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SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- As the start of the school year approaches, there is good news for high school, middle school, and elementary students all over San Bernardino County.  K-12 students now ride free every day, on every bus system in the County. That includes Omnitrans, Victor Valley Transit, Mountain Transit, Basin Transit and Needles Area Transit.

“We are very excited about this program,” SBCTA Board President Dawn Rowe states. “ It provides a financial break to families and gives them more options. Whether riding to school, for after school fun, or for a weekend outing, kids ride free.”

The free fares are being promoted with the tag line “You’re now free to GO,” emphasizing not only that the fare is free, but that public transit offers youth the chance to gain independence.

The free fare program is being implemented separately by each system. Identification requirements and rules may vary.  Riders are encouraged to visit their local transit system website to learn more:

• Omnitrans – omnitrans.org, 800.966.6428
• Victor Valley Transit Authority – vvta.org, 760.948.4021
• Mountain Transit – mountaintransit.org, 909.878.5200
• Basin Transit – basin-transit.com, 800.794.6282
• Needles Area Transit – cityofneedles.com/transit, 760.326.2113 ext. 115

The K-12 Student Free Fare Program is sponsored by SBCTA and was approved by the Board of Directors in March 2023.  It is a one-year pilot project, funded primarily with Low Carbon Transit Operations (LCTOP) funding which seeks to reduce carbon emissions by increasing transit use.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— San Bernardino County Fifth District Supervisor, Joe Baca, Jr., hosted a Backpack Giveaway at Mary B. Lewis Elementary School. This initiative supports students from all grades by providing each with a backpack filled with essential school supplies and resources.

“With the new school year upon us, ensuring our students are prepared is a top priority. As a former teacher, I see firsthand the importance of equipping students with the necessary tools at the start of the school year,” says Supervisor Baca, Jr.

The event took place at Mary B. Lewis Elementary School, in Bloomington CA. Supervisor Baca, Jr., along with key community partners including Molina Healthcare, California Highway Patrol, and various county departments, were in attendance to distribute the backpacks and other valuable resources.

Supervisor Baca, Jr. adds, “Our community is coming together to support our students, particularly those who are underserved. This initiative is a testament to our shared commitment to their success. We are excited to start the school year on a positive note.”

By Jaya Padmanabhan | California Black Media

California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom says, “gender discrimination is the oldest form of oppression,” and America must act urgently to fix it.

Although California has some of the strongest pay laws in the nation and the smallest gender pay gap, Siebel Newsom says the Golden State still has work to do to close the wage gap for all women.

For Black women, the first partner says, closing the wage gap is “most obvious.”

“Black women live at the intersection of racial and gender discrimination leaving them doubly impacted by the wage gap,” said Siebel Newsom. “Pay inequities and gaps in wealth and economic opportunity are deeply rooted in our country’s long-standing history of racism and misogyny.

To mark Black Women’s Equal Pay Day Siebel Newsom released a video on July 27 along with Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, and PolicyLink Founder in Residence, Angela Glover Blackwell.

“Today is Black Women’s Equal Pay Day – a day set aside each year to shine a light on the disparity in pay for Black women in this country and the far-reaching impacts for families, communities, and our economy,” said Bass in the video.

“Economic injustice is a problem across the board, and to solve problems effectively and authentically, we have to focus on those most impacted. Together, we will work to close this gap,” the mayor of California’s largest city continued.

On average, women earn 84 cents for every dollar a non-Hispanic White man does. That breaks down to Black women earning 67 cents; Latinas and Native Americans 57 cents; mothers 74 cents; LGBTQIA women 87 cents and women in leadership positions 72 cents for every dollar a non-Hispanic White man earns. Women are hired into lower paying roles at lower starting salaries and take longer to move into leadership roles.

Black women are overrepresented in industries that experience significant downturns. A report by the Department of Labor found that in 2020, 12% of Black women were employed in education and health services but a disproportionate number of them (14.9%) experienced job losses. Also, in wholesale and trade, the majority of losses were Black women. In that sector, Black women comprised 5.6% of the workforce but 14.6 % of the job losses

According to the report, Black women lost out on $39.3 billion in potential wages due to differences in industry and occupations relative to White men.

