California bills opposed by VICA failed

Seven business-related California bills opposed by the Valley Industry & Commerce Association were defeated after they failed to pass their houses of origin. The bills of greatest concern for the organization included Senate Bill 789 and Assembly bills 1060 and 1594, VICA said in a statement. Senate Bill 789 would have allowed agricultural workers to unionize using a card check system instead of a secret ballot. Assembly Bill 1060 would have banned the sale of alcoholic beverages at self-service checkouts. Assembly Bill 1594 would have blocked the construction of a peripheral canal from the Sacramento River to a location south of the Sacramento San Joaquin Delta. Other failing bills the organization opposed were Senate Bill 1470 and Assembly bills 1530, 484 and 291, the statement said. The bills would have allowed local governments to remove some billboards without compensation, increased the maximum allowable tax for oil spill prevention, suspended professional licenses if the Franchise Tax Board imposes a tax lien, and allowed California Coastal Commission staff to stop permit application processing.