Although Unemployment Dropped, a Local Senator Takes Aim at New Laws that Cost Jobs

Locally, the jobless rate dropped in February, but California’s overall high rate of unemployment prompted the region’s state senator to introduce a bill aimed at halting legislation deemed excessive and costly to businesses.

Senator Tom Harman (R-Huntington Beach), who represents Los Alamitos, Rossmoor and Seal Beach, reintroduced the Jobs Protection Act, which will likely go to hearing in April.

If passed, the bill would require the Senate Appropriations Committee to conduct an economic impact report (EIR) for any bill considered to have a negative impact report on business.

“California’s (January) unemployment rate is at 12.4 percent. While the rest of the nation begins to see lower jobless numbers, California’s remain in the double digits,” said Harman in a written statement. “It is my hope that this legislation brings some common sense to a legislative process that too often prioritizes lofty policy objectives above jobs.”

California’s unemployment rate is 2.5 percent higher than the national average of 9.7 percent. The state gained 96,500 jobs last month—the highest monthly gain on record, according to the Employment Development Department. A significant chunk of the job growth came from professional and business services including tech industries.

Under Harman’s law, any legislation considered to place burdensome regulations or taxes on businesses would have to go through an economic impact assessment.  If the bill is found to cost a business $10,000 or more, it would be suspended and held for consideration at a later date.

With environmental legislation being the frequent thorn in the side of the business community, the law could likely have a significant impact on environmental legislation. If the Jobs Protection Act passes, new legislation aimed at protecting the environment could have to undergo the economic impact report process to assess the law’s effect on business.

The Jobs Protection Act was introduced in session last year, but it stalled in committee.

The February unemployment rate dropped slightly from January in Seal Beach, Los Alamitos and Rossmoor.

The Local Unemployment Rate

There are a number of local resources to help families dealing with unemployment. There is a free clinic in Los Alamitos called Lestonnac and Heart of the City that distributes food and clothing the second and third Saturdays of each month at the St. Isidore Historical Plaza.

Services ranging from child care to job search help can also be obtained by calling 211, a social service referral hotline designed to help people find the nearest service available to them.