Senate Bill 7 seeks to close the loophole which has allowed California's 121 charter cities to remain exempt from California's prevailing wage regulations.  The bill, largely viewed as a win for local contractors and the local labor force, has found opposition with municipalities' political representatives, who view the Bill as a further increase of the state's hold over the local government.  

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The Rice Solar Energy Project located in Blythe in eastern Riverside County, is the first large-scale solar project in California to include energy storage capabilities.  The Project represents $750 million in direct investment into the state and the generation of 5,300 jobs over the course of the Project's 24-month California construction.  

The California Contractor State Licensing Board (CSLB) formed the Joint Enforcement Strike Force's (JESF) Construction Enforcement Project (CEP) to capitalize on multi-agency partnerships in a coordinated effort to enforce wage and licensure laws for contractors.  The results have been staggering so far: 411 audit referrals for an estimated $48,553,626 in unreported wages; $25,832,017 in EDD and Franchise Tax Board outstanding tax and civil liability suspension amounts with $10,815,762 in penalties recovered; $17, 705, 752 in EDD tax and civil liability suspensions with $6,626, 208 in recovered tax liability; and additional license liability suspensions by the Department of Industrial Relations totaling $1,972,328 with $1,835,869 in penalties recovered. 

LLCs will finally have the ability to become licensed contractors in the state of California in 2012.  

Prior to 2012, LLCs were not permitted to hold California contractor's licenses.  However, beginning on January 1, 2012, that is about to change.  Beginning earlier this year, the Contractors State License Board (CSLB).  began processing license applications from LLCs for contractor's licenses.  Although the CSLB is not currently issuing LLC contractor licenses, it is expected to do so in 2012, as SB 392 becomes law and LLCs are lawfully permitted to hold California contractor licenses.