Latest news with #JerryMcNerney
CBS News
24-07-2025
- Business
- CBS News
California Democrats propose relaxed emissions rules amid gas price crisis
California's affordability crisis could lead to more relaxed emissions standards, according to a plan introduced by state Democrats. State Senator Jerry McNerney of Stockton is one of a group of Democrats spearheading the proposal. "This is an emergency," McNerney said. "In times of shortage, I think people are OK with having slightly more emissions in order to keep the prices affordable for Californians." McNerney said details of the proposal are being negotiated, which could include relaxed emissions if prices rise to a certain level or if fuel storage drops too low. McNerney's emergency plan follows the announced departure and closure of several state refineries, leaving a tight supply and potential for spikes if one of the refineries left, suddenly goes off-line. He's calling on California to create an alternative fuel blend with other western states to create more supply. Ethan Elkind is the director of the UC Berkeley Center for Law, Energy, and the Environment. He says California's environmental priorities are now taking a backseat to its affordability crisis when it comes to gas. "I think it's such a reflection of how much legislators are feeling this pressure to go to their constituents and say, 'Look, we're trying to reduce prices,' " Elkind said. The Western States Petroleum Association opposes the plan, saying it doesn't address their needs for more investments in their industry. McNerney says he is hoping to get his legislation passed into law by the end of the year.
Miami Herald
16-06-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
California's ‘No Robo Bosses Act' advances, taking aim at artificial intelligence in the workplace
One company offers Bay Area employers artificial intelligence that filters potential hires by combing through 10,000 public online sources looking for references to violence or illegal drugs. Another uses the technology to scan workers' office emails for signs of dissatisfaction or burnout. Others offer AI analysis of workers' every online action in the workplace. 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 or lead to punishment and firings. The "No Robo Bosses Act" - Senate Bill 7 - seeks to impose human decision-making over certain workplace-automation technology. Introduced by state Sen. Jerry McNerney, a Pleasanton Democrat, it passed the state Senate in a 27-10 vote earlier this month. "When it comes to people's lives and their careers, you don't want these automated decision-making systems to operate without any oversight," McNerney said. If passed, SB 7 would bar employers from relying "primarily" on automated decision-making software for promotion, discipline or firing of employees. Any automated decision would need to be reviewed by a person who must investigate and "compile corroborating or supporting information for the decision," the bill said. The bill, which heads to the state Assembly's Labor and Employment Committee on June 25, also would ban employers' use of products that aim to predict workers' behavior, beliefs, intentions, personality, psychological or emotional states, or other characteristics. McNerney's office in March issued a news release with a link to a list of companies purportedly selling "bossware" workplace-management technology. Some of the businesses offer products that could violate provisions of the bill, particularly a ban on software that infers workers' mental states. Others, like Bay Area firm Braintrust, sell software that automates hiring processes, which the original version of the bill would have banned. "With recent dramatic advances in the capabilities of AI systems, the need for regulatory frameworks for accountability and responsible development and deployment have become ever more urgent," an analysis for the state Senate Judiciary Committee said. One AI company on the list, Veriato of Florida, markets its product's ability to analyze workers' emails to "detect signs of dissatisfaction or burnout," and "pinpoint disgruntled workers and possible security risks." Another on the list, Cogito of Boston, touts its "Emotion AI and Conversation AI" that analyze call center workers' voices to give their supervisors "visibility into live conversations of their teams." Veriato and Cogito's parent company, Verint, did not respond to questions about their products and the bill. Other offerings from the hundreds of companies on the list include eye tracking, keystroke recording and analysis of workers' online actions in the workplace, from text messaging and app usage to web browsing. The provision to prohibit fully automated hiring was removed by the Senate Judiciary Committee, with McNerney's consent, the committee analysis said. The California Chamber of Commerce, leading a coalition opposing the bill, had objected to including hiring, contending only the smallest companies would have been able to comply with that provision. Employers would have to notify job applicants if they use automated decision-making in hiring. The CalChamber, in a letter representing the coalition, argued that many of the bill's requirements are "onerous and impractical." The coalition includes the California Retailers Association, the California Grocers Association, and TechNet, which speaks for Apple, Cisco, Google, HP, Meta, OpenAI, Salesforce, Tesla, Uber and Waymo. Missteps would "lead to costly litigation for even the smallest of employers," and the bill fails to consider the benefits of automated decision-making, the May 12 letter said. The groups also assailed the total ban on using software to predict behaviors, saying financial institutions use such technology to assess the risk of fraud and other crimes. With hiring excluded from the bill, technology such as San Francisco AI company Braintrust's autonomous video interviews of potential hires, which produce "detailed scorecards along with pass/fail results," would remain legal. Also legal would be Los Angeles AI company Fama's "out-of-the-box" artificial intelligence "solution" for employers to filter potential hires by combing through 10,000 public online sources, including social media and blogs, for red flags such as "violent language," insults, "suggestive language," or promotion of marijuana use. Braintrust and Fama did not respond to questions about their products and the bill. The law would be enforced by the state labor commissioner, and public prosecutors and workers could file civil lawsuits over claimed violations. Employers would be fined $500 for any violations. Asked how employers could be prevented from simply rubber-stamping machine-made decisions, McNerney said, "There's always going to be potential for abuse in the workplace - having a human being in the loop gives some sort of protection." Meanwhile, at the national level, the Republican funding bill seeks to limit state regulations on AI. The House version would impose a 10-year ban on such regulation. The Senate version would withhold federal AI-infrastructure funds from states that regulate the technology over the next decade. President Donald Trump's tech adviser, Silicon Valley billionaire venture capitalist David Sacks, has supported the moratorium as the "correct small government position." The alternative, Sacks said in a post on X, "is a patchwork of 50 different regulatory regimes driven by the AI Doomerism." More than two dozen California members of Congress have come out in opposition to the 10-year ban, saying in a June 5 letter to U.S. senators that "the United States must take the lead on identifying and setting common sense guardrails for responsible and safe AI development and deployment," and preventing states from regulating AI "is inconsistent with the goal of AI leadership." Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New CA legislation looks to fight back proposed PG&E rate hikes
