Existing state law, Proposition 7, an initiative measure approved by the voters at the November 6, 2018, statewide general election, sets the standard time for California and sets daylight saving time to begin each March and end each November. Proposition 7 authorizes the Legislature to amend these provisions by a 23 vote to change the dates and times of the daylight saving time period, consistent with federal law, and authorizes the Legislature to amend these provisions by a 23 vote to provide for the application of year-round daylight saving time when authorized by federal law. Existing law requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission to continuously carry out studies, research projects, data collection, and other activities required to assess the nature, extent, and distribution of energy resources to meet the needs of the state. This bill would 2 3 vote. The bill would instead require the state and all political subdivisions of the state to observe year-round standard time. The bill would exempt the state and all political subdivisions of the state from the provisions of federal law that establish the advancement of time. The bill would"?> require the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission to, on or before February 1, 2027, prepare and submit a report to the Legislature assessing the near-term and long-term impacts of observing year-round standard time on energy demand and supply, as specified. The bill would make the operation of its provisions contingent upon an appropriation by the Legislature for its purpose.
Existing law establishes the California Health and Human Services Agency, which includes the State Department of Public Health, among other state departments charged with the administration of health, social, and other human services. Existing law requires the agency to convene a working group of representatives to develop a quality standard for patient experience related to the transgender, gender diverse, or intersex (TGI) community and to recommend training curriculum to provide trans-inclusive health care. This bill would require the agency, or an entity designated by the agency, on or before January 1, 2026, to create an internet website, or update its existing internet website, where the public can access information and resources to support TGI individuals and their families in accessing trans-inclusive health care and other support services in the state, including, but not limited to, a general description of trans-inclusive health care, information on how to access directories of providers providing gender-affirming services, and resources for victims of hate incidents and hate crimes. The bill would require the agency to consult with specified subject matter experts, the Civil Rights Department, and the Department of Justice in creating the internet website. The bill would also require the agency, in consultation with subject matter experts, to maintain the website and review the available information and resources to ensure the website is current and updated at reasonable intervals, but no less than once every year. The bill would authorize the agency to accept donations for the purpose of supporting and maintaining the internet website, and would make those donations available upon appropriation by the Legislature for that purpose.
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 generally authorizes a health care service plan or health insurer to use prior authorization and other utilization review or utilization management functions, under which a licensed physician or a licensed health care professional who is competent to evaluate specific clinical issues may approve, modify, delay, or deny requests for health care services based on medical necessity. Existing law requires a health care service plan or health insurer, including those plans or insurers that delegate utilization review or utilization management functions to medical groups, independent practice associations, or to other contracting providers, to comply with specified requirements and limitations on their utilization review or utilization management functions. Existing law requires the criteria or guidelines used to determine whether or not to authorize, modify, or deny health care services to be developed with involvement from actively practicing health care providers. This bill would require the Department of Managed Health Care and the Department of Insurance, by July 1, 2025, to issue instructions to health care service plans and health insurers to report specified information relating to prior authorization, as defined, including designated health care services (services) , items, and supplies subject to prior authorization and the percentage rate at which health care service plans, health insurers, or their delegated entities, approve or modify those services, items, and supplies. The bill would require health care service plans and health insurers to report that information to the relevant department by December 31, 2025, or as otherwise specified. The bill would require the relevant department to evaluate the reports received from the health care service plans and health insurers, and identify the services, items, and