This past weekend showed California’s first heat wave of the summer, with temperatures hitting the triple digits.  If you have employees who are working outside, it is important to remember how to protect them from heat illnesses.

California has seen some warmer temperatures thus far this summer, but nothing like last weekend.  With workers not being acclimated to such high temperatures yet, make sure they are being closely observed for any signs of heat illness. 

CalChamber has also shared 5 steps for all industries to take to prevent heat illness.

1. Plan – Develop and implement a written heat illness prevention plan that includes emergency response procedures.
2. Training – Train all employees and supervisors on heat illness prevention.
3. Water – Provide drinking water that is fresh, pure, suitable cool, and free of charge so that each worker can drink at least 1 quart per hour and encourage workers to do so.
4. Rest – Encourage workers to take a cool-down rest in the shade for at least five minutes when they feel the need to do so to protect themselves from overheating. Workers should not wait until they feel sick to cool down.
5. Shade – Provide proper shade when temperatures exceed 80 degrees.  Workers have the right to request and be provided shade to cool off at any time.

In addition to these steps, employees with existing health problems or medical conditions that diminish tolerance to heat should be extra cautious.  Certain medications can also increase a workers’ risk for heat illness.
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To prevent heat illnesses, it is important that supervisors are trained on emergency procedures just in case an employee becomes ill.  This helps to ensure that sick employees receive the proper treatment immediately and that their symptoms do not develop into a serious illness or death.
 
For more information and resources, check out CalChamber’s full article

​California Outdoor Hospitality Association has a long history of success advocating for its members before the California State Legislature and pushing back against aggressive state bureaucracies.

Over the years, CalOHA has won its members the ability to build and rent tent and camping cabins to their customers, carved RV Parks out of the onerous tenant protection requirements mobile home parks are subject to by passing the Special Occupancy Parks Act and pushed back for years against costly regulations by Regional Water Quality Control Boards.

As of lately, California Outdoor Hospitality Association has been fighting tooth and nail against Assembly Bill 1472, which strips RV parks and campgrounds of their right to ask tenants to leave the premises and then allow them to come back and reregister.  This would appear to be the first step in classifying RV parks as mobile home parks and eliminating our no cause evictions.

In response to this bill, CalOHA launched a letter writing campaign.  We contacted both association members and nonmembers across the state requesting they send in opposition letters to Senator Tom Umberg.  The response we received was not only immediate, but enormous as well.  Thanks to our lobbyist and the RV parks and campgrounds of California, our association was able to abolish AB 1472.  This bill and our fight against it begs the question:

Why do our advocacy efforts matter?

Our industry is continuously growing. However, if we do not take care of them, RV parks and campgrounds may not be able to sustain themselves in the future.  Alongside our members and partners, CalOHA works hard to expand the travel and tourism industry while protecting RV parks and campgrounds from harmful legislation.  We do this by lobbying and enlisting your help to fight with us.

California Outdoor Hospitality Association has strength in numbers. The support of our members is what allows us to continue fighting and advocating for the future of the outdoor hospitality industry.  The connection between a legislator and the district they represent is incredibly powerful.  With members in virtually every legislative district in California, CalOHA has the ability to engage with many legislators in a more meaningful way through you. We encourage our members to begin building these relationships early, not just when activated by CalOHA. 
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The stronger we are together, the better we become.
 
To find your local California Representative, check out the FindYourRep website!

Removing or evicting a guest from your park can be difficult, and in California, legislature provides ample rights to your guest and fewer rights for you, the operator/owner. 

The California RV Park Occupancy Law can be found under California Civil Code, Title 2, Part 2 of Division 2. Some attorneys or local law enforcement may not be familiar with RV Park Occupancy Law and may try to use other less stringent eviction codes. However, they do not apply.

California Outdoor Hospitality Association has created the Practical Guide to the Removal & Eviction Process to help guide you through the different processes that apply to RV parks. In quick summary, all removals or evictions are based on three essential time frames of a guest.

If a guest’s length of stay is:

• less than 30 days, the guest is an occupant and requires a 7 day notice for eviction (*civil code signage must be present for removal & eviction
• more than 30 days but less than 9 months, the guest is a tenant and requires a 30 day no cause eviction notice
• more than 9 months, the guest is a resident and requires a 60 day with cause eviction notice

The legal forms provided by CalOHA should be served in accordance with the RV Park Occupancy Law. With the help of Hart Kienle Pentecost and Rudderow Law Group, CalOHA has created forms to assist you with all three types of occupancy. 

Note: Proper use of these forms, when required, can save you time and protect you from potential legal problems and mistakes. The forms are for general usage only and are not a substitute for individualized documents and advice by legal professionals. Prior to using these forms, you should consult with your lawyer.

While the majority of California’s employment law changes are made at the start of the calendar year, they are constantly evolving throughout year, oftentimes without employers’ realization.

To keep employers up to date on all the changes that have been implemented thus far this year, CalChamber has released their 2023 Midyear Employment Law Update. 

According to CalChamber, this year has been a busy one, with local ordinance updates, federal and state court decisions, regulatory developments from multiple departments, and important decisions from the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

Among the Local Ordinance Updates are minimum wage increases for many California cities and counties. Effective July 1, 2023, the following localities will increase their minimum wage to:

• Alameda: $16.52/hour
• Berkeley: $18.07/hour
• Emeryville: $18.67/hour
• Fremont: $16.80/hour
• Los Angeles City: $16.78/hour
• Los Angeles County (unincorporated areas): $16.90/hour
• Malibu: $16.90/hour
• Milpitas: $17.20/hour
• Pasadena: $16.93/hour
• San Francisco: $18.07/hour
• Santa Monica: $16.90/hour
• West Hollywood: $19.08/hour

All California employers with employees in these jurisdictions should prepare to implement these new minimum wage rates. Employers should also check to see if their city/county has any required posters or updates for July 1st.