Existing law authorizes specified peace officers, including, among others, police officers, probation officers, and members of the California National Guard, in the performance of the officers' duties, to display a steady or flashing blue warning light visible from the front, sides, or rear of their emergency vehicles. This bill would additionally authorize parole officers to display the blue warning light from their emergency vehicles if they complete a 4-hour classroom training course regarding the operation of emergency vehicles that is certified by the Standards and Training for Corrections Division of the Board of State and Community Corrections.
(1) 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. This bill would, until January 1, 2032, exempt from the requirements of CEQA development projects, as defined, meeting certain requirements occurring within the downtown revitalization zone, as defined, in the City and County of San Francisco. The bill would require the prime contractor and subcontractors on the development project to provide an affidavit under the penalty of perjury regarding the use of skilled and trained workforce on the development project, as provided. Because the bill would expand the crime of perjury and would increase the duties of the lead agency by requiring it to determine the applicability of the exemption for projects located in the City and County of San Francisco, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The Jobs and Economic Improvement Through Environmental Leadership Act of 2021 (Leadership Act) authorizes the Governor, before January 1, 2032, to certify projects that meet specified requirements for streamlining benefits related to CEQA, including the requirement that judicial actions challenging the action of a lead agency for projects certified by the Governor be resolved, to the extent feasible, within 270 days after the filing of the record of proceedings with the court, and a requirement that the applicant agrees to pay the costs of preparing the record of proceedings for the project concurrent with review and consideration of the project, as specified. The Leadership Act provides that if a lead agency fails to approve a project certified by the Governor before January 1, 2033, the certification is no longer valid. The Leadership Act provides that it is repealed on January 1, 2034. This bill would authorize the Governor to certify projects located in the downtown revitalization zone in the City and County of San Francisco that are not exempt from CEQA pursuant to the above provisions and that meet certain requirements for streamlining benefits related to CEQA, including the requirement that judicial actions challenging the action of a lead agency for projects certified by the Governor be resolved, to the extent feasible, within 270 days after the filing of the record of proceedings with the court, and a requirement that the applicant agrees to pay the costs of preparing the record of proceedings for the project concurrent with review and consideration of the project, as specified. The bill would specify that the certification of the project is voided if the lead agency, in approving the project, adopts a statement of overriding consideration for environmental impacts identified in the EIR that cannot be avoided or mitigated to less than significant. The bill would provide that if a lead agency fails to approve a project certified by the Governor before January 1, 2031, the certification is no longer valid. The bill would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2032. By increasing the duties of a lead agency in its implementation of CEQA, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (2) Existing property tax law, in accordance with the California Constitution, provides for a "welfare exemption" for property used exclusively for religious, hospital, scientific, or charitable purposes and that is owned or operated by certain types of nonprofit entities, if certain qualifying criteria are met. This bill would provide, for lien dates occurring on or after January 1, 2025, that property is within that welfare exemption and is entitled to a partial exemption equal to the percentage of the value of the property that is equal to the percentage that the number of units serving moderate-income households represents of the total number of residential units, if the property is used exclusively for rental housing and related facilities, is owned and operated by specified entities, and certain conditions are met. The bill would require, as part of those conditions, the owner of the property to certify, under penalty of perjury, specified information, the property to be located within the downtown revitalization zone of the City and County of San Francisco, as defined, and the owner of the property to claim the exemption within 5 years following the issuance of the first building permit for residential units on the property. (3) This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the City and County of San Francisco. (4) By expanding the crime of perjury, imposing additional duties on local tax officials, and increasing the duties of the lead agency by requiring it to determine the applicability of the CEQA exemption for projects located in the City and County of San Francisco, 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 with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for specified reasons. 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. (5) Existing law requires the state to reimburse local agencies annually for certain property tax revenues lost as a result of any exemption or classification of property for purposes of ad valorem property taxation. This bill would provide that, notwithstanding those provisions, no appropriation is made and the state shall not reimburse local agencies for property tax revenues lost by them pursuant to the bill.
