Back in 1992, the State of California passed a law mandating that employers with more than 50 employees, in an air basin designated non-attainment area, who provide subsidized parking for their employees, offer a cash allowance in lieu of a parking space. Unfortunately, implementation has been slow because the state failed to define the penalty for breaking this mandate or to even require that businesses report on following this law.

Today, the LA City Council took two steps to remedy this situation. The first was voting to send out flyers to all businesses making sure they are aware of the state mandate. The Council will also ask the assembly and the state to add some enforcement language.

While the Council chose not to tackle enforcing the cash-out mandate on its own at this point, Committee Chairwoman Wendy Greuel said her committee would examine this issue again if the state doesn’t act.