The California State Floral Association (CSFA) received word that the CA Assembly’s Business and Profession’s Committee will be holding a hearing regarding AB 1282. The proposed bill would prevent geographic misrepresentation where fictitious florists include local communities in their business names and purchase local phone numbers which are then forwarded to out-of-area and out-of-state call centers. The hearing will take place on Tuesday, April 24.
Florists are urged to fax letters in support of the legislation to:
Assembly Member & Committee Chairman Mike Eng at (916) 319-2149 and Business and Professions Committee Members: Bill Emmerson (916-319-2163), Karen Bass (916-319-2147), Wilmer Carter (916-319-2162), Mary Hayashi (916-319-2118), Edward Hernandez (916-319-2157), Shirley Horton (916-319-2178), Bill Maze (916-319-2134), Curren Price, Jr. (916-319-2151), Alberto Torrico (916-319-2120) and Business and Professions Committee Consultant Pablo Garza (916-319-3306). Please also fax a copy to the CSFA office at 916-446-1063 – Attention: Ann Quinn.
A sample letter from CSFA concisely states these important florist issues:
“California florists and consumers of floral products alike are currently being shortchanged by sellers of floral products who are misrepresenting themselves as “local” businesses when in fact they are not.
“Out of state marketers are “stealing the identity” of local florists. They buy ad space in various local telephone directories throughout the state, use the local community name and provide a local number for consumers to call. California florists are losing income, California workers are losing wages, the state of California is losing tax revenue and finally, California consumers are losing their ability to choose to buy a local product from a local vendor.
“I believe that the sellers of floral or ornamental products or services should be truthful about their business locations. AB 1282 simply requires sellers of floral or ornamental products or services to include in their advertising and telephone listings their business address if their name would imply the business is in a different locale.
“Twenty-two states have passed legislation against deceptive phone listings. It is time for California, the number one flower growing and selling state, to do the same. AB 1282 will help prevent out-of-state businesses from stealing the identity of our local businesses. This issue needs to be addressed and I believe AB 1282 is the necessary means to do so. Therefore, we respectfully ask for your “AYE” vote on AB 1282 which is supported by the California State Floral Association, the Society of American Florists, and the Master Florists Association.”
Your letters and support are urgently needed at this time.
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