance.  Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this bill serves as yet another measure which traps individuals into poverty by disincentivizing advancement and growing government dependency. Additionally, the bill's $5 billion in subsidies will merely bid up the market prices of existing rental units, thus worsening the state's housing affordability crisis and likely leading to additional homelessness and government dependency.

Increasing Government Dependency and Housing Market Costs through a New $5 Billion Housing Assistance Spending Program.

This bill requires the Department of Toxic Substances Control to construct a publicly accessible platform were manufactures must annually register products that contain perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). There are over 9,000 PFAS in existence which are in hundreds of common household products such as nonstick cookware, furniture, raincoats and shampoo.  Oppose is the Limited Government Position as the federal government already monitors PFAS substances and this measure will place significant additional costs on taxpayers, manufacturers, and ultimately consumers.

Advancing Government Overreach through a Costly New Reporting and Registration System for Products Containing PFAS Substances.

The "Small Business Procurement and Contract Act" establishes a 25% small business target for infrastructure contracts issued through the $14 billion the state received under the Federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as all government contracting and procurement decisions should be based strictly on factors relating to cost and quality. Contracting quotas and mandates such as this bill merely restrict competition and unnecessarily drive-up taxpayer costs, while also potentially reducing project quality and timeliness.

Hiking Taxpayer Costs through an Additional Small Business Procurement Mandate for Infrastructure Projects.

The "Buy American Food Act" places more stringent domestic procurement requirements on California public schools and universities concerning their agricultural food purchases. Previous law required institutions to procure only domestically grown and processed foods unless the cost was greater than 5% of the non-domestic alternative. This bill now requires the non-domestic alternative to be at least 25% more costly, which is estimated to cost taxpayers an additional $1.9 billion. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this bill is largely designed to enrich California agricultural producers and labor unions, while unnecessarily punishing taxpayers who will be forced to bear the higher costs. The bill also directly violates the limited government principles of free trade and markets.

Increasing Taxpayer Costs by Worsening Protectionist Agricultural Procurement Mandates Placed on Schools and Universities.

The "Digital Financial Assets Law" creates a new licensing and regulatory framework for digital financial assets under the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation. A range of products including cryptocurrencies, virtual currencies and electronic precious metals would now be subject to state regulation. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as the federal government is already attempting to regulate these products, and there is a serious risk that regulations imposed at any level government could threaten innovation within this industry. It is critical to protect this industry from overregulation as bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies play a crucial role as a safeguard against the reckless policies of the Federal Reserve.

Threatening Innovation by Imposing a New Licensing Regime on a Range of Digital and Crypto Financial Assets.

This bill establishes the California Reproductive Health Service Corps "for the purposes of recruiting, training, and retaining a diverse workforce of reproductive health care professionals in underserved areas." The bill directs funding towards scholarships, stipends for living expenses and childcare, and loan repayment for providers who work at a "corps-approved site". Oppose is the Limited Government Position as taxpayers should not fund scholarships or loan repayments for any industry, let alone an industry which faces strong opposition by a significant portion of the population.

Forcing Taxpayers to Fund Scholarships and Training for Abortion Providers by Establishing the "California Reproductive Health Service Corps".

This bill requires pharmacists to complete at least one hour of continuing education in a "cultural competency course" every two years. The course must focus on individuals who identify as LGBTQ+ and must also "contain elements demonstrating how sexual identity is directly impacted through intersectionality." Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this bill is largely designed to enrich entities and individuals who provide such "cultural competency services". Instead of this politically-motivated government mandate, pharmacists should be free to select the trainings which will provide them the greatest value and information to serve their patients.

Forcing Pharmacists to Undergo an Hour "Cultural Competency" Course Every 2 Years Focused on LGBTQ+ Individuals.

This bill imposes a series of new restrictions on the governing practices of Home Owners Associations (HOAs) and other planned communities.  For example, the bill places new regulations on HOAs concerning the ability of owners to rent their units as well as how issues are discussed on social media platforms. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as it is not the role of government to dictate the private contractual agreements and operations of HOAs. HOAs serve as free-market alternatives to government zoning and land use standards, as individuals can choose the restrictiveness of the community they wish to join or select to live on property outside the governance of an HOA.

Infringing Private Contracting Rights through Government Overreach into the Governance Practices of Private Condominium Associations

This bill amends California's Franchise Relations Act to impose new reporting requirements on monetary incentives and rebates that Franchisors may receive from third parties. Additionally, the bill forbids Franchisors from requiring a Franchisee to waive their right to a rebate or other benefit except under certain circumstances. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as it is not the role of government to intrude into the private contracting of private businesses to provide one party leverage or better contracting terms over another. Such actions violate the principles of free markets and the freedom to contract.

