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Public Policy and Legislation BayBio Bills Move Out of CommitteeSeveral bills that BayBio has monitored throughout the 2010 California Legislative Session passed out of the Appropriations Committee on Thursday, August 12 and will move to a floor vote in the coming weeks. The final day to pass legislation is August 31.
Only one priority bill opposed by BayBio moved to the floor. SB 1064 (Alquist) would make fundamental changes to the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine’s intellectual property standards. BOE Considers Definition of Section 33The San Francisco Business Times, on August 13, reported that the Board of Equalization, with pressure from BayBio, is rescinding its interpretation of a key piece of the tax code intended to promote life sciences R&D. Historically, Section 33 provided companies with an exemption for in-state purchases of “human body parts.” However, over the last four years the Board of Equalization has levied a use-tax on private firms conducting R&D. With pressure from BayBio and a reporter’s inquiry, the Board of Equalization is returning to its previous definition of the tax exemption. Legislators Connect with BayBio MembersBayBio’s political activities are ramping for the upcoming November election. We met with Assembly District 21 candidate Rich Gordon at OncoMed Pharmaceuticals in mid-July. Gordon currently sits on the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors. District 21 represents the communities of Redwood City, San Carlos, Menlo Park, Woodside, Portola Valley, Atherton, East Palo Alto, Palo Alto, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Monte Sereno, Los Gatos and San Jose. BayBio members have an opportunity to meet the Speaker of the Assembly September 24. John Perez represents the 46th Assembly District in Los Angeles and will be meeting with BayBio at a South San Francisco location. Please contact Jeremy Leffler (jleffler@baybio.org) if you would like the opportunity to meet with Speaker Perez. Elected in 2008, Perez’s assembly colleagues elected him Speaker of the Assembly in 2010. Prior to the Assembly, Perez spent seven years handling political matters for the United Food and Commercial Workers, a union representing supermarket workers, and also has served as political director of the California Labor Federation. Assembly District 20 candidate Bob Wieckowski will be meeting with BayBio and interested members on August 27 in the East Bay. District 20 communities are Fremont, Newark, Union City and parts of Pleasanton, Castro Valley, Hayward, Milpitas and San Jose. Please contact Jeremy Leffler (jleffler@baybio.org) if you would like more information. |