Gov. Jerry Brown discusses a bill while meeting with advisers at his Capitol office on Monday, Sept. 29, 2014 in Sacramento, Calif. Brown has until midnight Sept. 30 to sign or veto hundreds of bills that were approved in the final weeks of the legislative session. At left is advisor Nancy McFadden. RICH PEDRONCELLI — AP
Patrick McGreevy of the Los Angeles Times reports that Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed legislation to protect small-franchise owners against fast-food giants and convenience store chains, saying he needs more proof there is a problem before considering changes that would “significantly impact California’s vast franchise industry.”
The measure by Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) would have prohibited corporations from putting a franchisee out of business unless they have committed a “substantial and material breach” of the franchise agreement. The bill also would have protected a franchisee’s ability to sell or transfer the business without unreasonable interference.
Brown wrote in his veto message that he is open to reforming the franchise laws “if there are indeed unacceptable or predatory practices by franchisors. I need, however, a better explanation of the scope of the problem so I am certain that the solution crafted will fix those problems and not create new ones.”
Jackson said problems do exist. “Current law allows these corporations to put these small franchisees out of business for even the most minor and arbitrary violations,” Jackson said recently in support of SB 610.
Franchise owners have complained that parent firms have forced them to give up their stores or blocked transfers of ownership.
“We are disappointed that Gov. Brown ignored the small-business owners who have invested our life savings and life’s work into creating California jobs, and instead sided with the giant corporate franchisors with his veto of SB 610,” said Keith Miller, chairman of the national Coalition of Franchisee Associations.
Read more at the Los Angeles Times
Gov. Jerry Brown discusses a bill while meeting with advisers at his Capitol office on Monday, Sept. 29, 2014 in Sacramento, Calif. Brown has until midnight Sept. 30 to sign or veto hundreds of bills that were approved in the final weeks of the legislative session. At left is advisor Nancy McFadden. RICH PEDRONCELLI — AP
Read more here: http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2014/09/30/3271118/gov-jerry-brown-vetoes-franchise.html?sp=/99/177/348//#storylink=cpy