Legislation (A.B. 135) that would give small-business owners a voice on the California Air Resources Board (CARB) will be considered by the Assembly Natural Resources Committee on Monday, April 4, 2011. Introduced by Assemblymember Curt Hagman, A.B. 135 would create a requirement for one member of the state’s Air Resources Board to be a current owner of a small business and have experience with a small business for 10 years.
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. A.B. 135 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 more information, click here. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.