The bill aims to reduce the cost of rideshare services for Californians by removing the requirement that rideshare drivers carry $1 million in coverage for accidents caused by other drivers who are uninsured or under-insured - a cost that today is passed on to riders in fees. The bill will lower the requirement to $60,000 in uninsured motorist coverage per individual and $300,000 per accident.
The audit found serious problems, including crazy long lag times for investigating urgent complaints (almost three months for high-priority situations, such as patient deaths) and more than a year for less dire complaints (meaning problems can fester and put patient safety at risk). It also found that when the state brought its weight to bear on unlicensed homes illegally providing services, regulators didn't always bother to venture out to see for themselves what was actually happening.
Wayne Gardiner, 58, watched his home of 20 years roll onto the back of a flatbed tow truck in San Jose on a recent Monday afternoon. Then he realized he'd forgotten something inside. He threw open compartments in the bottom of the RV as fast as he could, looking for the pressure-washing tools he uses for cleaning jobs to make extra money.
The proposal would put new congressional maps before voters in November, which are designed to oust at least five of California's nine Republican members of Congress. Democrats say the effort is a necessary counter to Republican-led gerrymandering in Texas, while GOP lawmakers in California have blasted the plan as an abuse of power. In hearings Wednesday, Republicans pressed Democrats for a clear price tag on running the statewide special election. Bill analyses of the proposals provided few details about the cost, saying the special election would cost somewhere in the "low millions" of dollars. "No one has time to figure this out, where the money is going to come from," said Asm. Dianne Dixon, R-Newport Beach.
Senator Aisha Wahab has introduced a bill that would prevent retailers from using artificial intelligence to increase prices by using the information stored on customers' phones. This is aimed at stopping the practice of dynamic pricing, where prices fluctuate based on consumer data. Wahab's motivation is to create an equal playing field for consumers, regardless of their socioeconomic status, by preventing price discrimination based on the data from devices like smartphones.
"When the Trump administration threatened and then went through with their threat to cut the program completely, that told us that we had to step up to the plate."
As artificial intelligence gives new, powerful tools to employers seeking to streamline hiring and monitor workers, a bill is advancing through the California Legislature to address fears that the technology could unfairly deny workers jobs and promotions.
