Existing sales and use tax laws impose taxes on retailers measured by the gross receipts from the sale of tangible personal property sold at retail in this state, or on the storage, use, or other consumption in this state of tangible personal property purchased from a retailer for storage, use, or other consumption in this state, and provides various exemptions from the taxes imposed by those laws. This bill would, on and after January 1, 2024, and before January 1, 2029, exempt from those taxes the gross receipts from the sale of, and the storage, use, or other consumption of, qualified school supplies, as defined, for the two-day period beginning at 12:01 a.m. on the third Saturday of July of each year and ending at 11:59 p.m. on the following day. Existing law requires a bill that would authorize a new tax expenditure under the Sales and Use Tax Law to identify specific goals, purposes, and objectives that the tax expenditure will achieve, and detailed performance indicators and data collection requirements for determining whether the tax expenditure achieves these goals, purposes, and objectives. This bill would make findings specifying the goal, purpose, and objective of the sales and use tax exemption provided by this bill and the performance indicator to be used, and would require, on or before January 10, 2025, the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration to provide a report to the Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee and the Senate Governance and Finance Committee on the use of the tax exemption. The Bradley-Burns Uniform Local Sales and Use Tax Law authorizes counties and cities to impose local sales and use taxes in conformity with the Sales and Use Tax Law, and existing laws authorize districts, as specified, to impose transactions and use taxes in accordance with the Transactions and Use Tax Law, which generally conforms to the Sales and Use Tax Law. Amendments to the Sales and Use Tax Law are automatically incorporated into the local tax laws. Existing law requires the state to reimburse counties and cities for revenue losses caused by the enactment of sales and use tax exemptions. This bill would provide that, notwithstanding Section 2230 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, no appropriation is made and the state shall not reimburse any local agencies for sales and use tax revenues lost by them pursuant to this bill. This bill would take effect immediately as a tax levy.
Existing law requires any state agency, board, or commission that directly or by contract collects demographic data as to the ancestry or ethnic origin of Californians to use separate collection categories and tabulations for each major Asian and Pacific Islander group, including, but not limited to, Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Korean, Vietnamese, Asian Indian, Hawaiian, Guamanian, Samoan, Laotian, and Cambodian. This bill would require the Department of Housing and Community Development, when it directly or by contract collects demographic data as to the ancestry or ethnic origin of Californians, to use separate collection categories and tabulations for Hispanic and Latino groups. The bill would further require the department to make the collected data available to the public, except for personal identifying information, which would be deemed confidential, by requiring the department, on or before July 1, 2024, to post, and annually update, the demographic data on the department's internet website. Existing constitutional provisions require that a statute that limits the right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for protecting that interest. This bill would make legislative findings to that effect.
Existing law requires a school of a school district or county office of education and a charter school to notify pupils and parents or guardians of pupils no less than twice during the school year on how to initiate access to available pupil mental health services on campus or in the community, or both, using at least 2 of specified methods, as provided. This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to those provisions.
Existing law prescribes certain maxims of jurisprudence to aid in the just application of the provisions of the Civil Code. One maxim states that something that does not appear to exist is to be regarded as if it did not exist. This bill would make a nonsubstantive change to that provision.
Existing law, the California Public Records Act, requires state and local agencies to make their records available for inspection by the public, subject to specified criteria and with specified exceptions. Existing law exempts from disclosure any investigatory or security file compiled by any other state or local police agency, or any investigatory or security files compiled by any other state or local agency for correctional, law enforcement, or licensing purposes. Under existing law, criminal offenders sentenced to imprisonment in the state prison are sentenced for either a determinate term or an indeterminate life sentence, and a person sentenced to an indeterminate life sentence is held until release by the Board of Parole Hearings. Under existing law, a person sentenced to a determinate sentence is released after serving the term of their sentence, minus any credits earned, and is required to serve a period of time after release under parole supervision. Existing constitutional provisions, enacted by Proposition 57 at the November 8, 2016, statewide general election, make an inmate sentenced to state prison for a conviction of a nonviolent felony offense eligible for early parole consideration after completing the full term for their primary offense, as defined. This bill would provide that Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation records pertaining to an inmate's release date and their early release credits are public records and are subject to disclosure under the California Public Records Act. The bill would state that the provisions relative to the California Public Records Act are declaratory of existing law.