Infringing Franchisor and Franchise Contracting Rights through New Mandates Concerning Rights to Rebates and Monetary Incentives from Third Parties.

This bill extends the duration of postpartum coverage provided under Medicaid (government-provided healthcare) from 60 days to 1 year. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this bill further grows government-provided healthcare and dependency while also placing significant additional costs on both state and federal taxpayers.

Increasing Government Dependency by Expanding Medicaid Postpartum Coverage from 60 Days to an Entire Year.

This bill establishes the "California Coordinated Neighborhood and Community Services Grant Program" which provides state grants to certain organizations in federal "Promise Neighborhoods". Many of these groups have politically-motivated agendas, such as bill sponsor "StriveTogether" which promotes on its website how its network member led the passage of a ballot measure which hiked property taxes in Colorado to increase school funding. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as taxpayer funds should not be utilized to advance political initiatives. The private sector (through charitable endeavors) is best equipped to direct funding to the groups and initiatives which are most needed and beneficial to communities.

Expanding Cronyism and Unnecessary Spending by Providing Grants to Government-Favored Community Groups with Politically Driven Agendas.

The "Contraceptive Equity Act of 2022" requires all health insurance policies offered in the state to provide coverage for vasectomies and over-the-counter contraceptive drugs, devices and products. All of these services and products must be provided without any deductible or cost-sharing requirement. Additionally, the bill adds "reproductive healthcare decisions" to the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, thus prohibiting employers from taking any discriminatory actions. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as each and every health insurance mandate or price control on co-payments prevents an individual from selecting a plan with just basic or customized coverages to fit their specific needs. As a result, health insurers are forced to only offer costly plans loaded with coverages that most individuals do not need. This can result in lower-income or younger individuals choosing to purchase no insurance plan at all due to the high cost.

Increasing Health Insurance Premiums by Mandating All Policies Cover Vasectomies and Contraceptives at No Cost.

This bill requires all health insurance policies, including Medicaid, offered in the state to provide coverage for biomarker testing to diagnose, treat, manage, or monitor a person's disease or condition "if the test is supported by medical and scientific evidence." Oppose is the Limited Government Position as each and every health insurance mandate or price control on co-payments prevents an individual from selecting a plan with just basic or customized coverages to fit their specific needs. As a result, health insurers are forced to only offer costly plans loaded with coverages that most individuals do not need. This can result in lower-income or younger individuals choosing to purchase no insurance plan at all due to the high cost.

Increasing Health Insurance Premiums by Mandating All Policies Provide Coverage for Biomarker Testing

This bill requires the California Health and Human Services Agency to establish a website providing various abortion related information.  Such information includes the locations of abortion providers, available practical support services like airfare, lodging, meals, etc., and payment support resources. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as it is not the role of government to promote abortion and force payment from taxpayers to advance abortion (many of whom may have strong religious objections). All abortions are tragedies and every child deserves the right to life.

Promoting Abortion through the Creation of a State Website to Provide Information on Abortion Providers and How to Obtain Support Services Such as Airfare, Meals and Lodging.

The "California Climate Crisis Act" legally binds the state to its goal of "net-zero" carbon by 2045, and maintain and achieve negative greenhouse gas emissions in the years following. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this bill further cements the state to its disastrous environmental agenda, which will stifle economic growth and lead to sky-rocketing prices for businesses and consumers.

Stifling Economic Growth by Codifying the State's Disastrous 2045 "Net-Zero" Carbon Goal.

This bill is largely in response to the U.S. Supreme Court decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen, which found the use of arbitrary "may issue" standards for concealed carry licenses to be unconstitutional. Under the bill, "gun free zones" are significantly expanded - including all private businesses by default unless they post a sign saying it is permitted. Additionally, concealed carry training requirements and costs are increased, among a number of other provisions. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as James Madison and our nation's other founding fathers understood that the right to keep and bear arms is a crucial individual liberty and protects the citizenry against a tyrannical government. This measure serves to undermine the Supreme Court's decision and limits the ability of law-abiding individuals to defend themselves from criminals.

Infringing Second Amendment Rights and Defying the Supreme Court Ruling through New "Gun Free" Zones and Concealed Carry Law Changes.

This bill, modeled after the Texas law allowing anyone to file lawsuits alleging violations of abortion laws, allows anyone to sue another individual who constructs, transports or offers for sale a firearm banned by the state, such as an "assault weapon" or unserialized firearm. Like the Texas law, the bill offers bounties of at least $10,000 for prevailing claimants. fi. The bill even includes language that the provisions will become inoperative if the Texas statute is struck down by the Texas Supreme Court or U.S. Supreme Court. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as James Madison and our nation's other founding fathers understood that the right to keep and bear arms is a crucial individual liberty and protects the citizenry against a tyrannical government. Lawmakers should not infringe the Second Amendment rights of their own state residents to politicize the actions taken by other states.

