Existing law establishes various programs and funding sources to enable the development of affordable housing, including the low-income housing credit, the Building Homes and Jobs Act, the Veterans and Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2018, the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program, and the Multifamily Housing Program. Existing law charges various agencies with the administration of these programs, including the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee, the Department of Housing and Community Development, and the California Housing Finance Agency. This bill would require the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee, the Department of Housing and Community Development, the California Housing Finance Agency, and the California Debt Limit Allocation Committee to conduct an affordable housing cost study that measures the factors that influence the cost of building affordable housing, breaks down total development costs for affordable housing, and enables the state to maximize resources allocated for affordable housing. The bill would require the study to consider data from projects that have received funding from the various programs and funding sources described above. The bill would require the development of the cost study only as existing resources permit without restructuring funding priorities, or as private resources are made available. The bill would require the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee to publish the study by January 1, 2028. Existing law establishes the California Statewide Housing Plan, which is required to incorporate a statement of housing goals, policies, and objectives, as well as specified segments. Existing law requires the Department of Housing and Community Development to update and provide a revision of the California State Housing Plan to the Legislature every 4 years, as specified. This bill would also require the department to prepare and provide an annual addendum to the California Housing Plan to the Legislature by January 1, 2023, and each January 1, thereafter. The bill would require the addendum to identify specified information, including all of the financial resources the state possesses for the development of affordable housing and outcomes to measure the success of the state's investments in housing.
Existing law authorizes the formation of the Sacramento Regional Transit District with various powers and duties with respect to transportation planning, programming, construction, and operations. Existing law requires that the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) be the long-range planning agency advising the district. This bill would require SACOG, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to develop and administer the Green Means Go Grant and Loan Program to award competitive grants and revolving loans to cities, counties, and special districts within the Sacramento region for qualifying projects within and benefitting green zones, as defined. The bill would require SACOG, on or before November 1, 2023, and annually thereafter, to submit a report to the Legislature describing the development and administration of that program, amount of moneys awarded pursuant to that program, and status of projects for which that program's moneys were awarded. This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the Sacramento Area Council of Governments. 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, in the administration of the Diesel Fuel Tax Law, that certain procedures be followed with regard to appeals staff review conferences, as provided. Those procedures include, but are not limited to, conferences being held at a reasonable time at an office that is convenient to the taxpayer, and the taxpayer being informed prior to a conference of their right to have their attorney, accountant, or other designated agent present. This bill would allow a conference to be held remotely or virtually, meaning without the taxpayer's physical presence at an office, if agreed to by both parties.
Existing law, the California Emergency Services Act (CESA) , among other things, authorizes the Governor to proclaim a state of emergency in an area affected or likely to be affected. The CESA also authorizes the governing body of any city, county, or city and county, or an official designated by ordinance adopted by that governing body, to proclaim a local emergency, as provided. Existing law authorizes local health officials to take any preventative measures that may be necessary to protect and preserve the public health from any public health hazard during any state of emergency or local emergency. This bill would require a public health order issued by the County of Los Angeles local health officer during the COVID-19 pandemic state of emergency to be based on data for each service planning area, as defined, rather than on countywide data. The bill would further require that a local public health order related to the COVID-19 pandemic include the data for each service planning area upon which the order is based. The bill would specify that these provisions remain operative until the termination of the state of emergency declared on March 4, 2020. By requiring the County of Los Angeles to prepare emergency local public health orders based on data for each service planning area, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the County of Los Angeles. 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, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
