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Senate Bill 74<\/a>, with 36 Democrat and 27 Republican sponsors, is a true bipartisan and bicameral small business relief package jointly authored by Senators Andreas Borgeas (R-Fresno) and Anna Caballero (D-Salinas), and principally co-authored by Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris (D-Laguna Beach). And while Governor Gavin Newsom\u2019s additional request of $575 million to the grant relief program is a step in the right direction, more capital investment is needed to keep California\u2019s job creators afloat. SB 74 also contains an urgency clause to go into effect immediately upon approval.<\/div>\n
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\u201cCalifornia\u2019s small businesses and nonprofits cannot wait any longer for relief,\u201d said Senator Borgeas. \u201cThe fast-growing, bipartisan coalition for the\u00a0Keep California Working Act\u00a0demonstrates the immediacy of this need throughout the entire state. If small businesses are suffering because they are following COVID-19 protocols, then it is imperative that California provide relief to those that are struggling.\u201d<\/div>\n
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\u201cI am happy to see such a strong, bipartisan coalition of support continuing to grow,\u201d said Senator Caballero. \u201cI think this speaks to the statewide urgency of helping our small businesses and nonprofits weather the COVID-19 storm. We\u2019ve asked them to make sacrifices for the greater good, and now it\u2019s time for us to provide the relief that they deserve.\u201d<\/div>\n
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Legislative Analyst\u2019s Office (LAO) Recommends More<\/div>\n
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While SB 74 proposes $2.6 billion in economic relief,\u00a0a report published by the Legislature\u2019s nonpartisan policy advisor entitled\u00a0T<\/a>he 2021-22 Budget: California\u2019s Fiscal Outlook<\/a>\u00a0recommends that \u201c\u2026the Legislature use the other half of the windfall \u2013 about $13 billion \u2013 on one-time purposes, focusing on activities that mitigate the adverse economic and health consequences of the public health emergency.\u201d<\/div>\n
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Editorial Boards on SB 74<\/div>\n
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The Los Angeles Times Editorial Board<\/a>: \u201c\u2026a large bipartisan group of legislators is pushing for\u00a0$2.6 billion [SB 74],<\/a>\u00a0with a higher maximum grant to match the scale of the need. We agree, though even that sum will probably not be enough to help every business and nonprofit that needs it.\u201d<\/div>\n
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The Modesto Bee Editorial Board<\/a>: \u201cLegislation aiming to provide a lot more COVID-19 relief money for small California businesses and nonprofits is impressive for drawing support from Republicans and Democrats alike. And, Stanislaus County people can brag because Senate Bill 74\u2019s champions are our own Senate representatives.\u201d<\/div>\n