Racism and sexism are two of the obstacles that Black women face in the workplace. More than half of Black women surveyed for a 2021 National Women Law Center reported facing gender and racial hurdles to opportunity at work.

In 2019, Siebel Newsom launched the California for ALL Women, an initiative to address gender equity at the state level. Through the initiative, she has been an outspoken champion and thought leader on pay equity, working to close the race and gender wage gaps.

That same year, Siebel Newsom announced the California Equal Pay Pledge under California for all Women to build upon California policies such as the Fair Pay Act.

In 2022, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law the Pay Transparency for Pay Equity Act, introduced by Senator Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara). This law requires employers to disclose salary ranges on all job postings and to allow public access to pay data broken down by race, ethnicity and sex for direct employees and those hired through third-party staffing agencies.

“As there is more transparency in the hiring and promotion process there will be outcome in closing the pay gap across companies,” said Siebel Newsom.

Mitchell says she is proud to stand with the first partner and other women and allies around California and the United States to end racial and gender pay discrimination.

“Intentional and bold action on closing the wage gap among Black women and women of color is needed across every sector and will put us on a path to truly ensuring all women, their families and communities are no longer shortchanged from economic prosperity,” said Mitchell.

Recently, Siebel Newsom convened and moderated a panel on pay equity at Genentech in South San Francisco. Genentech was an early signatory of the Equal Pay Pledge. The panel included Genentech CEO Alexander Hardy, Interim Chief Diversity Officer Cari DeLoa, and representatives from other parts of the business.

In addition to Genentech, there are 130 other companies and municipalities in California that have signed the Equal Pay Pledge. While acknowledging that this is not a significant number, Siebel Newsom said that there are several major global companies, like Apple, Intel, Twitter, Airbnb, Salesforce and Gap, that “are committing to equity and fairness in their policies.”

“Closing the pay gap for Black women is an essential step for economic justice,” said Glover Blackwell. “When Black women and other women of color are paid equally, we’ll see the benefits cascade throughout society.”

Jaya Padmanabhan is a freelance journalist and a consulting editor for Ethnic Media Services.

By Doug Moore | California Black Media

While I would like nothing more than to put the pandemic in the rearview mirror, I’ve accepted the fact that COVID-19 is still a part of our lives. We’re a far cry from where we were in the summer of 2020 – we now know what works to keep us safe and how to mitigate the worst of the virus. Tools like COVID-19 medications can help us keep the worst of the virus at bay, if only more people knew about them.

In my role as the Executive Director of UDW Homecare Providers Union/AFSCME Local 3930, a union fighting for the rights of domestic care workers, I’ve seen COVID-19 have a disproportionate impact on our members. Many come from vulnerable communities, and the fact that they were often given little to no protection and did not qualify as essential workers heightened the impact of the pandemic on them. Vaccines were essential in establishing safe homecare environments as the pandemic raged on. But domestic workers were (and still are) entering potentially dangerous settings every day, often without access to vital PPE, and we needed to find ways to keep themselves safe, even when they did test positive. COVID-19 medications have helped bridge that gap.

It can be hard to dodge COVID-19 even when we take precautions to stay safe, especially for workers whose workplaces are other people’s homes. Fortunately, medications that treat COVID-19 became available in 2021. They are safe and effective at stopping the virus from multiplying in the body and scientific evidence shows that taking COVID-19 medications within the first week of testing positive can lower the rate of serious illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19 by half or more.

COVID-19 medications can mean the difference between life and death. That’s why I’ve been advocating tirelessly to make sure that domestic workers are getting vaccinated and tested, and that they’re aware of and can easily access COVID-19 medications if they test positive. Even though medications have been free and available, regardless of insurance or citizenship status, for over a year. Many people are surprised when they find out that they’re actually eligible for these medications, when in fact, they’re recommended for most adults.

At UDW Homecare Providers Union/AFSCME Local 3930, we’ve launched initiatives to educate and empower our workers – including resource fairs, clinics, and food drives – that provide information about and access to these medications. Our meetings have been vital times for us to spend time with the community and spread relevant treatment information. These member-centered, community-driven initiatives have created a united front against COVID-19 among the domestic worker community – allowing the people I represent to stay safe, protect their families, and continue their work helping others.