supplies most frequently approved by the plans or insurers or their delegated entities, as specified. The bill would require each department, after evaluating the reports received from health care service plans and health insurers, to identify, and by December 31, 2026, to publish a list of, the most frequently approved or modified services, items, and supplies, based on a prescribed threshold percentage rate. The bill would authorize the department to consider certain factors when determining the appropriateness of removing prior authorization for a specific health care service, item, or supply, regardless of its approval percentage rate. The bill would require the department to issue instructions to health care service plans and health insurers regarding, among other matters, the date by which the listed services, items, and supplies would no longer be subject to prior authorization, and how a plan or insurer could reinstate prior authorization upon a showing of good cause, as prescribed. Within 4 years from the cessation date of the prior authorization requirements, the bill would require each department to publish a report regarding the impact of the cessation of those requirements. The bill would authorize the departments to contract with a consultant with expertise in prior authorization procedures to assist with implementation of the bill, as specified. The bill would provide that it would not apply with respect to specified types of health care service plans including, but not limited to, specialized health care service plans, or to specialized health insurers, except as specified. The provisions would be repealed on January 1, 2032. Because a willful violation of the bill's requirements relative to health care service plans would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. 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 vests the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission with the exclusive power to certify all locations on which an electrical transmission line or thermal powerplant is constructed, or is proposed to be constructed, and related electrical transmission lines or thermal powerplants. Existing law authorizes the commission to exempt from certification a thermal powerplant with a generating capacity of up to 100 megawatts, and modifications to existing generating facilities that do not add capacity in excess of 100 megawatts, if the commission finds that no substantial adverse impact on the environment or energy resources will result from the construction or operation of the proposed facility or from the modifications. This bill would additionally authorize the commission to exempt from certification a thermal powerplant with a generating capacity of up to 150 megawatts if specified requirements are met, including that it is used solely as a backup generation facility for a data center, it is located on the customer side of the meter and is not interconnected to the distribution system, a skilled and trained workforce is used to perform all construction work on the facility, as specified, the commission finds that no substantial adverse impact on the environment or energy resources will result from the construction and operation of the facility, and the commission obtains a determination from the applicable air pollution control district or air quality management district that the facility's backup generation technology meets the best available control technology requirements. The bill would require the owner or operator of a facility granted an exemption under the bill to fully mitigate the facility's impacts on air quality, as provided. The bill would repeal its provisions on January 1, 2027.
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of an environmental impact report (EIR) on a project that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment or to adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that effect. CEQA also requires a lead agency to prepare a mitigated negative declaration for a project that may have a significant effect on the environment if revisions in the project would avoid or mitigate that effect and there is no substantial evidence that the project, as revised, would have a significant effect on the environment. CEQA authorizes a lead agency for a later project, if a prior EIR has been prepared and certified for a program, plan, policy, or ordinance, commonly known as a "program EIR," to examine significant effects of the later project upon the environment by using a tiered EIR and provides that the tiered EIR is not required to examine effects that meet certain requirements. Existing law establishes a process for the certification of facilities related to clean energy infrastructure by the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Energy Commission) . This bill would authorize the Energy Commission to prepare a program EIR to analyze the development of a class or classes of facility related to clean energy infrastructure, as provided. The bill would authorize a public agency considering the approval of a specific facility that is within a class or classes of facility described in the program EIR prepared under these provisions to tier from that program EIR.
