CA Worker Cooperative Act

AB 816 PASSED BECAUSE OF YOUR SUPPORT!

Cooperatize the Economy!

Because so many of you signed the Coalition's petition below the legislators in Sacramento knew that their constituents, YOU, wanted to see more cooperative enterprises take root in California! 

NOTE: If you'd like to keep up to date with future worker cooperative state or local policy initiatives, SELC's worker cooperative publications (like our legal guide for Cooperative Conversions), or receive invitations to educational events about worker cooperatives, please sign up below! Thanks!

 

What is AB 816?

AB 816 will help small businesses, create jobs, and empower California communities by providing a business entity specifically for worker cooperatives within the existing Consumer Cooperative Corporations Law. 

Read a detailed summary of the bill prepared by the California Worker Cooperative Policy Coalition.

How did people like you get involved? 

They signed our petition below! We took the petition signatures to the California State Capital and told the assembly members and State Senators Californians wanted clearer paths to creating economic democracy at home!

AB 816: The California Worker Cooperative Act

AB 816 clarifies that the existing Cooperative Law applies to cooperatives in general, not just consumer cooperatives. It also creates more visibility for worker cooperatives and provides a framework for worker cooperative business formation. Worker cooperatives that organize under the amended Coop Law may elect to be governed as a worker cooperative, ensuring that workers will control the business in the future. AB 816 also raises the existing exemption from securities registration for the sale of memberships up to $1,000 (the current law only allows $300). That means you can crowdfund from your local community to invest (that's right, not donate, but actually invest!) in the creation and expansion of democratic, worker-owned businesses! AB 816 also provides strict guidelines for those outside investors regarding voting power and influence on the business.  

AB 816 Provisions

Read the full current bill language and record of amendments.

We held an informational session regarding the 2015 Worker Cooperative Act on March 3rd, 2015 and recorded it for your viewing pleasure. Watch below at your leisure!

Supporters

Arizmendi Association of Cooperatives * East Bay Community Law Center * Network of Bay Area Worker Cooperatives (NoBAWC) * The Sustainable Economies Law Center * U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives * Democracy at Work Institute 

Thank you for signing our Petition!

Those below added their names because they believe that cooperatives can build community wealth while providing just and dignified livelihoods. It was their voices that let legislatures know we not only want but demand more worker owned businesses in our communities! 

NOTE: The first time you sign into SELC's website, if you uncheck "Send me email updates," you will be unsubscribed from ALL email updates from SELC.

SELC does not have the ability to text you about this campaign.

232 SIGNATURES
500 signatures

Will you sign?


Showing 211 reactions

  • Atid Kimelman
    signed 2015-04-02 13:05:28 -0700
  • len krimerman
    signed 2015-04-01 16:58:06 -0700
  • Deidra Somerville
    signed 2015-04-01 06:54:48 -0700
  • Kay Ikranagara
    signed 2015-03-31 17:13:45 -0700
  • David Morgan
    signed via 2015-03-31 06:12:39 -0700
  • Dan Sockrider
    @Ancient_Balance tweeted link to this page. 2015-03-30 23:25:42 -0700
    Sign the petition! Help worker #coops become recognized in #CA! Sign the #Worker #Coop Act Petition! http://www.theselc.org/ca-worker-cooperative-act?recruiter_id=13784
  • Dan Sockrider
    signed 2015-03-30 23:25:24 -0700
  • Sara Stephens
    signed via 2015-03-25 11:53:49 -0700
  • Joani Blank
    signed 2015-03-22 23:39:30 -0700
  • John Light
    signed via 2015-03-16 19:41:14 -0700
  • Jessica Bergman
    signed 2015-03-16 16:57:51 -0700
  • Sharon Tipton
    @Flowerguerrilly tweeted link to this page. 2015-03-14 16:37:26 -0700
    Sign the petition! Help worker #coops become recognized in #CA! Sign the #Worker #Coop Act Petition! http://www.theselc.org/ca-worker-cooperative-act?recruiter_id=13399
  • Sharon Tipton
    signed via 2015-03-14 16:35:59 -0700
  • Ross Heckmann
    @RossHeckmann tweeted link to this page. 2015-03-14 16:32:10 -0700
    Sign the petition! Help worker #coops become recognized in #CA! Sign the #Worker #Coop Act Petition! http://www.theselc.org/ca-worker-cooperative-act?recruiter_id=181
  • Ross Heckmann
    posted about this on Facebook 2015-03-14 16:32:10 -0700
    Sign the petition! Help worker #coops become recognized in #CA! Sign the #Worker #Coop Act Petition!
  • Pamela Chang
    signed 2015-03-13 13:27:30 -0700
  • Maru Bautista
    signed via 2015-03-12 16:35:36 -0700
  • Claiborne Deming
    signed 2015-03-12 15:50:11 -0700
  • Amy Warren
    posted about this on Facebook 2015-03-12 15:36:27 -0700
    Sign the petition! Help worker #cooperatives become recognized in #CA by signing the #Worker #Coop Act Petition!
  • Amy Warren
    signed 2015-03-12 15:34:25 -0700
  • Jessica Prentice
    signed 2015-03-12 13:42:33 -0700
  • Joseph Morris
    signed 2015-03-12 12:55:16 -0700
  • tom kiely
    signed 2014-12-20 17:30:52 -0800
  • William Lisa
    signed 2014-12-11 22:04:38 -0800
  • George Berven
    signed via 2014-12-03 15:39:02 -0800
  • Elizabeth Burnett
    signed 2014-09-12 11:49:31 -0700
  • paul smith
    signed 2014-06-28 18:19:42 -0700
  • John Curl
    signed 2014-06-19 20:12:40 -0700
  • posted about this on Facebook 2014-06-07 11:31:54 -0700
    Sign the petition! Help #worker #cooperatives become recognized in CA by signing the Worker Coop Act Petition! #theSELC
  • Ross Heckmann
    signed 2014-06-07 11:31:06 -0700

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