The public at large can benefit from COVID-19 medications, not just our union’s domestic workers, especially as life returns to a new normal. As we enjoy summer by traveling, attending events, and spending time with friends and family, it’s inevitable that people will continue to test positive for COVID-19.  But the key is understanding how to move forward when you test positive. So, let’s continue doing the things that we love, worry-free, by normalizing testing and treating COVID-19.

About the Author

Doug Moore is Executive Director of UDW Homecare Providers Union/AFSCME Local 3930, a union that advocates for domestic care workers and their communities.

JACKSONVILLE, FL – Petty Officer 2nd Class Gabriel Duran, a native of San Bernardino, California, serves with Patrol and Reconnaissance Squadron (VP) 8 based out of Jacksonville, Florida. The squadron’s primary mission is to undertake maritime patrol, anti-submarine warfare, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions.

Duran, a 2018 graduate of Cajon High School, joined the Navy five years ago.

“I joined the Navy to travel the world, to get new experiences and to bring new ideas and philosophies to my hometown,” said Duran. “I’ve traveled to a lot of countries and Canada was my favorite so far.”

Today, Duran relies upon skills and values similar to those found in San Bernardino to succeed in the military.“I learned to work hard from back home,” said Duran. “I was part of the Fire Explorers in San Bernardino County, and that taught me to be part of something bigger.”

These lessons have helped Duran while serving in the Navy.

VP 8 flies the U.S. Navy’s P-8A Poseidon multi-mission maritime aircraft. Designed to secure the U.S. Navy’s future in long-range maritime patrol capability, the P-8A has transformed how the Navy’s maritime patrol and reconnaissance force will man, train, operate and deploy, according to Navy officials. While the aircraft is also equipped with high-quality weapon systems, it also has an open architecture to allow for expansion. P-8A deploy around the globe to monitor the world’s oceans wherever they are needed.

This year commemorates 50 years of women flying in the U.S. Navy. In 1973, the first eight women began flight school in Pensacola; one year later six of them, known as “The First Six,” earned their “Wings of Gold.” Over the past 50 years, the Navy has expanded its roles for women to lead and serve globally and today our women aviators project power from the sea in every type of Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard aircraft. Our Nation and our Navy is stronger because of their service.

With 90 percent of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to trained sailors and a strong Navy.

“Our mission remains timeless – to provide our fellow citizens with nothing less than the very best Navy: fully combat ready at all times, focused on warfighting excellence, and committed to superior leadership at every single level,” said Adm. Mike Gilday, Chief of Naval Operations. “This is our calling. And I cannot imagine a calling more worthy.”

Serving in the Navy means Duran is part of a team that is taking on new importance in America’s focus on strengthening alliances, modernizing capabilities, increasing capacities and maintaining military readiness in support of the National Defense Strategy.

“The Navy plays one of the biggest roles in protecting the country,” said Duran. “The Navy is not just ships. We protect the country from the air, on land and even through cyber security.”

Duran and the sailors they serve with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.

“I am most proud that I’ve traveled around the world and broadened my way of thinking,” said Duran. “Experiencing philosophies from different parts of the world has given me some amazing insights.”

As Duran and other sailors continue to train and perform missions, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy.

“Serving means that I get to protect American culture,” said Duran. “Freedom of expression and being able to have different cultures is so important. The Navy ensures that future generations get to experience that as well.”

Duran is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.

“Along with my family, there were many people who supported me in my decision to join the Navy,” added Duran. “I was given a lot of advice from teachers, fellow firefighters and mentors to go out and see the world.”

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Approximately 250 Southern California education leaders attended the first Learn.Lead.Liberate conference, and there were 16 education leaders from San Bernardino County, representing the following schools: New Designs Charter, Provisional Accelerated Learning Charter Academy, Ontario Charter, Myers Elementary, Sierra High School, PAL Charter Academy.

Creating education environments that work to eliminate inequity and injustice for students, parents, and staff was the conference’s focus. These local leaders discussed how to remove barriers to foster communities that support and honor BIPOC individuals through evidence-based educational practices that treat students’ differences and experiences outside of school as assets, so they can be valued and learn, regardless of socio-economic or ethnic background.

