The Unruh Civil Rights Act provides that all persons within the jurisdiction of this state are free and equal, and regardless of their sex, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship, primary language, or immigration status are entitled to the full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities, privileges, or services in all business establishments of every kind whatsoever. The California Fair Employment and Housing Act protects and safeguards the right and opportunity of all persons to seek, obtain, and hold employment without discrimination, abridgment, or harassment on account of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, reproductive health decisionmaking, or veteran or military status. The act establishes the Civil Rights Department within the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency and requires the department to, among other things, bring civil actions to enforce the act. This bill would, among other things, require a deployer, as defined, and a developer of an automated decision tool, as defined, to, on or before January 1, 2025, and annually thereafter, perform an impact assessment for any automated decision tool the deployer uses that includes, among other things, a statement of the purpose of the automated decision tool and its intended benefits, uses, and deployment contexts. The bill would require a deployer or developer to provide the impact assessment to the Civil Rights Department within 60 days of its completion and would punish a violation of that provision with an administrative fine of not more than $10,000 to be recovered in an administrative enforcement action brought by the Civil Rights Department. The bill would authorize certain public attorneys, including the Attorney General, to bring a civil action against a deployer or developer for a violation of the bill. The bill would require a public attorney to, before commencing an action for injunctive relief, provide 45 days' written notice to a deployer or developer of the alleged violations of the bill and would provide a deployer or developer a specified opportunity to cure those violations, if, among other things, the deployer or developer provides the person who gave the notice an express written statement, under penalty of perjury, that the violation has been cured and that no further violations shall occur. By expanding the scope of the crime of perjury, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would require a deployer to, at or before the time an automated decision tool is used to make a consequential decision, as defined, notify any natural person that is the subject of the consequential decision that an automated decision tool is being used to make, or be a controlling factor in making, the consequential decision and to provide that person with, among other things, a statement of the purpose of the automated decision tool. The bill would, if a consequential decision is made solely based on the output of an automated decision tool, require a deployer to, if technically feasible, accommodate a natural person's request to not be subject to the automated decision tool and to be subject to an alternative selection process or accommodation, as prescribed. This bill would prohibit a deployer from using an automated decision tool that results in algorithmic discrimination, which the bill would define to mean the condition in which an automated decision tool contributes to unjustified differential treatment or impacts disfavoring people based on their actual or perceived race, color, ethnicity, sex, religion, age, national origin, limited English proficiency, disability, veteran status, genetic information, reproductive health, or any other classification protected by state law. The bill would, on and after January 1, 2026, authorize a person to bring a civil action against a deployer or developer for a violation of that provision. This bill would define "deployer" and "developer" to include a local government agency and would thereby 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 with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
Existing law establishes within state government the Transportation Agency, which consists of the Department of the California Highway Patrol, the California Transportation Commission, the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Department of Transportation, the High-Speed Rail Authority, and the Board of Pilot Commissioners for the Bays of San Francisco, San Pablo, and Suisun. The agency is under the supervision of the Secretary of Transportation, who has the power of general supervision over each department within the agency. The secretary, among other duties, is charged with advising the Governor on, and assist the Governor in establishing, major policy and program matters affecting each department, office, or other unit within the agency. This bill would, upon appropriation by the Legislature, require the agency to develop and distribute, on or before September 1, 2024, a bicycle safety handbook that includes information on, among other things, existing laws regulating bicycles and e-bikes, safety equipment, and sharing roads and bikeways with other users, as specified. The bill would require the agency to make a downloadable electronic version of the bicycle safety handbook available on the internet, as specified, and in print at all Department of Motor Vehicles offices, state libraries, Department of the California Highway Patrol offices, and other appropriate state offices. In developing the handbook, the bill would require collaboration and consultation between the agency and the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Department of the California Highway Patrol, the California Office of Traffic Safety, the Department of Transportation, and other relevant stakeholders, as specified.
Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission with regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations and gas corporations. Existing law authorizes the commission to fix the rates and charges for every public utility and requires that those rates and charges be just and reasonable. Existing law requires the commission to direct each gas corporation and electrical corporation that, for some portion of residential customers, employs every-other-month meter reading and estimates bills for months when the customer's meter is not read to include in its tariffs the methodology it employs to estimate bills for those months. This bill would require the commission, in a new or existing proceeding, to evaluate the energy usage estimation methodologies and mechanisms of electrical corporations and gas corporations in order to correct inaccurate energy usage estimates.
