Each of the five officers for AAHOA have their own letter appear in each issue of the magazine. Seen here is the Secretary\'s Letter from May 2012 reflecting a typical design of these letters.

1. From The Secretary
Keeping a Watchful Eye on
Key Legislative Issues
AAHOA monitoring developments on
increasing access to capital, fair franchising
legislation in California and a recent court
ruling against the NLRB
its notice requirement that would California. As of this late-April writ-
effectively silence employers during a ing, the debate surrounds “The Level
union organizing drive. Playing Field for Small Businesses
Regarding increased access to Act of 2012” (AB 2305). As a strong
capital and making sure small busi- supporter of this bill, AAHOA has
ness owners in need can receive been at the forefront when it comes
reasonable financing solutions, to supporting this bill and rallying
we still acknowledge that this is a members in California to similarly
major problem for business owners show their support.
atel
Pratik P everywhere. Since March’s Capitol On April 17, 2012, the Califor-
Secretary Hill Legislative Summit, legisla- nia Assembly Judiciary Committee
tors and government agencies still passed AB 2305 after more than 150
have not made much progress in this AAHOA members showed up to sup-
area. We continue to stress the need port the bill. The bill now heads to
I
n last month’s issue, I addressed to modernize SBA loan programs as the Business Professions & Consumer
growing concerns about ADA we move out of the financial crisis Protection Committee for a vote on
pool lift requirements and how and to create more flexibility for loan April 24, 2012. The fate of the bill in
the proposed Pool Safe Act (H.R. the committee will of course already
4256) would be a tremendous help
to many hotel owners throughout
We ask every be decided by the time you are read-
ing this issue. Regardless of whether
the country who are struggling to
reach ADA compliance by the May 15 member to please or not it passes, AB 2305 has already
had a ripple effect throughout the
keep an eye out for
deadline. This is obviously a hot topic country, and other states are con-
when it comes to AAHOA’s legisla- sidering introducing their own fair
franchising bills.
member advisories
tive priorities and the things we are
working hard to address on behalf of Finally, but not least important, a
our members. U.S. District Court in South Carolina
However, with that said, it can
sometimes be difficult to stay on top
that will instruct has ruled that the NLRB exceeded its
authority in making the requirement
of the progress of so many legisla-
tive topics as they unfold – especially
any member in the first place. The requirement
compliance deadline, most recently
considering all of the issues AAHOA
tries to stay involved with on Capitol participation extended through April 30, 2012, has
been indefinitely suspended. Never-
requests if needed
Hill as well as at the state and local theless, the District Court’s analysis
levels. I would like to provide just a left the posting requirement in place,
brief update on three other topics that but invalidated the NLRB’s ability to
also carry a tremendous amount of enforce the rule.
importance as they continue to un- eligibility criteria – specifically with AAHOA will continue to monitor
fold: increasing access to capital, fair the 504 Loan Refinancing Program these and other legislative develop-
franchising legislation in California that expires in September and the ments as they unfold. We ask every
that could impact the entire country 7(a) Loan Program that needs to be member to please keep an eye out for
and the recent U.S. District Court updated following the financial crisis. member advisories that will instruct
judgment against the National Labor The battle over fair franchising any member participation requests if
Relations Board (NLRB) regarding legislation is really heating up in needed.
16 AAHOA Lodging Business MAY 2012