Since launching in September 2019, Build California has reached more than 7.5 million students, parents, teachers, influencers and job-seekers across the state through its robust mix of outreach and programmatic efforts, educating them on the incredible career opportunities available in the construction industry.

By Ken Simonson, Chief Economist, the Associated General Contractors of America

Contractors everywhere are coping with unprecedented price increases and delivery delays for key materials. For California construction firms, the problems are even more vexing in that some of the needed items are sitting just off the state’s coast or even on its docks.

AGC offers resources and information on Governor Newsom's November 19, 2020 limited statewide stay-at-home order directed at counties in the purple tier. 

Passed earlier this month, AB 1867 created a new COVID-19-related paid sick leave (PSL) system that specifically effects employers with greater than 500 employees. Contained within the legislation are certain paystub and posting requirements that employers must be aware of to avoid potential wage and hour violations.

On Wednesday evening, Governor Newsom signed a budget trailer bill (AB 1867) providing paid sick leave for full-time and part-time employees to take time off work when ill or caring for a family member due to COVID-19. The federal law exempted employers with 500 or more employees, but AB 1867 has closed that exemption by including employers with over 500 employees and public and private employers of first responders and health care employees who opted not to cover their employees under federal law.  ​

Last month the UCC’s Operating Engineers Craft Committee held the first meeting of the joint AGC of California/OE3 Regulatory Subcommittee which was established in the recent MLA negotiations. The subcommittee will be a venue for AGC of California and OE3 to discuss how federal, state, and local regulations are impacting contractors (among other topics) and work together to find ways to make OE3 signatory contractors as competitive as possible. ​

Registration is now open for the 2020 Construction HR and Training Professionals Virtual Conference and pre-conference Federal Construction HR Workshop. The workshop is scheduled for September 23 and 24, with the full conference to follow on October 6, 7 and 8. ​

​The Assembly Insurance Committee and Senate Labor Committee recently heard three bills  related to COVID-19 workers’ compensation claims and creating a “presumption” of work relatedness. While all three bills passed committee vote by a wide bipartisan margin, it is uncertain which ones will reach the Governor’s desk or if they are consolidated into one measure. ​​