Oh my, indeed. As this article goes to print, a new Governor-elect is selecting new cabinet members for the State of Schwarzeneggerlandia, and a terminated Governor has just finished putting the final touches on vetoes, new laws, and end-of-days appointments. With more than 270 pieces of legislation handled in the last few judgment days of the 2003 legislative session, we'll provide just a few of the last actions here:

• S.B. 2 - a new law with some potential collateral damage to businesses, this bill (signed into law 2 days before the recall vote) requires California companies to either provide health care coverage or pay into a State-run insurance program for their employees. Applies to companies with 200 or more employees beginning in 2006; companies with 50-199 employees by 2007; and companies with 20-49 employees by 2007 as well (if the Legislature provides a tax credit to offset some of the cost);
• S.B. 796 - another new law, this bill (called the "Labor Code Private Attorney Generals Act", and signed into law by Governor Davis on his last legislative day, October 12) allows employees to sue their employers for civil penalties for employment law violations;
• A.B. 1093 - the "California Living Wage Act", this bill would have required all State contractors with more than 100 employees to pay a "living wage" - defined as $10-12/hour - to their employees. It was vetoed by Governor Davis, citing negative impacts on the State budget (not to mention on those of businesses);
• S.B. 328 - also vetoed by Governor Davis, this bill would have waived State community college fees for certain illegal immigrants;
• A.B. 249 (mentioned in my last article, "Border Budget Cuts and Sacramento Surprises") -would have authorized the creation of a California-Mexico Intergovernmental Affairs office and the re-establishment of the now-closed California foreign trade office in Mexico City - was re-numbered to S.B. 623 and carried by local State Senator Denise Ducheny. The bill didn't make it out of the Senate in the final day - so California's foreign trade promotion offices will have to wait until 2004;
• Commission Appointments - with little fanfare, two of San Diego's own were appointed by Governor Davis in early September to the Commission of the Californias. Appointed to the Commission (whose purpose is to foster "economic, educational and cultural relations with Baja California, Baja California Sur and other states and territories within the Republic of Mexico") were Qualcomm Vice-President, Bill Bold, and Senator Ducheny's husband, Alvin Ducheny.
  

By the time you read this, preliminary policy (and State budget) proposals will be in the news, as will the reaction from the State's Democratic-majority Senate and Assembly. The 2004 legislative year will be one to watch closely, with the rise of the political machines gearing up for campaign season as well. Oh my!

I will promise, though: fewer movie references in the next article. True. No lies.

Kenn Morris is the Director of Crossborder Business Associates, an Otay Mesa-based consulting firm that specializes in crossborder market research, business strategy, and US-Mexico political/policy analysis. He can be reached at cba@crossborderbusiness.com or at 619-710-8120.