Existing law provides employees with the right to take time off work without discharge or discrimination for a variety of reasons, including taking time off to appear in school on behalf of a child or to assist a family member who is the victim of a violent or serious felony. This bill would enact the Bereavement Leave Act of 2021. The bill would require an employer with 25 or more employees to grant a request made by any employee to take up to 10 business days of unpaid bereavement leave upon the death of a spouse, child, parent, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, or domestic partner, in accordance with certain procedures, and subject to certain exclusions. The bill would require an employer with fewer than 25 employees to grant a request by any employee to take up to 3 business days of leave, in accordance with these provisions. The bill would prohibit an employer from interfering with or restraining the exercise or attempt to exercise the employee's right to take this leave. This bill would authorize an employee who has been discharged, disciplined, or discriminated or retaliated against for exercising their right to bereavement leave to file a complaint with the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement or bring a civil action against their employer for reinstatement, specified damages, and attorney's fees. The provisions of the bill would not apply to an employee who is covered by a valid collective bargaining agreement that provides for at least as much bereavement leave as is required by this bill and other specified working conditions. 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 the governing board of a school district to adopt a resolution that, among other things: (1) declares its intention to enter into a lease or agreement relating to school property, (2) includes specified information about the property, and (3) fixes a time for a public meeting of the governing board of the school district at which sealed proposals to enter a lease or agreement with the school district will be received from any person, firm, or corporation, and considered by the governing board of the school district, as specified. Existing law, notwithstanding the provision described above, authorizes the governing board of a school district to lease real property for a minimum rental of $1 per year if the instrument by which this property is leased requires the lessee to construct, or provide for the construction of, a building to be used by the school district and requires the title to the building to vest in the school district at the end of the lease. Existing law, until July 1, 2022, requires the instrument created pursuant to these provisions to be awarded based on a competitive solicitation process to the proposer providing the best value to the school district, as specified. Existing law authorizes a school district, for purposes of using preconstruction services, to enter into an instrument before written approval is obtained from the Department of General Services' Division of the State Architect under specified circumstances. Existing law authorizes a school district to identify specific types of subcontractors required to be included in a proposal, and imposes specified other procedural requirements on awarding construction subcontracts of a certain value. This bill would instead make the provisions described above inoperative on July 1, 2027, and would repeal them as of January 1, 2028.
Existing law establishes as the policy of the state that eligible renewable energy resources and zero-carbon resources supply 100% of all retail sales of electricity to California end-use customers and 100% of electricity procured to serve all state agencies by December 31, 2045. This bill would enact the Clean Economy and Clean Jobs Stimulus Act of 2021 and would require the Department of Water Resources to procure newly developed eligible renewable energy resources or zero-carbon resources, and energy storage associated with those resources, in an amount that satisfies 100 percent of the electricity procured to serve all state agencies by December 31, 2030, as provided. Under the Public Utilities Act, a violation of any order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime. Because a violation of an order or decision of the commission implementing requirements of this bill would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program by creating a new crime. 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.
The State Fireworks Law requires the State Fire Marshal to adopt regulations relating to fireworks as may be necessary for the protection of life and property, and requires the State Fire Marshal to appoint deputies and employees as may be required to carry out the provisions of that law. Existing law requires the State Fire Marshal to classify all fireworks and pyrotechnic devices and prohibits any fireworks or pyrotechnic devices from being imported, sold, or offered for sale before the fireworks or devices have been examined and classified by the State Fire Marshal. Existing law authorizes the State Fire Marshal to issue licenses related to fireworks and pyrotechnic devices, including a wholesaler's license. Existing law makes it unlawful for a person to violate the State Fireworks Law and the regulations issued pursuant thereto, and to possess a specified amount of dangerous fireworks, punishable by a fine or by imprisonment, as specified. This bill would increase the amount of the fine to be imposed for violating the State Fireworks Law or related regulation, would increase the amount of certain fines for possessing a specified amount of dangerous fireworks, and would specify the fine and imprisonment penalties for a 3rd or subsequent conviction. This bill would also make numerous nonsubstantive changes.
Existing law requires the Director of Alcoholic Beverage Control, upon request from the Legislature, to prepare and submit to the Legislature a report on the department's activities and post the report on the department's internet website. Existing law prescribes certain topics that this report is to address with reference to a previous fiscal year. This bill would recast these provisions to require the report to include information on the amount of funds allocated and spent by the department for licensing, enforcement, and administration in the previous 5 years, number of licenses issued, renewed, denied, suspended, and revoked, by license category in the previous 5 years, and the number, type, and amount of penalties, fines, and other disciplinary actions taken by the department in the previous 5 years.
