Assemblymember Williams’ Bill Creates Workplace Equity, Rewards Honest Employers
A new law authored by Assemblyman Das Williams will target unethical contractors who intentionally underreport and/or fail to report the hiring of new employees in an attempt to avoid paying full workers’ compensation premiums
Unfortunately, many employers have minimum policies and only add an
injured worker after the injury occurs. Adding an employee retroactively
causes workers’ compensation premiums to increase for all employers.
This system is especially unfair to employers who legitimately report
employees at the correct time.
“All contractors suffer when employers aren’t honest,” said
Assemblymember Das Williams. “This law will balance out the scales so
that all contractors over time are paying their fair share and honest
contractors don’t have to pay two-to-three times as much.”
AB 1794, signed by Gov. Jerry Brown on
Sunday, will authorize the Employment Development Department to provide
employer or employee information to the Contractors State License Board
and the State Compensation Insurance Fund for the purposes of auditing,
investigating and prosecuting violations of tax and cash-pay
reporting laws.
Contractors will not have to bear any additional costs or reporting responsibilities because the EDD will now be able to share the information.
By allowing the EDD to share new hire
information, the new law will also help California capture a portion of
the billions of dollars lost in underreported annual payroll taxes. - Santa Barbara Independent
Over the weekend, Assemblymember Das Williams was honored by the California Teachers Association (CTA) with a “Gold Award” for being an Outstanding Public Official in his leadership and support of teachers and education in our area.
Williams, a former educator at both the junior high school and university level, was honored at a ceremony held at the Ventura Beach Marriott Friday. Several educators from the area were also honored by the Channel Islands Service Center Council of the CTA, including:
Aline Grossman, a teacher at Ventura High School: Outstanding Educator, Ventura Unified
Education Association.
Ruthann Burnell, a teacher at Serra Elementary School and retired executive board member of the Ventura Unified Education Association (VUEA).
Rae Stevens, site representative from Portola Elementary School and various VUEA committees.
Kathy Riley, with the Hueneme Education Association.
Sandra Kelble, with the Oxnard Educators Association.
Ray Bedoy, with the Ventura Classified Employees Association.
“As we are staring at fiscal Armageddon for the state, there is no group of workers that I am more honored to stand with than our teachers,” said Assemblymember Das Williams.
Website for Assemblymember Das Williams: http://assembly.ca.gov/Williams
McGrath State Beach is one of the best bird-watching areas in California, with the lush riverbanks of the Santa Clara River and sand dunes along the shore. A nature trail leads to the Santa Clara Estuary Natural Preserve. Two miles of beach provide surfing and fishing opportunities, however, swimmers are urged to use caution because of strong currents and riptides. The park offers campsites by the beach. - California State Parks
The Green Jobs Summit will feature educators, green industry leaders and government officials. Learn about the vital links between the need for a robust education system, legislation and the emergence of new technologies.
“The sustainability of our environment and economic recovery are undeniably intertwined,” said Williams, who chairs the Select Committee on Regional Strategies for the Green Economy. “Making sure we have a skilled and educated workforce to support the demand and innovation of green job growth is essential to building a conscious and sustainable economy for future generations as we reduce our reliance on oil and coal.”
“We are pleased to be partnering with Assemblymember Williams’ office to help share very valuable information about sustainability and energy efficiency and to learn from others in the community to further promote this cause,” said Javier Saucedo, Manager of the Green Center, and arm of Community Action of Ventura County.
The Green Jobs Summit will be held on Saturday, Aug. 13 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. in the Ventura College Cafeteria.
Congrats, Das.
Honesty, integrity and old fashioned
hard work paid off.
Williams, a Democrat, beat Republican opponent Mike Stoker and claimed the seat by racking up 33,088 votes, or 52.4 percent of the vote, according to final election results early Wednesday morning. Stoker received 29,887 votes, or 47.33 percent. - Noozhawk
The Nov. 2 election is important for many reasons. One is the fact that voters in Ventura County will help select two brand-new legislators to fill two open seats in the state Assembly.....The Star endorses Mr. Williams out of a belief that he has the outlook, energy and experience necessary to legislate responsibly while seeking creative, bipartisan solutions to the many problems facing the state. Also, Mr. Williams better reflects the views of a majority of the district’s residents, making it more likely that he will have a positive relationship with city and county officials in the district he will represent. - The Ventura County Star
because Das grew up in and around the 35th District!
"I grew up in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, attending local public schools and solidifying my educational foundation before attending UC Berkeley, where I earned my BA in political science. I followed that up with a master’s in environmental science and management from UCSB’s Bren School of Environmental Science & Management." - Das
and you should too!
Santa Barbara City Councilmember Das Williams is proud to report today that his campaign for Assembly District 35 has picked up an endorsement from the Ventura County Professional Peace Officers Association (VCPPOA).
“Das Williams has an exemplary record when it comes to public safety and helping local law enforcement do their jobs protecting our communities,” said Diane Hubbard, President of VCPPOA, which represents 325 deputy probation officers, corrections services officers, harbor patrol officers, airport operations officers and park rangers in Ventura County. “We are eager to work with him on important issues as our District’s next Assemblymember.”
VCPPOA joins a number of other major public safety groups in the region and state in endorsing Williams’ candidacy for this open Assembly seat, including the Peace Officers Research Association of California, Santa Barbara Police Officers Association, AFSCME Local 685 Deputy Probation Officers, the California Asian Peace Officers’ Association, the California Association of Highway Patrolmen, the California Professional Firefighters, Ventura County Professional Firefighters Association, the Santa Barbara City and County Firefighters, and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Firefighters (CDF Firefighters).
From her letter to the Ventura County Star:
I know from personal experience that Das Williams is an outstanding and effective environmental advocate. He has been part of our local environmental movement his entire life. As a board member of the Environmental Defense Center, Williams fought hard to oppose new oil leasing off our coast. As staff to former assembly member Hannah-Beth Jackson, Williams helped author legislation supporting the federal oil moratorium and blocking new oil tankering. As a Santa Barbara City Councilmember, Williams has taken a leadership role in the city, opposing offshore oil development and helping author the resolution adopted by the city opposing new leasing in federal waters.
But Williams doesn’t just say “no.” He also finds solutions. He has led the city in transitioning to a renewable energy future, making the city a leader in our state and nation. Under his leadership, the city has doubled its use of alternative energy and created hundreds of green sustainable jobs.
To pretend that Das Williams is pro-oil is the same as saying that congresswoman Lois Capps, former assembly member Hannah-Beth Jackson, Santa Barbara County Supervisors Salud Carbajal, Janet Wolf and Doreen Farr, and Santa Barbara Mayor Helene Schneider are pro-oil. They all joined Williams in supporting a plan to end existing drilling off Santa Barbara County’s coast.
I support Das Williams for State Assembly because he is a visionary and will move our community and state in a positive direction.
Linda Krop
Santa Barbara
Das Williams enjoys meeting and talking with people in the 35th Assembly District. And, most importantly, he listens.He's the only politician I know who gives out his personal cell phone number so constituents can give him a call when something is on their mind.Das Williams will fight for us because he talks TO us...not down to us, and really, shouldn't it be the 35th Assembly District residents who vote for their representative instead of Sacramento insiders pre-ordaining one?
Das Williams is not expecting your vote...he's working hard to earn it.