Existing law regulates ticket sellers, as defined. Existing law prohibits a ticket seller from contracting for the sale of tickets or accepting consideration for payment in full or for a deposit for the sale of tickets unless the ticket seller has possession of the ticket or meets a specified exception. Existing law imposes conditions on accepting a deposit from a prospective purchaser to obtain a ticket, as specified. Existing law generally makes a violation of these provisions a misdemeanor and imposes civil penalties for certain violations. This bill would revise and recast those provisions, including, among other things, prohibiting a ticket seller from advertising, offering for sale, or contracting for the sale of a ticket, or accepting consideration for payment in full or for a deposit for the sale of a ticket if they do not own, possess, have constructive possession, or have the contractual right to sell the ticket. The bill would require a ticket seller or ticket resale marketplace, as defined, to comply with specified requirements in order to offer a service to obtain a ticket on behalf of a purchaser. The bill would also prohibit a ticket seller or ticket resale marketplace from selling more than one copy to a live entertainment event and would prohibit a ticket seller or ticket resale marketplace from displaying specified content on an internet website with intent to mislead if the content is substantially similar to the internet website of an event presenter, rights holder, or original seller, as specified. By imposing new requirements on ticket sales, the violation of which is a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. 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 authorizes the Department of General Services to dispose of surplus state real property, as defined, as authorized by the Legislature, upon any terms and conditions and subject to any reservations and exceptions the department deems to be in the best interests of the state. Existing law authorizes the Director of General Services, with the consent of the Department of Motor Vehicles, to lease or exchange for a term of years and for fair market value, all or portions of parcels of specified real property, including the property located at 3960 Normal Street, San Diego, that are acquired and used by the state for the benefit of the Department of Motor Vehicles, for the purpose of developing mixed public and private use facilities, subject to specified requirements. This bill would delete the above authorization for the Director of General Services to lease or exchange the property located at 3960 Normal Street, San Diego, and would instead require the Department of General Services, in consultation with the Department of Motor Vehicles, to enter into good faith negotiations to lease the property upon the terms and conditions and subject to those reservations and exceptions that the Department of General Services determines are in the best interest of the state on or before January 1, 2026. The bill would require the lease to be with a housing sponsor, as defined, and would require the lease to allow for the development of housing development projects. The bill would specify that these provisions do not require the department to lease the property if the department determines that it is not in the best interest of the state to lease the property to a housing sponsor. The bill would require the proceeds from the lease of the property be deposited into the Motor Vehicle Account in the State Transportation Fund and, upon appropriation by the Legislature, be available for expenditure by the Department of Motor Vehicles. The bill would require the Department of General Services to notify the Legislature, in writing, if the department determines that a lease of the property is not in the best interest of the state, as specified.
Existing law provides that in order for the state to recruit skilled firefighters for the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, it is the policy of the state to consider prevailing salaries and benefits prior to making salary recommendations. Existing law requires the Department of Human Resources, in order to provide comparability in pay, to take into consideration the salary and benefits of other jurisdictions employing 75 or more full-time firefighters who work in California. This bill would require the state to pay firefighters who are rank-and-file members of State Bargaining Unit 8, employed by the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, within 15% of the average salary for corresponding ranks in 20 listed California fire departments. The bill would require the state and the exclusive representative for State Bargaining Unit 8 to jointly survey annually and calculate the estimated average salaries for those fire departments. The bill would provide that when determining compensation for uniformed classifications of the department, it is the policy of the state to consider the salary of corresponding ranks within the comparable jurisdictions listed, as well as other factors, including internal comparisons. The bill would require any salary increase for firefighters under these provisions to be implemented through a memorandum of understanding, in accordance with specified procedures governing collective bargaining agreements. The bill would include related legislative findings.
Existing law establishes a workers' compensation system, administered by the Administrative Director of the Division of Workers' Compensation, to compensate an employee, as defined, for injuries that arise out of, and in the course of, employment. Existing law requires employers to provide medical, surgical, chiropractic, acupuncture, licensed clinical social worker, and hospital treatment reasonably required to cure or relieve the injured worker from the effects of the injury. Existing law makes it a misdemeanor for an employer to discharge, threaten to discharge, or discriminate against, or for an insurer to advise, direct, or threaten an insured to discharge, an employee because they have filed or made known their intention to file a claim for compensation, or an application for adjudication, or because the employee has received a rating, award, or settlement, as specified. This bill would require an employee, when possible, to make a reasonable effort to schedule treatment outside of work hours. The bill would require the employee to provide notice if treatment occurs during work hours, as specified, and require the employer to provide this leave during work hours unless business necessity requires the treatment to occur at a different time or on a different day. The bill would require that the leave taken by an employee pursuant to these provisions run concurrently with leave taken pursuant to the federal Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 and the California Family Rights Act if the employee would have been eligible for that leave. If an employer denies an employee's request to attend scheduled treatment during regular work hours, the bill would make that denial a violation of the misdemeanor described above. By expanding the scope of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. 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, the California Consumer Financial Protection Law (CCFPL) , establishes certain consumer protections relating to consumer financial products, practices, and services, including, among others, making it unlawful for covered persons or service providers, as defined, to, among other acts, engage in unlawful, unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts or practices with respect to consumer financial products or services. Existing law establishes that the purpose of the CCFPL is to promote consumer welfare, fair competition, and wealth creation in this state by promoting, among other things, nondiscriminatory access to consumer financial products and services that are understandable and not unfair, deceptive, or abusive. Existing law authorizes the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, under the direction of the Commissioner of Financial Protection and Innovation, to prescribe rules regarding registration requirements applicable to a covered person in the business of offering or providing a consumer financial product or service, as defined, and rules requiring the payment of registration fees. This bill would expand the purposes of the CCFPL to include the protection of small businesses from abusive financial practices, as specified. The bill would impose various duties on commercial financing providers and brokers, including, among other things, prohibiting the taking of a confession of judgment or power of attorney at any time before a default, as specified.