“The conference has been amazing, and the guest speakers are so knowledgeable on their areas”, said Dr. Shelley C-Bradford, Ethnic Social Diversity Lead & Teacher, Sierra High School, San Bernardino City Unified School District. “As our children change, we need to change with them; we can’t just stay the same. It’s important to keep our children engaged if we want them to learn the content and apply it to their life. Literacy means freedom.”

The 21st Century California School Leadership Academy (21CSLA) and the Los Angeles Education Partnership (LAEP) hosted the conference. LAEP is the Regional Academy providing 21CSLA programming in Imperial, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego counties.

“Our aim is for this forum to bring these leaders together to network and share information about what is working in their communities,” said Michele Broadnax, President and CEO, Los Angeles Education Partnership. “We want to emphasize that these leaders don’t need to do this alone, as 21CSLA and LAEP are here to support them. We see and appreciate the dedication these educators have to this important work.”

Zaretta Hammond, author of Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain, gave the keynote address. She is a curriculum developer, consultant, and coach who has spent the past 15 years translating the latest research and teacher experiences on equity, literacy, and culturally responsive teaching into practical tools and strategies. Hammond started her career in the classroom, where she began to understand how important literacy was to equity, and how neuroscience and culture should inform our instructional practice.

On July 21, 2023, SBCTA in partnership with Caltrans and the City of Highland celebrated the completion of the SR 210 Lane Addition and Base Line Interchange Project with a ribbon cutting ceremony along the new Base Line interchange in the City of Highland.

The lane addition on SR 210, improvements at Base Line Interchange as well as the pavement rehabilitation began construction in February 2020. Thanks to a use of state and local (including Measure I) funding, SBCTA, in cooperation with Caltrans and the City of Highland, constructed the three projects concurrently to reduce the overall impact to the public. The project improved the quality of the roads and traffic flow for the residents and businesses of San Bernardino, Highland, and Redlands, as well as an unincorporated portion of San Bernardino County.

The SR 210 Lane Addition and Base Line Interchange Project is entering its final month of construction. In early July, crews restriped the SR 210 lanes to their final configuration between Del Rosa Avenue and the I-10 freeway, adding one mixed-flow lane in each direction between Highland Avenue and San Bernardino Avenue, auxiliary lanes (merge lanes) between Base Line and 5th Street/Greenspot Road, and an acceleration lane at the 5th Street/Greenspot Road eastbound ramp.

SBCTA anticipates regularly scheduled nighttime closures to continue through July, and intermittent nighttime closures to continue through August as crews complete clean-up work throughout the project corridor. All work is expected to be complete by the end of August.

For more information about the project and the ribbon cutting ceremony, please visit goSBCTA.com/SR210BaseLine, email info@goSBCTA.com, or call 877-55-SBCTA.

First time an Inland Empire Orchestra has hosted.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— For the first time in its 54-year history, the Association of California Symphony Orchestras (ACSO) has selected an Inland Empire orchestra to host annual conference. The San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra (SBSO) will not only host the conference, but will also perform on the opening evening, and it will receive two prestigious awards.

Explained ACSO Executive Director Sarah Weber, “For our first in-person conference since the pandemic, we not only want to showcase the Inland Empire as an arts-rich region of California, but we also want to inspire, revitalize, connect, and support those working in orchestras and the performing arts. We hope that this conference will generate profound and creative ideas about how the work we do and the influence that we have as arts organizations can be used to build a better world.”

This year’s conference theme — Uplift & Amplify — emphasizes the foremost work of the orchestra industry today: to center the needs of audiences, welcome new artistic voices, and use the power of music to serve and connect communities. The conference is being held at the historic Mission Inn Hotel & Spa in Riverside, CA from August 16^th to the 18th, 2023.

Shared Dean McVay, ACSO Board Member, conference co-chair, and Immediate Past President of the San Bernardino Symphony Board of Directors, “We at the SBSO have been planning and preparing for this ACSO Conference in the Inland Empire for several years, and in many respects it is a dream come true. Bringing the best and brightest industry leaders, musicians, and artists in the West Coast for this conference is an honor and a privilege, and we look forward to sharing the beauty and talent that is so abundant here in the Inland Empire – with performances from the San Bernardino Symphony, and from our conference partners from the Redlands Symphony and the Riverside Philharmonic.”