(KRON) — With utility companies constantly raising rates, two Bay Area state lawmakers are proposing legislation designed to restrict how that money is spent. The goal is to make sure the money you pay them is being spent to benefit customers and not on things like political campaigns and advertising. Proposed rate hike would give PG&E highest profit rate of any utility in the country When you're utility bill comes each month, keep a lookout on what you are paying for and what you should not be paying for. 'We don't want the utility companies, the investor-owned utility companies, to be using ratepayer money to do political advertising, to do lobbying,' said California State Senator Jerry McNerney (D-Pleasanton). Bay Area lawmakers in both the state senate and the state assembly are working on legislation to strengthen state law to do just that. 'Last year, PG&E, in their rate making process with the PUC, tried to get $6 million that was they spent on these PR campaigns, on these advertising campaigns. They initially tried to get it to be rate payers that paid for that,' said California State Assemblyman Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park). Berman says the bill would prevent ratepayer money being spent on political lobbying, public relations, or shareholder travel. Revel brings EV fast charging station to San Francisco: 'We are open for business' Similar prohibitions can be found in new legislation from McNerney. However, it would prevent utilities from shutting off power when air quality is unhealthy as well as require power be turned back on for those who have already been shut off. For its part, PG&E says it's committed to stabilizing customer bills but says the 'proposed legislation would not lead to any notable or immediate bill reductions. They point out that current state law already prohibits utilities from using customer funding for political contributions and certain advertising. If the CPUC determines that any safety communications do not meet the criteria for recovery, shareholders would cover those costs. Now, this is just the first step in the process for both of these bills. If they get the needed approval, it's likely they could get to the governor's desk sometime in the fall. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
East Bay politician introduces bill to ensure human oversight of AI in workplace
(KRON) — An East Bay elected official has introduced a bill to require human oversight in the use of artificial intelligence in the workplace. Senate Bill 7, known as the 'No Robo Bosses Act,' was introduced by State Sen. Jerry McNerney (D-Pleasanton). The legislation, according to McNerney's office, is designed to 'require human oversight of artificial intelligence systems in the workplace to help prevent abuses.' SB 7 would bar employers in California from primarily relying on AI systems known as automated decision-making systems (ADS), to make 'hiring, promotion, discipline, or termination decisions,' without human oversight. SB 7 would also prohibit employers from using ADS systems from using the personal information of workers to 'predict' what they might do in the future. Salesforce joins growing list of companies ending diversity hiring initiatives 'Businesses are increasingly using AI to boost efficiency and productivity in the workplace,' said McNerney. 'But there are currently no safeguards to prevent machines from unjustly or illegally impacting workers' livelihoods and working conditions.' 'SB 7 does not prohibit ADS in the workplace, rather it establishes guardrails to ensure that California businesses are not operated by robo bosses — by putting a human in the loop,' he continued. 'AI must remain a tool controlled by humans, not the other way around.' The legislation is sponsored by the California Federation of Labor Unions, AFL-CIO. If the legislation is passed, McNerney's offices said it will be the first of its kind in the nation. AI and ADS systems are increasingly being used by employers in California and around the world. However, McNerney's office cites examples of 'bossware' products that prioritize efficiency and cost-savings over health and safety. In the health care industry, nurses have reportedly had their hours and wages set by algorithms with no human oversight. McNerney's office also cites examples of people being mistakenly terminated from their jobs by AI. ADS models have also reportedly used 'predictive behavior' models that collect personal data from workers and initiated 'adverse actions against a worker based on what the AI 'predicts' the worker will do.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
06-03-2025
- Business
- CBS News
California lawmaker introduces "No Robo Bosses Act" to regulate AI in the workplace
A Northern California lawmaker has introduced a proposal seeking to regulate artificial intelligence used to manage employees in the workplace, including a ban on using software to hire and fire employees without human oversight. State Sen. Jerry McNerney (D-Pleasanton) announced Senate Bill 7, which he dubbed the "No Robot Bosses Act." McNerney said the measure aims to regulate automated decision-making systems (ADS) powered by AI. "Businesses are increasingly using AI to boost efficiency and productivity in the workplace. But there are currently no safeguards to prevent machines from unjustly or illegally impacting workers' livelihoods and working conditions," the senator said in a statement. McNerney stressed that the measure does not prohibit ADS. "AI must remain a tool controlled by humans, not the other way around," he went on to say. Under the senator's proposal, the measure would require human oversight and independent verification for promotion, demotion, firing and disciplinary decision using ADS tools. The proposal would also bar such systems from predictive behavior analysis based on a worker's personal information that results in an "adverse action" against a worker. Systems would also be barred from obtaining or inferring a worker's immigration status, ancestral history, health history, credit history or other statuses protected by state law. Employees would also be able to appeal decisions made by ADS under the measure. In McNerney's statement, the lawmaker cited examples of software prioritizing efficiency and cost-savings over worker health and safety, including gig-nursing apps that set hours and wages without human oversight, along with software mistakenly firing people from their jobs. "No worker should have to answer to a robot boss when they are fearful of getting injured on the job, or when they have to go to the bathroom or leave work for an emergency," said Lorena Gonzalez, president of the California Federation of Labor Unions, AFL-CIO, which is backing the measure. If approved, Senate Bill 7 would be the first law of its kind in the country. The senator's office did not say when the measure would be considered in the legislature.