Existing law requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to ensure that specified procedures are performed in the investigation and prosecution of sexual abuse incidents, including, among others, that an employee must be terminated if an investigation confirms that the employee sexually abused an inmate. Existing law requires administrators to report criminal sexual abuse by staff to law enforcement authorities. This bill would require the department to monitor for 90 days an incarcerated person who reports sexual abuse, and the incarcerated person reported to have suffered the abuse, by a staff person at a department facility for possible retaliation. Existing law authorizes a defendant to submit to a sentencing court a petition for recall and resentencing when a defendant, who was under 18 years of age at the time of the commission of a specified offense for which the defendant was sentenced to imprisonment for life without the possibility of parole, has been incarcerated for at least 15 years. Existing law authorizes a court to consider specified factors when determining whether to resentence the defendant to a term of imprisonment with the possibility of parole including, among others, that the defendant has had no disciplinary actions for violent activities in the last five years in which the defendant was determined to be the aggressor. This bill would authorize a court to also consider if the defendant has been a victim of sexual abuse or sexual violence at any time during their incarceration when determining whether to resentence the defendant to a term of imprisonment with the possibility of parole. Existing law authorizes, when a defendant has been committed to the state prison or to a county jail for the commission of a felony, the court to recall the sentence and either reduce a defendant's term by modifying the sentence, or vacate the conviction and impose judgment on any necessarily included lesser offense or lesser related offense and, resentence the defendant to a reduced term. Existing law requires the court to consider, in recalling and resentencing pursuant to these provisions, postconviction factors, including, among others, evidence that circumstances have changed since the original sentencing so that continued incarceration is no longer in the interest of justice. Existing law states that a defendant is not entitled to relief from these provisions, and that a court is not required to respond to a defendant's requests for relief pursuant to these provisions. This bill would authorize, beginning on July 1, 2025, a defendant to file a petition for relief pursuant to these provisions, and would make that defendant entitled to a response from the court, if, among other things, the defendant is currently committed to the custody of the Secretary of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the defendant currently has a minimum sentence of at least 15 years, and the application of the current sentencing rules of the Judicial Council and any changes in sentencing laws enacted since the defendant was last sentenced would make the defendant eligible for a reduced sentence if applied to the defendant. Existing law requires various civil actions to be brought within specified periods of time, but these periods of limitation are tolled for 2 years during the time that the person entitled to bring the action is imprisoned on a criminal charge for a term less than life. However, under existing law these provisions do not apply to an action brought against a public entity or public employee, as specified. This bill would require an action for sexual assault brought against a public entity or public employee by a person who is imprisoned on a criminal charge, or in execution under the sentence of a criminal court, to be tolled during the period of imprisonment and until one year after the release from actual custody.
This Senate Resolution designates April 2024 as National County Government Month in California to recognize the essential services provided by the state's 58 counties. The measure encourages participation from county officials, employees, schools, and residents in events celebrating local government contributions to community health, safety, and infrastructure. By issuing a formal proclamation, the resolution aims to raise public awareness about the wide range of duties counties perform, such as managing waste and maintaining roads, without imposing any new laws or funding requirements.