Attacking Firearm Owners and Second Amendment Rights by Allowing Anyone to Sue Another Individual Who Constructs, Transports or Sells a Firearm Banned by the State.

This bill further expands the state's expungement policy (previously limited to just misdemeanors and low-level felonies) to now include nearly any previous criminal offense after six years have passed.  Oppose is the Limited Government Position as while expunging low-level and non-violent criminal records can help reduce potential employment barriers, this expansive measure which expunges serious violent crimes threatens public safety.

Threatening Public Safety by Expunging Felony and Violent Criminal Records.

This bill makes it much easier for union leaders to unionize agricultural workers across the state's 30,000 farms. Specifically, the bill authorizes usage of a "card check" system which allows leaders to publicly pressure workers into unionizing, as opposed to the existing "secret ballot voting" system.  Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this measure will subject agricultural workers to significant new levels of intimidation and harassment to unionize by labor leaders. Measures such as this highlight the importance of "Right to Work" legislation, which protects the ability of individuals to work without joining a labor union.

Hiking Consumer Costs and Empowering Union Leaders by Unionizing the Agricultural Industry through a Card-Check System.

This bill requires all publicly serving businesses to provide individuals with an "eligible medical condition" (such as inflammatory bowel disease) access to their toilet facilities. The access must be provided even if the toilet facility is otherwise only available to employees, and a business can be fined $100 for each case of non-compliance. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as lawmakers should not further grow the regulatory state and impose mandates on private businesses to account for the near endless list of medical conditions that individuals may face. Such one-size-fits all mandates may also result in abuse of business restrooms - especially when considering California's extremely high homeless rates.

Forcing Private Businesses to Grant Access to Employee Restrooms for Individuals with an "Eligible Medical Condition".

This bill establishes the "Excluded Workers Pilot Program" which provides illegal immigrants with up to 20 weeks of unemployment benefits, at an amount of $300 per week. The bill is estimated to cost state taxpayers $237 million to build out and over $215 million in annual benefit payouts. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as providing individuals who entered the country unlawfully to taxpayer funded welfare benefits merely incentivizes additional illegal immigration. While reforms are needed to the U.S. immigration system to increase the number of skilled individuals who may enter and work in our country, measures such as this undermine reform efforts and plunge taxpayers into further debt.

Forcing Taxpayers to Spend Hundreds of Millions Annually to Provide Unemployment Benefits to Illegal Immigrants.

The "California Antihunger Response Act of 2022" creates a new state program in which able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWD) are provided food stamp benefits despite not complying with the work requirements of CalFresh which are set by the federal government. The cost to create the new system (not accounting for benefit payouts) is estimated to cost $100 million. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this bill is intended to circumvent the federal work requirements implemented in the mid-1990s to help encourage able-bodied individuals to find employment and regain self-reliance. This bill places an unnecessary cost onto taxpayers while discouraging work-ready adults to become self-sufficient.

Spending $100 Million to Bypass a Critical Federal Welfare Integrity Measure and Provide Food Stamps to Work-Ready Adults who Refuse to Comply with Work Requirements.

This bill bans the use of carbon dioxide fluid (collected through carbon capture technologies) from being utilized in oil extraction. This fluid serves as a helpful solvent in promoting oil flow. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this bill serves as yet another unnecessary barrier towards American energy production, ultimately harming the entire U.S. economy through higher energy costs.

Hindering Energy Production through a Prohibition on "Concentrated Carbon Dioxide Fluid" for Oil Extraction.

The "Clean Energy, Jobs, and Affordability Act of 2022" further increases the stringency of a landmark climate bill passed in 2018 which requires all electricity sold in the state to be 100% clean by 2045. SB 1020 establishes additional benchmarks such as requiring 90% of electricity sold be carbon free by 2030 and 95% by 2035. Furthermore, all state agencies must now obtain their power from renewables by 2035. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as these unnecessary new mandates will only further drive-up electricity costs for consumers, businesses and taxpayers. Lawmakers should instead spur economic growth (which ultimately leads to environmental improvement) through an "all of the above" approach to energy procurement.

Hiking Energy Costs by Imposing Even More Stringent Renewable Energy and Zero-Carbon Electricity Mandates

The "Platform Accountability and Transparency Act" requires social media to publicly disclose how their algorithms push information. This includes statistics on items of content that violated their platform policies and were recommended or amplified through their algorithms.  According to the bill's sponsor, the measure is needed to bring transparency to medical disinformation, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this government overreach into the private sector places significant financial and regulatory costs onto the tech industry, which is ultimately passed down to consumers.  Except in cases of fraud or criminal activity, industries are best governed through free market principles whereby consumers hold private companies accountable.

