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Legislative Update

As independent contractors, PATCA professionals need to be aware of changes in legislation that can impact the consulting profession and their businesses. Terry L. Ramus, who has been PATCA's Legislative Committee Chair for over a decade, regularly monitors legislative reports and issues in four general categories:

• Independent contractors
• Taxation
• Technology products
• License regulations

Sometimes the consulting profession becomes caught in the "net" of legislation directed at other goals. PATCA consultants can help make legislators and client businesses aware of these issues—and hopefully alter potential new laws. Some examples would be a new tax law or regulation that:

• discourages business from hiring outside experts;
• limits areas of work to certain arbitrary groups and excludes other areas of expertise;
• renders the consulting profession less competitive.

The Legislative Committee works solely on positions consistent with the goals of PATCA and approved by the PATCA Board of Directors. If you're interested in learning more about Legislative activities and how you can get involved, please contact Terry Ramus (link to his e-mail address).

Below are some websites that provide legislative information you may find useful:

1. To search and review active and past bills:
   http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/bilinfo.html
2. Information on your elected officials:
   http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html
3. General information from the State Legislature:
   http://www.legislature.ca.gov
4. California Governor:
   http://www.governor.ca.gov/state/govsite/gov_homepage.jsp
5. State Tax Issues:
   http://www.boe.ca.gov 
6. State Payroll and Labor:
   http://www.edd.ca.gov
7. Engineering Rules:
   http://www.dca.ca.gov/pels
8. Incorporation
   http://www.ss.ca.gov/business/business.htm

        Other States and U.S. Government:
        http://www.llsdc.org/sourcebook/state-leg.htm#OT

1. U.S. House of Representatives:
   http://www.house.gov
2. U.S. Senate:
   http://www.senate.gov
3. White House:
   http://www.whitehouse.gov
4. IRS - Federal Tax:
   http://www.irs.gov
5. Patents and Trademarks:
   http://www.uspto.gov