Existing law generally authorizes fines, including restitution fines, and restitution orders to be deemed a money judgment that is fully enforceable as if the order were a civil judgment, and makes any portion of the restitution order that remains unsatisfied after a defendant is no longer on probation, parole, postrelease community supervision, or mandatory supervision, or after a term in custody enforceable, as specified. Existing law authorizes a local collection program to continue to enforce restitution orders once a defendant is no longer on probation, postrelease community supervision, or mandatory supervision or after a term in custody. This bill would make any portion of a restitution order that remains unsatisfied after a defendant has completed diversion enforceable. The bill would also authorize a local collection program to continue to enforce restitution orders after a defendant has completed diversion.
Existing law establishes the Department of Industrial Relations in the Labor and Workforce Development Agency to, among other things, foster, promote, and develop the welfare of wage earners of California, to improve their working conditions, and to advance their opportunities for profitable employment. This bill would require the department, upon appropriation of funds for this purpose, to establish and administer the California Workplace Outreach Project to promote awareness of and compliance with labor protections that affect California workers. The bill would require the department to issue a competitive request for proposal to qualified organizations, as defined, to provide education and outreach services to workers and assist workers who have experienced labor violations. The bill would require qualified organizations to consult with the department to create education and outreach materials informing workers of their rights on priority topics and training materials for workers and organizations. The bill would require the materials to be translated into non-English languages, to be determined by each qualified organization in consultation with the department, as appropriate for the geographic region the qualified organization serves. The bill would require the department and qualified organizations to meet at least twice a year to coordinate efforts around outreach, education, and enforcement.
Existing law provides that an inmate in state prison has specified civil rights, including, among others, the right to confidentially correspond with a member of the State Bar of California. Existing law requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to approve an attorney's request to have a confidential call, as defined, with the inmate that they represent. Existing law requires the phone call to be at least 30 minutes once per month, per inmate, per case, unless the inmate or attorney requests less time. This bill would require local jail facilities to adopt the above-described confidential call process for incarcerated persons and attorneys. The bill would specify that these provisions neither supplant nor limit an incarcerated person's existing access to their attorney. By increasing the duties on local officials, this bill would create 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, 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.
The California Healthy Youth Act requires school districts, defined to include county boards of education, county superintendents of schools, the California School for the Deaf, the California School for the Blind, and charter schools, to ensure that all pupils in grades 7 to 12, inclusive, receive comprehensive sexual health education and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention education, as specified. The act authorizes a school district to provide that education earlier than grade 7 with age-appropriate and medically accurate information. The act requires each school district to notify parents and guardians of pupils about its plan to provide sexual health education and HIV prevention instruction for the upcoming school year and to inform them, among other things, that the written and audiovisual educational materials used in comprehensive sexual health education and HIV prevention education are available for inspection. This bill would require the governing board of a school district to adopt a policy at a publicly noticed meeting specifying how parents and guardians of pupils may inspect the written and audiovisual educational materials used in comprehensive sexual health education and HIV prevention education, including that the materials, including updates or changes to the materials, are made available, within prescribed timeframes, at each schoolsite and, except as provided, publicly posted on the school district's internet website or, if applicable, on a school district's parent or guardian portal, as specified. By imposing additional duties on local educational agencies, 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, 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 establishes the State Department of Social Services to administer public social services and authorizes the department to adopt regulations to implement the law enforced by the department. Existing law requires a county board of supervisors to establish a county department, run by a director appointed by the board, for the administration of public social services and promotion of public understanding of the public social services provided by the county. Existing law authorizes the board to contract with other counties, the State Department of Public Health, or the State Department of Health Care Services for the operation, maintenance, and establishment of services a county board of supervisors deems desirable to provide to eligible individuals. This bill would require a county human services agency that administers public benefits to develop and implement a program to ensure that, at a minimum, homeless residents of a county can pick up and receive government-related mail addressed to the resident at a place designated by the agency. The bill would make the program participation optional for homeless residents. The bill would also require the agency to provide program participants with specified information regarding the program, including hours of operation. The bill would clarify that program participation would not establish residency. The bill would define what qualifies as government-related mail. The bill would also require, on or before January 1, 2026, the State Department of Social Services to adopt specified regulations to implement the mail programs, with input from stakeholders. The bill would require the department to implement and administer these provisions through all-county letters or similar instructions until regulations are adopted. By imposing new duties on counties, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would state that it is the intent of the Legislature that these provisions are meant to provide minimum standards for county mail programs, and that counties are encouraged to expand upon these standards by holding all types of mail for homeless residents, providing various mail pickup points, and informing homeless residents when they have mail. 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.