Expanding the Regulatory State by Placing Costly New Reporting Mandates on Social Media Companies Concerning Content Policy Violations

This bill places a 6-month limit on the amount of time a juvenile offender may be placed on probation except in limited cases. Additionally, the court is no longer required to place certain conditions on juvenile probation such as attending counseling, repairing property, performing community service or repaying apprehension costs. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this bill limits the ability of courts to maintain public safety and protect property rights. This measure is especially troubling considering the enactment of other changes to the criminal justice system which have loosened penalties and led to rising crime rates.

Increasing Crime and Harming Public Safety by Placing a 6 Month Limit on Juvenile Probation.

This bill allows the Franchise Tax Board to revoke the tax-exempt status of an organization if the California Attorney General determines the organization has "actively engaged in, or incited" an offense such as treason, insurrection, seditious conspiracy, or government overthrow. The sponsor of the bill stated the measure is necessary since many non-profits supported the "insurrection" by "pro-Trump extremists" by perpetuating a "false narrative that the Democrats stole the 2020 election". Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this bill directly violates due process rights under the law. While any group found to commit a criminal act should be held accountable under the law, this measure instead serves as a weapon for politicians to unjustly target their political opponents and organizations.

Providing the AG Overreaching New Powers to Revoke the Tax-Exempt Statuses of Non-Profit Organizations without Due Process if they Allegedly Incite "Insurrection".

This bill requires the Department of Housing and Community Development to adopt new regulations which require the installation of electric vehicle charging stations at certain existing commercial buildings including multi-family dwellings, hotels and non-residential developments. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as the free market - not government employees - is best equipped to determine the need, placement and amount of electric vehicle charging stations and infrastructure. Empowering the DHCD to impose mandates may inflict significant financial harm onto some smaller businesses.

Advancing New Electric Vehicle Charging Station Mandates on Existing Multi-Family Dwellings, Hotels and other Commercial Buildings.

This bill establishes the "Electric Bicycle Incentive Project" to provide vouchers to income-eligible individuals to purchase e-bikes at certain retailers. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as not only do measures such as this provide competitive advantages to government-favored companies, and further hike taxpayer costs, but also disincentivize advancement and grow government dependency by expanding the welfare state.

Growing Government Dependency by Providing Electric Bicycle Vouchers to Certain Individuals Based on Income.

This bill establishes a new pilot program within the California Health and Human Services Agency (CHHSA) which provides additional taxpayer funding to primary care clinics that perform abortion and are located in five counties across different regions of the state. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as it is not the role of government to promote abortion and force payment from taxpayers to advance abortion (many of whom may have strong religious objections).

Channeling Tens of Millions of Additional Taxpayer Funds to Providers of Abortion in "Marginalized Communities".

This bill replaces the partial sales tax exemption for manufacturing equipment and research and development with a full sales tax exemption through 2028. This exemption covers items such as machinery, computers and special purpose buildings used for manufacturing or research and development. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as all state and local tax codes should be constructed in a broadly applied manner with as low of rates as possible for everyone. The central planning and tax cronyism enacted under this measure provides special benefits and advantages to the manufacturing industry while shifting tax burdens to all other industries and companies that do not share the same business model. Instead, lawmakers should instead utilize the $500 million in tax savings to provide a broad tax cut across all industries, which will allow the free market to provide far greater job and business growth.

Increasing Tax Burdens on Other Individuals and Businesses through an Expansion of Sales Tax Exemptions for Research and Development and the Manufacturing Sector.

Beginning in 2025, this bill requires thermoform plastic containers (such as "clamshell" trays for take-out food, plastic egg cartons, bakers trays, etc.) to contain at least 20-30% recycled content.  The bill also imposes penalties on producers for non-compliance. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this bill serves as yet the latest mandate which infringes business and consumer choice for food packaging and unnecessarily drives up cost. The state's two largest cities have already imposed bans on Styrofoam food containers.

Hiking Consumer Costs by Imposing Recycled Content Mandates for a Wide Range of Common Consumer Plastic Containers.

This bill establishes the California Reproductive Health Equity Program, which provides no cost or reduced cost abortion services to women earning up to 400% of the federal poverty level. Additionally, the bill requires health insurers which provide plans without abortion coverage to religious employers, to provide written notice to those enrollees that they may be eligible for no cost abortions through the state program. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as regardless of ones view on abortion, it is not the role of government to provide such coverage and force the costs onto taxpayers, many of whom have deep religious objections to the practice.

ILA

David A. Alvarez