Existing law requires each pupil completing grade 12 to satisfy certain requirements as a condition of receiving a diploma of graduation from high school. These requirements include the completion of designated coursework in grades 9 to 12, inclusive, including completion of a one-semester course in economics. This bill would require the State Department of Education to implement, commencing with the 2022–23 school year, a financial literacy pilot program. The bill, under the pilot program, would authorize a school district or charter school to voluntarily incorporate a financial literacy program into a course, for pupils in grade 11 or 12, offered by the local educational agency. The bill would require the department to submit a report with findings on the pilot program to the Legislature on or before January 1, 2026. This bill would make these provisions inoperative on June 30, 2026, and would repeal it as of January 1, 2028.
Existing law, the Ralph M. Brown Act requires, with specified exceptions, that all meetings of a legislative body of a local agency, as those terms are defined, be open and public and that all persons be permitted to attend and participate. The act contains specified provisions regarding the timelines for posting an agenda and providing for the ability of the public to directly address the legislative body on any item of interest to the public. The act generally requires all regular and special meetings of the legislative body be held within the boundaries of the territory over which the local agency exercises jurisdiction, subject to certain exceptions. The act allows for meetings to occur via teleconferencing subject to certain requirements, particularly that the legislative body notice each teleconference location of each member that will be participating in the public meeting, that each teleconference location be accessible to the public, that members of the public be allowed to address the legislative body at each teleconference location, that the legislative body post an agenda at each teleconference location, and that at least a quorum of the legislative body participate from locations within the boundaries of the local agency's jurisdiction. Executive Order No. N-29-20 suspends the Ralph M. Brown Act's requirements for teleconferencing during the COVID-19 pandemic provided that notice and accessibility requirements are met, the public members are allowed to observe and address the legislative body at the meeting, and that a legislative body of a local agency has a procedure for receiving and swiftly resolving requests for reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities, as specified. This bill would require, in addition to the requirements of the Ralph M. Brown Act, the governing board of a school district, a county board of education, and the governing body of a charter school to make any public meeting of the board or body accessible electronically online to all members of the public seeking to attend and ensure the opportunity for the members of the public participating electronically to comment on agenda items in the same manner as a person attending a meeting in person. By imposing additional duties on local educational agencies, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires local agencies, for the purpose of ensuring public access to the meetings of public bodies and the writings of public officials and agencies, to comply with a statutory enactment that amends or enacts laws relating to public records or open meetings and contains findings demonstrating that the enactment furthers the constitutional requirements relating to this purpose. This bill would make legislative findings to that effect. 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 programs and funding sources administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development to enable the development of affordable housing, including the Building Homes and Jobs Act, the Multifamily Housing Program, the Housing for a Healthy California Program, and the Veterans Housing and Homeless Prevention Act of 2014. Under existing law governing the State Community Development Block Grant Program, the department is required to distribute funds made available under the program in order to provide decent housing, a suitable living environment, and expand economic opportunities, consistent with federal requirements. Existing federal law also establishes the HOME Investment Partnership Act to, among other things, expand the supply of affordable housing. Existing law designates the department as the state agency responsible for administering the HOME Investment Partnership Act. Existing law authorizes the Department of General Services (DGS) to dispose of surplus state real property, as provided. Under existing law, DGS is required to offer surplus state real property, that has been determined by DGS not to be needed by any state agency, to any local agency, as defined, and then to nonprofit affordable housing sponsors, as defined, prior to being offered for sale to private entities or individuals. This bill would require the department to solicit and consider proposals for adaptive reuse, as defined, that demonstrate cost efficiencies and timely completion in implementing the affordable housing loan and grant programs described above. The bill would require any notice of funding availability issued by the department to state that adaptive reuse of a property for affordable housing purposes is an eligible activity. The bill would require an adaptive reuse proposal to result in at least 50% of all units being affordable to persons who are extremely low and very low income and would require an adaptive reuse proposal to ensure that construction workers on the projects are paid prevailing wages, as defined, and that the contractors use a construction workforce that is skilled and trained, as defined. This bill would require a local agency, nonprofit affordable housing sponsor, private entity, or individual that receives surplus state real property to consider adaptive reuse in any housing development on the acquired property. This bill would prohibit a local affordable housing bond measure, including any current local bond program for which the funds are not fully encumbered, from prohibiting or excluding a project proposal that uses an adaptive reuse model solely on the basis that the proposal is for an adaptive reuse project. The bill would include findings that changes proposed by this bill address a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair and, therefore, apply to all cities, including charter cities. 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, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
