September 23, 2024

Last month, the Chamber, alongside the California Restaurant Association, Southern California Rental Housing Association, and San Diego County Lodging Association, expressed our opposition to the proposed Fair Chance Ordinance under consideration by the County Board of Supervisors. Overall, stakeholders raised concerns as this ordinance is duplicative of state law, the California Fair Chance Act of 2018, and creates additional burdensome and unnecessary regulations and red tape for small businesses in our region. Unfortunately, the ordinance passed in a 4-1 vote, but the Chamber remains committed to keeping our members informed. Chamber staff will continue to provide updates on the educational programs for employers offered by the Office of Labor Standards & Enforcement (OLSE) to equip businesses with the necessary tools to adopt fair hiring practices in line with the proposed ordinance. In addition, staff will continue to engage with the County to ensure compliance with the ordinance is not overburdensome, and proper education is provided to the business community.