Sacramento-Auto recyclers appearing on behalf of their dismantling businesses from throughout California assembled at the state Capitol on April 8 to meet with legislators and talk about government agency issues at the fourth annual "Day on the Hill," sponsored by the State of California Auto Dismantlers Association (SCADA), SCADA Executive Director Martha Cowell said.
"A total of more than 25 different legislative offices were visited by the group, thus allowing even those attendees who flew in from Southern California to participate in the entire event with only one day away from their businesses," Cowell said.
Guest speakers addressed the group at the Sutter Club in the morning, including SCADA Governmental Advocate Gavin McHugh of McHugh & Associates; Assemblywoman Jean Fuller, R-Bakersfield; and Berman Obaldia, West Coast director of government affairs for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers (AAM).
Then it was off to the Capitol for an afternoon of meeting with legislators in their offices.
"Attendees met with their individual elected representatives or their staff to explain the value of auto recycling and share their views on the issues facing our businesses today," Cowell said.
Bruce Luther, SCADA president and owner of Rock & Roll Auto Recycling in Pleasanton, said he was thrilled with the significant number of members who participated in the event.
"We're seeing more and more dismantlers getting involved in the legislative process," he said. "It's great to have our own legislative day so that we can be heard."
SCADA Legislative Advocate Gavin McHugh prepared members for the meetings with legislators by providing a context for the discussions and background on a variety of issues, including two major bills that could greatly impact the auto recycling industry in California.
They are SB 691, which would strengthen enforcement against individuals who steal and resell nonferrous metals, and AB 2127, which would allow a small employer (25 or fewer employees) to agree to an employee's request to work four 10-hour days a week or eight nine-hour days within a two-week period without requiring a vote by employees, McHugh said.
Enforcement against nonlicensed recyclers who operate illegally in the state is also a major industry issue that should be addressed by legislators, he said.
"Many of our members have said that this needs to be the year for enforcement," McHugh said. "There are too many nonlicensed recyclers operating under the radar out there, and there's not enough oversight. As industry leaders, SCADA members need to educate legislators on what needs to be done to make certain that all of the dismantlers operating in California fulfill the same requirements that legitimate operators must adhere to."