Existing law establishes the Division of Occupational Safety and Health in the Department of Industrial Relations, and charges the division with the enforcement of various laws affecting safe working conditions, including the California Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1973. Existing law requires the Director of Industrial Relations to prepare and submit to the Legislature an annual report on the activities of the Division of Occupational Safety and Health, as specified. This bill would additionally require the Director of Industrial Relations to submit the report to the Governor and post the report on the department's internet website. This bill would also make nonsubstantive changes to those provisions.
Existing law, the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975, provides for the licensure and regulation of health care service plans by the Department of Managed Health Care, and makes a willful violation of the act a crime. Existing law provides for the regulation of health insurers by the Department of Insurance. Existing law regulates contracts between health care service plans or health insurers and health care providers or health facilities, including requirements for reimbursement and the cost-sharing amount collected from an enrollee or insured. This bill, the Health Care Consolidation and Contracting Fairness Act of 2023, would prohibit a contract issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2024, between a health care service plan or health insurer and a health care provider or health facility from containing terms that, among other things, restrict the plan or insurer from steering an enrollee or insured to another provider or facility or require the plan or insurer to contract with other affiliated providers or facilities. The bill would authorize the appropriate regulating department to refer a plan's or insurer's contract to the Attorney General, and would authorize the Attorney General or state entity charged with reviewing health care market competition to review a health care practitioner's or health facility's entrance into a contract that contains specified terms. Because a willful violation of these provisions by a health care service plan would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing law requires a nonprofit corporation that operates or controls a health facility to provide written notice to, and obtain the written consent from, the Attorney General before entering an agreement to dispose of its assets or transfer control of a material amount of its assets. Existing law requires the Attorney General, within 90 days of receiving the written notice, to notify the corporation of the Attorney General's decision to consent to, give conditional consent to, or not consent to the agreement. Existing law authorizes that period to be extended by 45 days if specified conditions are met. This bill would require a medical group, hospital or hospital system, specified health facility, health care service plan, health insurer, or pharmacy benefit manager to provide written notice to the Attorney General at the same time as another state or federal agency is notified or otherwise at least 90 days before entering an agreement or transaction to make a specified material change with a value of $15,000,000 or more. The bill would authorize the Attorney General to consent to, give conditional consent to, or not consent to that agreement, and would require the Attorney General to notify the entity of the decision within 90 days, which may be extended by one 45-day period if specified conditions are met. The bill would authorize the Attorney General to stay the running of the 90-day period, pending the outcome of any review required by a state or federal agency. The bill would authorize a medical group, hospital or hospital system, specified health facility, health care service plan, health insurer, or pharmacy benefit manager, within 10 calendar days of that notification, to apply for reconsideration of the Attorney General's decision under specified circumstances. The bill also would authorize a party to an agreement or transaction to seek judicial review of the Attorney General's initial decision or reconsideration by a petition for writ of mandate, as prescribed. The bill would authorize the Attorney General to waive the written notice and consent requirements established by the bill if certain conditions apply. The bill would require the Attorney General to conduct one or more public meetings before issuing a written decision on a major transaction, and would authorize the Attorney General to contract for assistance in reviewing a proposed material change and for monitoring ongoing compliance with the terms of a material change. The bill would prohibit an entity from entering into an agreement without the Attorney General's written consent. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Existing law requires a notary public to keep an active, sequential journal of all official acts performed as a notary public and specifies the information required to be included in the journal. Existing law requires a notary public to provide and keep an official seal to be used only in carrying out their duties and responsibilities as a notary public. Existing law requires a notary public or their representative to deface or destroy the seal upon termination, resignation, or revocation of the notary's commission. Existing law requires that if a notary public resigns, is disqualified, removed from office, or allows their appointment to expire, as provided, the person is required, within 30 days, to deliver all notarial records and papers to the county clerk of the county where the notary public's official oath of office is on file. Existing law, in the case of the death of a notary public, requires the decedent's personal representative to notify the Secretary of State of the death and to deliver all notarial records and papers of the deceased to the clerk of the county in which the notary public's official oath of office is on file. This bill would require a notary public to designate a personal representative, to file the designation with the county clerk and with the Secretary of State, and to include the name and contact information of the personal representative in their sequential journals, as specified. The bill would require the notary public to inform their personal representative of their duties as personal representative and of the location of the notary public's official seal, sequential journals, and any other records and papers relating to the notary public's notarial acts. The bill would require the personal representative to use that information only for the purpose of complying with those duties. The bill would require the personal representative, the decedent's successor in interest, as defined, or the person who is in actual or constructive possession of the deceased notary public's notarial records and papers, to notify the Secretary of State of the death of the notary public, and to deliver all notarial records and papers of the deceased to the clerk of the county in which the notary public's official oath of office is on file. The bill would also require a personal representative to deface or destroy the notary public's official seal upon the death of the notary public.
Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of clinics and health facilities, including, but not limited to, primary care and specialty clinics, by the State Department of Public Health. Under existing law, the department is also responsible for the statewide administration of various programs and policies relating to personal health, including maternal, child, and adolescent health. Existing law requires the department to develop a coordinated state strategy for addressing the health-related needs of women, including implementation of goals and objectives for women's health, as specified. This bill would require the department to conduct an awareness campaign to communicate with local health departments, health care providers, and the public regarding facilities that provide health care services, including, but not limited to, primary care and specialty clinics. The bill would require the awareness campaign to include information about the services the facilities offer, and the activities of the department, relating to pregnancy care and abortion. The bill would require the campaign to make that information available to, among others, health care professional associations and societies and health care employers. The bill would authorize the department to award grants or enter into contracts to perform the functions required to conduct the awareness campaign, as specified. The bill would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2025.
Existing law establishes bid preferences and participation goals in public contracting for certain types of bidders. The Small Business Procurement and Contract Act establishes a minimum goal of 25% procurement participation for small businesses, including microbusinesses, in the provision of goods, information technology, and services to the state, and in the construction of state facilities. The Small Business Procurement and Contract Act requires that state agencies awarding contracts for goods, information technology, services, and construction give 5% bid preferences, as specified, to small business and microbusiness bidders. The California Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Program requires state departments that award contracts to establish 3% participation goals for certain types of contracts for certified disabled veteran business enterprises, as defined. This bill would require an awarding department, defined as a state agency, department, governmental entity, or other officer or entity empowered by law to enter into contracts on behalf of the state, to have a statewide procurement participation goal of not less than an unspecified percentage for childcare business enterprises, as defined. The bill would require an awarding department, within its respective area of responsibility, to provide for a bid preference in an unspecified percentage, as prescribed, to contractors, companies, or businesses that engage in specified business activities relating to childcare, if their bid is otherwise similar to that of other bidders. The bill would require the Department of General Services to adopt rules and regulations for the purpose of implementing these provisions.
Existing law sets forth general state policies regarding water resources. This bill would declare the policy of the state that all residents have access to water conservation and efficiency programs. The bill would also set forth related findings including that reaching the state's environmental justice goals and commitments requires designing climate adaptation programs so that all households may participate. Existing law establishes in the Natural Resources Agency the Department of Water Resources. Existing law also establishes in the California Environmental Protection Agency the State Water Resources Control Board to provide for the orderly and efficient administration of the water resources of the state. This bill would require, on and after January 1, 2025, urban wholesale water suppliers and urban water suppliers, as defined, to offer technical assistance and financial incentives, as described, to low-income residential customers to install efficient water conservation devices and climate resilient landscaping, as provided. The bill would require the department and the board to utilize, to the maximum extent allowable by law, existing funding programs to provide technical assistance and financial incentives for water conservation and efficiency to community water systems with fewer than 3,000 service connections serving disadvantaged communities, and to urban wholesale water suppliers and urban water suppliers that meet specified criteria. The bill would require the department and the board to prioritize assistance to community water systems with the greatest risks to water supply security. The bill would require the board, in cooperation with the department, prior to January 1, 2025, to hold at least one public workshop to solicit stakeholder input on technical assistance and financial incentive program design and implementation considerations. The bill would also require the board to adopt reporting requirements, as described, on or before July 1, 2026.
The California Oil Refinery Cost Disclosure Act requires operators of refineries in the state that produce gasoline meeting California specifications, within 30 days of the end of each calendar month, to submit a report to the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission containing certain information regarding its refining activities related to the production of gasoline that month. Existing law requires the commission to post the reported data, in aggregate, on its internet website within 45 calendar days of the end of each calendar month. This bill would require the commission to post and regularly update a dashboard on its internet website that includes the difference in average gasoline prices in California compared to national average gasoline prices, the identification of California-specific taxes, fees, regulations, and policies and their individual contribution to gasoline prices in the state, and any substantiated evidence of price gouging or other anticompetitive behavior within the petroleum industry and its contribution to the price differential.
