By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

California has joined the state of Connecticut and at least 13 major cities nationwide in enacting legislation to require employers to provide paid sick leave to their employees. Starting July 1, 2015, employees who have worked in the state for at least 30 days must be provided one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked. Nevertheless, under the new law, employers can limit the amount of paid sick leave an employee may take within a year to 24 hours (three days). 

The employee must be permitted to begin using the accrued sick leave at least 90 days from hire. The law covers most employees in California, but excludes employees organized under a valid collective bargaining agreement that contains certain provisions, home health care providers and flight attendants that receive a certain amount of compensated time off. Employers with employees based in California should review their sick leave policies and amend as necessary to ensure they comply with the new law by next July. 

For details, contact Ashley Ailsworth at ashelya@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

SEMA has decided to abandon a plan to offer a compromise to exhaust noise legislation.

Working with members of the legislature, SEMA has decided to abandon a plan to offer a compromise to exhaust noise legislation. The SEMA-opposed measure originally sought to prohibit motor-vehicle repair facilities from modifying an exhaust system to “produce noise in excess of OEM stock decibel levels.” The bill carried a fine of $10,000 for each violation. The parties determined that there was insufficient time in the current legislative session to gain a consensus among industry and hobbyist stakeholders, which would enable a compromise to be enacted into law. This action essentially kills the bill for 2014.

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

SEMA has decided to abandon a plan to offer a compromise to exhaust noise legislation.

Working with members of the legislature, SEMA has decided to abandon a plan to offer a compromise to exhaust noise legislation. The SEMA-opposed measure originally sought to prohibit motor-vehicle repair facilities from modifying an exhaust system to “produce noise in excess of OEM stock decibel levels.” The bill carried a fine of $10,000 for each violation. The parties determined that there was insufficient time in the current legislative session to gain a consensus among industry and hobbyist stakeholders, which would enable a compromise to be enacted into law. This action essentially kills the bill for 2014.

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

SEMA has decided to abandon a plan to offer a compromise to exhaust noise legislation.

Working with members of the legislature, SEMA has decided to abandon a plan to offer a compromise to exhaust noise legislation. The SEMA-opposed measure originally sought to prohibit motor-vehicle repair facilities from modifying an exhaust system to “produce noise in excess of OEM stock decibel levels.” The bill carried a fine of $10,000 for each violation. The parties determined that there was insufficient time in the current legislative session to gain a consensus among industry and hobbyist stakeholders, which would enable a compromise to be enacted into law. This action essentially kills the bill for 2014.

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

By John Waraniak

	SEMA's Powertrain Forum is a must-attend session for members involved with current and future powertrain technologies, OEM strategies for meeting fuel-economy and emissions standards and the impact on their products, revenue streams and business plans.

Powertrain technology advancements will continue at an unprecedented level for the next decade as OEMs strive to meet aggressive 2025 fuel-economy targets that are driven by new regulations. These changes will create new challenges and opportunities for performance aftermarket companies. Advanced powertrain technologies will significantly increase vehicle complexity, making it harder, more costly and more time consuming for SEMA-member manufacturers that must comply with the latest emissions requirements.

SEMA's Powertrain Forum—scheduled for Tuesday, November 4, from 11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m., in rooms N258–N260 of the Las Vegas Convention Center—is a must-attend session for members interested in current and future powertrain technologies, OEM strategies for meeting fuel-economy and emissions standards, and the impact on their products, revenue streams and business plans.

Attendance is free but registration is required.

The Forum will include an overview of the SEMA-Clemson Vehicle Emissions Projects and SEMA’s Emissions Lab and Executive Order (EO) Program for vehicle compliance, as well as baseline vehicle information to help members predict the impact of aftermarket powertrain modifications on vehicle emissions.

For more information on the 2014 SEMA Show, visit www.SEMAShow.com. 

By John Waraniak

	SEMA's Powertrain Forum is a must-attend session for members involved with current and future powertrain technologies, OEM strategies for meeting fuel-economy and emissions standards and the impact on their products, revenue streams and business plans.

Powertrain technology advancements will continue at an unprecedented level for the next decade as OEMs strive to meet aggressive 2025 fuel-economy targets that are driven by new regulations. These changes will create new challenges and opportunities for performance aftermarket companies. Advanced powertrain technologies will significantly increase vehicle complexity, making it harder, more costly and more time consuming for SEMA-member manufacturers that must comply with the latest emissions requirements.

SEMA's Powertrain Forum—scheduled for Tuesday, November 4, from 11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m., in rooms N258–N260 of the Las Vegas Convention Center—is a must-attend session for members interested in current and future powertrain technologies, OEM strategies for meeting fuel-economy and emissions standards, and the impact on their products, revenue streams and business plans.

Attendance is free but registration is required.

The Forum will include an overview of the SEMA-Clemson Vehicle Emissions Projects and SEMA’s Emissions Lab and Executive Order (EO) Program for vehicle compliance, as well as baseline vehicle information to help members predict the impact of aftermarket powertrain modifications on vehicle emissions.

For more information on the 2014 SEMA Show, visit www.SEMAShow.com. 

By John Waraniak

	SEMA's Powertrain Forum is a must-attend session for members involved with current and future powertrain technologies, OEM strategies for meeting fuel-economy and emissions standards and the impact on their products, revenue streams and business plans.

Powertrain technology advancements will continue at an unprecedented level for the next decade as OEMs strive to meet aggressive 2025 fuel-economy targets that are driven by new regulations. These changes will create new challenges and opportunities for performance aftermarket companies. Advanced powertrain technologies will significantly increase vehicle complexity, making it harder, more costly and more time consuming for SEMA-member manufacturers that must comply with the latest emissions requirements.

SEMA's Powertrain Forum—scheduled for Tuesday, November 4, from 11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m., in rooms N258–N260 of the Las Vegas Convention Center—is a must-attend session for members interested in current and future powertrain technologies, OEM strategies for meeting fuel-economy and emissions standards, and the impact on their products, revenue streams and business plans.

Attendance is free but registration is required.

The Forum will include an overview of the SEMA-Clemson Vehicle Emissions Projects and SEMA’s Emissions Lab and Executive Order (EO) Program for vehicle compliance, as well as baseline vehicle information to help members predict the impact of aftermarket powertrain modifications on vehicle emissions.

For more information on the 2014 SEMA Show, visit www.SEMAShow.com. 

Batman was driving on the streets of Detroit, and the shooters at KGP Photography caught the best all-angles look yet at the new Batmobile.

These latest shots go beyond the murky leaked ones, or the cropped or covered official shots, providing an all-encompassing view of the Dark Knight's imposing new ride. These tightly cropped shots, along with wider-angle views, give some perspective of the Batmobile's size compared to, say, a Ford Focus.

Photo credit: KGP Photography

Batman was driving on the streets of Detroit, and the shooters at KGP Photography caught the best all-angles look yet at the new Batmobile.

These latest shots go beyond the murky leaked ones, or the cropped or covered official shots, providing an all-encompassing view of the Dark Knight's imposing new ride. These tightly cropped shots, along with wider-angle views, give some perspective of the Batmobile's size compared to, say, a Ford Focus.

Photo credit: KGP Photography

Batman was driving on the streets of Detroit, and the shooters at KGP Photography caught the best all-angles look yet at the new Batmobile.

These latest shots go beyond the murky leaked ones, or the cropped or covered official shots, providing an all-encompassing view of the Dark Knight's imposing new ride. These tightly cropped shots, along with wider-angle views, give some perspective of the Batmobile's size compared to, say, a Ford Focus.

Photo credit: KGP Photography