A recent CalChamber Alert newsletter reported that two California Chamber of Commerce-opposed bills that increase employer costs and threaten employers with civil litigation and criminal prosecution are awaiting action by the full Senate when the Legislature returns from summer recess.

• AB 970 (Nazarian; D-Sherman Oaks) significantly expands the labor commissioner’s authority and increases employer costs by permitting the labor commissioner to enforce local minimum wage laws through the citation process, which will increase annual assessments to fund the labor commissioner’s office for all employers across the state, including those in areas with no local minimum wage.

• AB 1017 (Campos; D-San Jose) threatens employers with civil litigation for seeking an applicant’s prior salary and benefit information even though the applicant suffered no harm in compensation.

The CalChamber is asking members to contact their senators and urge that they oppose AB 970 and AB 1017.

Sample letters are available at www.calchamber.com/grassroots.