Legislation that would give small-business owners a voice on the California Air Resources Board (CARB) was passed by the Senate Environmental Quality Committee and sent to the Senate Appropriations Committee. The bill has already been passed by the California Assembly. Introduced by Assemblymember Curt Hagman, who represents the Diamond Bar district in which SEMA headquarters is located, the bill would create a requirement for one CARB member to be a current owner of a small business.

CARB is a department within the California Environmental Protection Agency that is charged with the task of attaining and maintaining healthy air quality, protecting the public from exposure to toxic air contaminants and issuing air pollution rules and regulations. The current 11-person Board does not represent the interests of the small businesses that comprise the regulated community.

In light of hard economic times and California’s continued commitment to clean air and green business practices, it is essential that small-business owners be included in important discussions and decisions made by CARB. This measure recognizes that the regulations issued by the Board directly affect small businesses and would ensure that the rights of small-business owners are represented.

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.