ACSO is a member service nonprofit with nearly 120 classical music organizations and their 2,000 board and administrative staff in its network. ACSO’s members are comprised of professional, academic, youth, and community-based orchestras, choruses, and festivals in California and the Western United States.

The conference gathers 300 orchestra professionals and leaders to hear from impactful thought-leaders and learn about the big-picture issues and opportunities for the field. The convening includes keynote sessions, peer forums, networking events, and more. Sessions will focus on the vital issues facing California’s orchestras, such as audience regeneration, advancing equity, strengthening partnerships, and building relevance and impact. Bookending this year’s incredible lineup of speakers are opening keynote speaker Marc Bamuthi Joseph, Vice President & Artistic Director of Social Impact for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and closing keynote speaker Lara Downes, classical pianist & cultural activist.

The first night of the conference, the SBSO will reprise their annual subscription concert, “Movies with the Maestro,” at the Henry W. Coil Sr. and Alice Edna Coil School of the Arts Auditorium. The concert, which is also available to the general public, will draw from an eclectic mélange of film favorites, including several pieces in which SBSO Music Director Anthony Parnther has either personally conducted or performed in the film score. Repertoire includes John Williams’ “Hooray for Hollywood” and “Born on the 4^th of July”, Simon Franglen’s Suite from Avatar: The Way of Water, Pinar Toprak’s Suite from Slumberland, and Bernard Herrmann’s “Salaambo’s Aria” from Citizen Kane. Young patrons will particularly enjoy Steve and Julie Bernstein’s Suite from Animanics, John Powell’s “Poisonous Love” from Rio 2, and Jerry Goldsmith and Sherri Chung’s “Gremlins” from Gremlins: Secrets of Mogwai.

Los Angeles Philharmonic Principal Horn Andrew Bain will be among a number of internationally lauded artists joining the Orchestra and will perform Kris Bowers’ (Green Book, King Richard, and Bridgerton) Concerto for Horn which, under the baton of Maestro, Parnther, premiered in 2021 as part of the Philharmonic’s Reel Change series. As is done at the Orchestra’s annual cinematic performance in San Bernardino, patrons are highly encouraged to bring their light sabers to wave along to William’s “Imperial March” from Star Wars and to Ludwig Goransson and Joe Shirley’s Main Theme from Star Wars-The Mandalorian.

This year’s event also includes a trip to the Redlands Bowl summer Music Festival’s 100^th season finale, a visit to the iconic Kimberly Crest House and Gardens, and an opportunity to tour the newly opened Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art and Culture.

Among conference happenings are several award presentations, including two to the SBSO. Assistant Conductor Raphaela Correa De Lacerda Campos will receive the 2023 Emerging Professional Award, which recognizes the current contributions and the future potential of an individual who has been in the orchestra/classical music field for less than five years but who has already made significant contributions to their organization and has demonstrated the potential for leadership and continuing professional growth. This individual has experienced early career success in the field, has helped elevate the mission of their organization, and thus is actively making an impact in the community.

“Raphaela has only been with the SBSO a short time, but her work distinguished her as a true emerging professional from the day we met her,” said Anne Viricel, Executive Director of the San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra. “In December of 2022, she conducted a performance of Bizet’s Farandole from L’Arlesienne Suite No. 2 to significant community acclaim. We even received phone calls from community members and local music teachers asking when she would be back on the podium! It was the maturity of her conducting ability and demonstrated interest in orchestra operations that brought her to the attention of our Music director and Conductor Anthony Parnther.”

SBSO Board of Directors Member John Rogers will be named Symphony MVP. ACSO launched the MVP Volunteer Award in 1996 to recognize exemplary volunteers, volunteer projects, and volunteer organizations and to thank a few of the hundreds of dedicated, hardworking, and committed volunteers that orchestras and classical music organizations depend on every day.

“John Rogers is the Board Member every symphony wants. He is an incredibly generous and equally active advocate for the SBSO. He always brings guests to concerts and events, including purchasing more than 30 tickets for each of our holiday concerts,” said Anne Viricel, Executive Director of the San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra. “He has connected us with other arts organizations in his area of residence, thus expanding our regional presence. He never misses a board meeting and is always a greeter at our concerts. And he is always the first to volunteer when extra help is needed.”

