BILL ANALYSIS
AB 702
Page 1
CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB 702 (Salas)
As Amended August 9, 2010
2/3 vote. Urgency
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|ASSEMBLY: | |(June 2, 2009) |SENATE: |35-0 |(August 19, |
| | | | | |2010) |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
(vote not relevant)
Original Committee Reference: H. & C.D.
SUMMARY : Expands the definition of who may reside in farmworker
housing, for the purpose of the Joe Serna Jr., Farmworker
Housing Grant Program (FWHG) to include any person who works on
or off the farm in processing of any agricultural commodity
until it is shipped for distribution. Includes an urgency
clause.
The Senate amendments delete the Assembly version of the bill,
and instead make changes to the bill as described above.
EXISTING LAW defines an "agricultural employee" as any person
who works at a packing shed for a labor contractor or other
entity that contracts with an agricultural employer, in order to
perform services in connection with handling, drying, packing,
or storing any agricultural commodity in its raw or natural
state.
AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY , this bill required the Department of
Housing & Community Development (HCD) to ensure that a
percentage of the money in the Emergency Housing Assistance
Program (EHAP) fund is allocated to sponsors of veterans' only
homeless projects or projects that give preference to veterans
during any fiscal year in proportion to the percentage of
homeless veterans represent of the total homeless.
FISCAL EFFECT : None
COMMENTS : On June 18, 2008, for the purpose of qualifying for
federal housing assistance, Congress expanded the definition of
domestic farm labor to include processing workers engaged not
only in the handling of agricultural commodities in the
unprocessed state but in the "processing of agricultural or
AB 702
Page 2
agricultural commodities." The federal legislation clarified
that farm labor may be performed on the farm, or off the farm,
in non-farm locations including a processing facility.
The amendments taken in the Senate delete the contents of this
bill and instead seek to conform the definition of "agricultural
employee" in the FWHG program to the federal definition, to
include workers working off the farm and engaging in processing
of manufactured commodities.
The FWHG provides funding to grantees that build or rehabilitate
properties to house farmworkers.
Analysis Prepared by : Lisa Engel / H. C. & D. / (916)
319-2085
FN: 0005803