Existing law establishes within the Department of Technology the Office of Broadband and Digital Literacy. The office oversees the acquisition and management of contracts for the development and construction of, and for the maintenance and operation of, a statewide open-access middle-mile broadband network, as defined, to provide an opportunity for last-mile providers, anchor institutions, and tribal entities to connect to, and interconnect with other networks and other appropriate connections to, the broadband network to facilitate high-speed broadband service, as specified. Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission with regulatory authority over public utilities, including telephone corporations. Existing law requires the commission to develop, implement, and administer the California Advanced Services Fund to encourage deployment of high-quality advanced communications services to all Californians that will promote economic growth, job creation, and the substantial social benefits of advanced information and communications technologies. This bill would establish within state government the Office of Broadband and Digital Equity. This bill would establish the Office of Broadband and Digital Equity Board with members, as specified. The bill would provide the purpose of the office is to serve as a centralized state office for broadband and digital activities within the state. The bill would also specify the office has the powers and authorities to develop and implement policies to promote broadband service and to protect consumers from unfair business practices relating to broadband services.
Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission with regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations. Existing law requires the commission to identify a diverse and balanced portfolio of resources needed to ensure a reliable electricity supply that provides optimal integration of renewable energy in a cost-effective manner. Existing law requires the portfolio to rely upon zero-carbon-emitting resources to the maximum extent reasonable and be designed to achieve the statewide greenhouse gas emissions limit. This bill would specify that a diverse and balanced portfolio of resources includes an appropriate mix of renewable capacity, including peaking, dispatchable, baseload, firm, and as-available capacity.
Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of various professions and vocations by boards within the Department of Consumer Affairs. Existing law authorizes a board, as defined, to suspend a license on certain bases, including if the licensee is not in compliance with a child support order or judgment. Under the Contractors State License Law, the Contractors State License Board is responsible for the licensure, regulation, and discipline of contractors, as defined. This bill would require the Contractors State License Board, by January 1, 2025, to adopt regulations to provide for withholding issuance or renewal of a license application if the qualifying individual, responsible managing officer, or responsible managing employee is not in compliance with a child support order or judgment, as provided. The bill would require the board's regulations to provide for the suspension of licenses if the Department of Child Support Services provides the board with a list of delinquent child support obligors and the qualifying individual, responsible managing officer, or responsible managing employee for the license is not in compliance with a child support order. This bill would require licensees to notify the registrar of the board in writing of any earnings assignment order for child support issued by a court that includes an amount ordered to be paid toward the liquidation of an arrearage owed, unless the arrearage has been paid or the order has been suspended. The bill would require a license to be automatically suspended if the licensee fails to notify the registrar in writing within 120 days of the issuance of the earnings assignment order, as provided. The bill would require the board to adopt regulations providing procedures for the suspension of the license of a licensee who is out of compliance with a judgment or order of support that requires payment of unsatisfied arrearages.
Existing law defines a "hate crime" as a criminal act committed, in whole or in part, because of actual or perceived characteristics of the victim, including, among other things, race, religion, disability, and sexual orientation. Existing law creates various preconviction diversion programs for persons charged with crimes. Existing law states that restorative justice is a principal policy goal of the state in sentencing for hate crimes. This bill would, subject to an appropriation of funds by the Legislature, create a grant program within the Department of Justice to provide grants to community-based organizations, as defined, for the implementation and operation of restorative justice programs, as defined, that are focused on hate violence, as defined.
Existing law creates the University of California, San Francisco, San Joaquin Valley Regional Campus Medical Education Endowment Fund for the purpose of supporting the annual operating costs for the development, operation, and maintenance of a branch campus of the University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine in the San Joaquin Valley. Existing law requires moneys in the fund to initially be invested to create a sufficient balance to generate ongoing earnings to cover the estimated annual operating costs associated with the development, operation, and maintenance of the branch campus. Existing law requires the balance of the fund to be deemed sufficient when a balance of $500,000,000 is achieved and maintained in the fund. This bill would increase the balance that is required to be achieved and maintained in the fund to be deemed sufficient by $250,000,000.