Registration for the annual conference is available at various rates for individuals, music organizations, and students. While ACSO primarily serves orchestras in California and the western United States, the conference is open to anyone working in the arts. Further information about the conference, visit ACSO’s website at www.acso.org/conference or contact ACSO at (800) 495-2276 or at office@acso.org.

Concluded McVay, “We are excited to welcome our colleagues in the industry to the Inland Empire and know that all attendees will leave feeling reinvigorated, inspired, and edified in the knowledge and connections they have gained through this valuable conference experience.”

SACRAMENTO—The Ayala Drive overcrossing on State Route 210 in San Bernardino County will be renamed in honor of longtime City of Rialto firefighter, Scott “Buckshot” Schwingel, who died of job-related colon cancer.

President of the Rialto Professional Firefighters Local 3688 Earl Meredith said, “By dedicating the Ayala Drive Overpass in Engineer Schwengel’s honor, we ensure that his legacy lives on, reminding us all of the tremendous sacrifices made by our brave firefighters. This dedication serves as a touching reminder of the risks they face every day to protect and serve our community.”

Meredith added, “The Rialto Professional Firefighters Association Local 3688 extends its deepest gratitude to Assemblymember James Ramos and his staff, as well as the Rialto City Council for their unwavering support and approval of this commemorative gesture. We are privileged to have the opportunity to pay tribute to Engineer Scott “Buckshot” Schwingle, whose dedication and heroism will forever inspire future generations.”

“Scott is the embodiment of public service,” said Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino). “In his 16 years serving the community, he always put the people of Rialto first. It was a tremendous honor to successfully introduce ACR 7, not only to honor Scott, but also for his family who were by his side every step of his career. This overpass renaming is a small way of remembering this man of service and his commitment to the people of Rialto.”

Schwingel joined the City of Rialto Fire Department as a firefighter paramedic in 2001. He was an extremely motivated, tenacious, and determined individual who was soon promoted to the rank of fire engineer in 2006. During his career with the fire department, Schwingel earned the Rialto Fire Department Life Saving Award and the Rialto Fire Department Firefighter of the Year Award in 2017.

Schwingel was diagnosed with job-related colon cancer in July 2015 and passed in January 2018. During his illness, he continued to provide service to the Rialto community. Many of his younger colleagues looked to Schwingel for guidance and as an example to follow.

SACRAMENTO – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued a legal alert to remind all employers of the state-law restrictions on employer-driven debt. Employer-driven debt is a term referring to debt incurred by individuals through employment arrangements. This can include arrangements where an employer provides training, equipment, or supplies to a worker, but requires the worker to reimburse the employer for these expenses if the worker leaves their job before a certain date.

“Employer-driven debt can harm workers, consumers, and competition. California is committed to safeguarding our workers and our future through strong labor and consumer protection laws,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “Employer-driven debt practices have raised serious concerns, potentially impacting workers’ rights and exposing them to financial risks. We remind all employers in the state that these practices may violate California law. We will uphold the rights and protections of workers and consumers, and we will take any and all legal action necessary to protect Californians from these predatory practices.”

The growth of employer-driven debt products can stifle competition in the labor market and force workers to remain in jobs sacrificing mobility, better wages and opportunity, and competition for labor. These debt products are prevalent across the market, including in healthcare, trucking, aviation, retail, and service industries.

The Attorney General’s office reminds employers that employer-driven debt may violate several California laws, including labor laws and consumer protection statutes. For instance, the Labor Code requires that employers bear the cost of necessary expenditures incurred by employees as a direct result of discharging their duties. This includes costs for mandatory job training unless the training is necessary to legally practice the workers’ profession. In addition, the Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act prohibits an employer or its agent from engaging in unfair or deceptive acts or practices when attempting to collect on employer-driven debt. Any abusive employer-driven debt practices may violate the California Consumer Financial Protection Law. A violation of these or other statutes may constitute an independent violation of California’s Unfair Competition Law, which prohibits unlawful, unfair, or fraudulent business practices. Additionally, the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued a recent report illustrating the risks workers face from employer-driven debt. Workers and consumers who believe their rights have been violated may file a complaint at oag.ca.gov/report.