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Clarifying protections against retaliation in the workplace awaits Governor’s signature Assemblymember Roger Hernández announced AB 2751 passed the Assembly Floor on a 53-1 concurrence vote. This measure makes a number of clarifying and clean-up changes to AB 263 (Employment retaliation: immigration-related practices) signed into law last year. “Last year, with the passage of my bill AB 263 employers are prohibited from using immigration status against workers who exercise their rights under the California Labor Code or local ordinances. This year, AB 2751 makes a number of clarifying changes to AB 263 to continue protecting workers against intimidation by any employer,” said Hernández. AB 2751 makes it unlawPlease see page 3
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MONDAY, JUNE 30, 2014 - JULY 6, 2014 - VOLUME 3, NO. 26
Public urged to use extreme caution due to drought conditions CAL FIRE offers fireworks safety this Fourth of July
choose to use fireworks to celebrate, make sure fireworks are allowed in the area of use and follow all safety precautions. You don’t want to ruin your celebration by becoming financially responsible for
With the Fourth of July holiday on its way and summertime road trips on the minds of many California drivers, the California State Board of Equalization (BOE) announced today that starting July 1, 2014, the excise tax rate on gasoline will go down to $0.36 per gallon. The new rate of $0.36 – down from $0.395 – was reached after the Board voted unanimously at its February 2014 meeting to lower the rate for the 2014-2015 fiscal year, which ends June 30, 2015. While Californians will be paying less in state excise tax at the pump starting July 1, that doesn’t necessarily mean it will translate into lower gasoline prices. Other factors, such as world crude oil prices, also affect California’s gasoline prices. “I wish we could lower the excise tax rate on gasoline even more, and that it would result in a corresponding decrease in gas prices,” said BOE Chairman Jerome
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-Photo by Terry Miller
Many Californians and visitors will be celebrating our nation’s independence this July 4th holiday with fireworks but CAL FIRE urges extreme caution during California’s drought emergency. It can take hundreds of thousands of gallons of water to control
a large wildfire. Effective July 1, 2014, CAL FIRE Chief Ken Pimlott ordered a ban on open burning throughout the 31 million acres of state responsibility area protected by CAL FIRE due to the elevated threat of wildfire caused by the drought emergency.
State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson unveils first local control funding formula calculations
“The drought has increased the threat of wildfire in California,” said Chief Ken Pimlott, director of CAL FIRE. “We are urging the public to celebrate our nation’s independence by attending a professional fireworks display. For those who
Lower excise tax rate on gasoline starts July 1
NASCAR racing at the Irwindale Event Center BY SHEL SEGAL
Also unveils new LCFF funding snapshot
Local educational agencies can now see the highly anticipated first official calculations of $42 billion in school funding they will receive under the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced today. The calculations for school districts and charter schools are displayed in the traditional funding exhibits, plus a new “LCFF Funding Snapshot.” “California’s new funding formula puts more deci-
sions about education funding where they belong—in the hands of schools, parents, and teachers—and dedicates more resources to students most in need,” Torlakson said. “The information we are providing today will help administrators, teachers, and parents as they work together to help all students succeed.” The LCFF was enacted as part of the 2013 Budget Act and provides a new method of funding local educational agencies (LEAs). LEAs now receive
base funding for all students and additional funding if they serve students who are learning English, in foster care, or are low income. For most of this current year, LEAs have been receiving funds based on estimates by California Department of Education staff, while the state agency reprogrammed its systems and LEAs gathered and reported the data required to do the new LCFF calculations. Until the LCFF Please see page 5
Courtesy Photo
They’ve got NASCAR racing at the Irwindale Event Center. And Doug Stokes, director of communications, wants you to know they’ve
got much more. Formerly known as the Toyota Speedway of Irwindale until the track’s previous owners filed for bankruptcy,
there is now a new name in place and a new spirit. “That whole name Please see page 4