Small Business Majority has created a comprehensive state policy agenda to ensure entrepreneurship is at the center of a thriving and inclusive economy in California. California’s 3.9 million small businesses employ seven million people, which amounts to about half of the private workforce, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Small Business Majority writes in support of AB 1611 concerning out-of-network emergency room bills, or surprise billing. The legislation would extend protections for consumers receiving emergency care and ensure that they are not billed for more than their in-network cost sharing responsibilities. Additionally, AB 1611 will help control overall costs by preventing hospitals from setting payment higher than 150% of the Medicare rate or the average contracted rate paid by the specific health insurer for the same services in the same region.
Small Business Majority writes in support of AB 1577, which would encourage increased local partnerships between public agencies and technical assistance providers to microenterprises. Increased partnership between government agencies and technical assistance centers will encourage vital investment in California’s job creators and chief exporters, particularly helping women entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs of color. Indeed, increasing input from microenterprise development agencies into government programs will improve effectiveness of government programs.
Small Business Majority writes in support of SB 534, which encourages supplier diversity across insurance industries in California, creating opportunities for minority-owned small businesses. Minority small business ownership is growing at a significantly higher rate than other small businesses, and diverse entrepreneurs in particular represent enormous economic power within California. This legislation will ensure more dollars spent by California’s insurance companies go to businesses owned by diverse entrepreneurs, strengthening the state's economy overall.
Kenitra “Keni” Dominguez was determined to expand Red Bay Coffee’s employee benefits when she became the sustainable coffee company’s Director of People and Culture in early 2018.
“Finding good employee benefits takes time, dedication and resources, and before I came to Red Bay, there was no one serving in a dedicated HR or people operations capacity, so I was essentially starting from scratch,” she said.
Small Business Majority writes in support of AB 539, the Fair Access to Credit Act, which would eliminate the practice of charging unaffordable interest rates on consumer loans between $2,500 and $10,000. The legislation would protect small business borrowers from the predatory practices of triple-digit lenders, and as a result, greatly benefit entrepreneurs and small businesses in California that rely on consumer loans to grow their businesses.
Small Business Majority writes in support of AB 174, which would extend tax credits to individuals struggling to access affordable healthcare. Extending tax credits to those currently just above the cutoff from premium subsidies will benefit many of California’s small businesses, their employees and self-employed entrepreneurs.
Small Business Majority writes to urge the California legislature to include funding in the 2019-2020 State Budget for healthcare solutions that will expand access to affordable coverage. Through its budget, California can take immediate steps to protect its small business community by enacting practical, achievable reforms that will strengthen California’s marketplaces and control healthcare costs.
Small Business Majority writes in support of SB 29, which would expand Medi-Cal coverage to undocumented immigrants. We believe that such measures are key to strengthening the healthcare system overall, which is vitally important to California small businesses.
Small Business Majority writes in support of SB 343, which would create healthcare data transparency parity across California’s healthcare industry. Requiring uniform disclosure information about healthcare usage, costs and outcomes would further efforts to improve affordability and quality of existing healthcare options for all Californians, including many entrepreneurs small business employees.
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