Existing law requires the adopted course of study for grades 1 to 6, inclusive, and for grades 7 to 12, inclusive, to offer instruction in specified areas of study, including social sciences. Existing law establishes the Instructional Quality Commission and requires the commission to, among other things, recommend curriculum frameworks to the State Board of Education. Existing law requires the state board, concurrently with, but not before, the next revision of textbooks or curriculum frameworks in the social sciences, health, and mathematics curricula, to ensure that these academic areas integrate components of, among other things, financial literacy. Notwithstanding that requirement on the state board, existing law requires the commission, when the history-social science curriculum framework is revised after January 1, 2017, to consider including age-appropriate information for kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive, regarding certain topics on financial literacy. This bill would require the State Department of Education to develop, among other things, curriculum, instructional materials, and professional development resources related to personal finance topics, as provided. The bill would also require the department to communicate to school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools the financial literacy content in the history-social science framework and in other frameworks, as well as strategies for expanding the provision, and increasing the quality, of financial education instruction. The bill would require the department to review financial education curriculum available to local educational agencies and update on an ongoing basis the financial literacy resources listed on its internet website. The bill would make implementation of all of its provisions contingent upon an appropriation of funds by the Legislature for these purposes in the annual Budget Act or another statute.
Existing law requires a contract entered into by any state agency for the procurement or laundering of apparel, garments, or corresponding accessories, or the procurement of equipment, materials, or supplies, other than procurement related to a public works contract, to require that a contractor certify that nothing furnished to the state pursuant to the contract has been laundered or produced by certain types of labor. Existing law makes specified violations of these certification requirements a misdemeanor. This bill would revise the above contracting requirements to also require a contractor to certify, under penalty of perjury, that the contract complies with specified requirements relating to human trafficking, including certain prohibitions on contractors, contractor employees, subcontractors, subcontractor employees, and their agents. The bill would require contractors and subcontractors to notify employees of specified prohibited activities and the actions that may be taken against them for violations. The bill would provide that a contractor is ineligible for, and shall not bid on, or submit a proposal for, a contract under these provisions if the contractor has failed to certify its compliance. The bill would also require a contractor to exercise due diligence in ensuring that its subcontractors comply with those requirements, including requiring each subcontractor to sign a certification under penalty of perjury. By expanding the scope of a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would require, before a contract or subcontract is awarded, a proposed contractor or proposed subcontractor to provide a certification to the contracting officer or contractor, as applicable, that states the contractor or subcontractor has implemented a compliance plan, as specified, and has conducted due diligence that either (1) to the best of the contractor's or subcontractor's knowledge and belief, certain parties have not engaged in any specified prohibited activities or (2) if the contractor or subcontractor is aware of abuses relating to the specified prohibited activities, then certain parties have taken the appropriate remedial and referral actions. The bill would also require, after the contract or subcontract is awarded and during the performance period of the contract or subcontract, a contractor or subcontractor to provide an annual certification to the contracting officer or contractor, as applicable, that states that the above-mentioned compliance plan has been implemented and has conducted due diligence regarding the above requirements. This bill would specify certain actions a contractor would be required to take if a contractor, contractor employee, subcontractor, subcontractor employee, or agent violates these provisions or specified federal provisions, including, among others, notifying it's employees of the actions that will be taken against the employee or agent for violations. Existing law authorizes certain sanctions to be imposed if a contractor contracting with the state who knew or should have known that the apparel, garments, corresponding accessories, equipment, materials, or supplies furnished to the state were laundered or produced in violation of specified conditions, including, among others, voiding the contract under which the prohibited apparel, garments, or corresponding accessories, equipment, materials, or supplies were laundered or provided at the option of the state agency and removing the contractor from the bidder's list for a period not to exceed 360 days. This bill would authorize additional sanctions, including, among others, requiring a contractor to remove a contractor employee from the performance of the contract, requiring the contractor to terminate a subcontractor, and suspending contract payments until the contractor has taken appropriate remedial action. The bill would also specify that these requirements govern contracts and subcontracts entered into by a state agency, regardless of place of performance. 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 establishes various housing programs, including the Affordable Housing Revolving Development and Acquisition Program for the purpose of funding the acquisition of property to develop or preserve affordable housing. The program is administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development. This bill would express the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would increase the supply of affordable housing and reduce homelessness.
Existing law authorizes each of the Counties of Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tulare to develop within its respective jurisdiction a Central Valley Rural Crime Prevention Program, to be administered by the county district attorney's office or sheriff's department of each respective county under a joint powers agreement, as provided. Existing law requires each county, in order to receive funds, to agree to participate in a regional task force, to be known as the Central Valley Rural Crime Task Force, to focus on rural and agricultural crimes. This bill would make a technical, nonsubstantive change to those provisions.