The Consumers Legal Remedies Act makes unlawful certain unfair methods of competition and certain unfair or deceptive acts or practices undertaken by a person in a transaction intended to result or that results in the sale or lease of goods or services to a consumer, including charging or receiving an unreasonable fee, as defined, to prepare, aid, or advise any prospective applicant, applicant, or recipient in the procurement, maintenance, or securing of public social services, as defined to include, among other things, veterans pensions. This bill would expand the definition of public social services to also include other veterans benefits. The bill would also expand the definition of an unreasonable fee to include a fee charged with respect to federal veterans benefits that exceeds the amount that could be charged for those services by an attorney or claims agent accredited by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Existing law prohibits a person from, in connection with any transaction or any sale of goods or services, electronically accessing a Common Access Card (CAC) issued to a service member, placing or requiring the placement of such a CAC in a smart card reader, requesting or requesting entry of the personal identification number (PIN) associated with such a CAC, or requiring a service member to log in to any United States Department of Defense or, in the case of a member of the United States Coast Guard, United States Department of Homeland Security computer system. Existing law makes void a transaction or sale entered into in violation of these provisions. This bill would extend the above-described restrictions to prohibit requiring a former or current service member to log in or share their credentials for accessing, or accessing with another person's credentials, any United States Department of Defense, United States Department of Veterans Affairs, or United States Department of Homeland Security computer system. Except as provided, the bill would prohibit a person from, in connection with any transaction or any sale of goods or services, directly or indirectly soliciting, contracting for, charging, or receiving, or attempting to solicit, contract for, charge, or receive, any fee or compensation with respect to the preparation, presentation, or prosecution of any claim for benefits under the laws administered by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The bill would also make void a contract performed in violation of these provisions. The bill would make violations of these provisions a misdemeanor. 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 Bronzan-McCorquodale Act, contains provisions governing the operation and financing of community mental health services in every county through locally administered and locally controlled community mental health programs. This bill would require the State Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) , jointly with the County Behavioral Health Directors Association of California, to implement a certification program to provide augmented services to adults with serious mental illness in homelike community settings, and would require those settings to be licensed by the State Department of Social Services (DSS) as an augmented residential care facility (ARCF) , as defined. The bill would require an ARCF to have a maximum capacity of 6 residents, and to conform with the requirements of a specified federal regulation relating to community-based settings and specified provisions of the California Community Care Facilities Act. The bill would require the DHCS to issue a certification of program approval to an ARCF before DSS issues a license. The bill would require the DHCS to establish by regulation a rate methodology for ARCFs that includes a fixed-facility component for residential services and an individualized services and support component based on each consumer's needs, as specified. The bill would prohibit a local mental or behavioral health agency from paying a rate to an ARCF for a consumer that exceeds the rate in the DHCS-approved ARCF placement plan for the facility unless certain conditions are met. The bill would authorize a local mental or behavioral health agency to recommend an applicant for certification to the DHCS as part of an approved community placement plan if the applicant meets specified requirements. The bill would authorize DHCS to decertify an ARCF that does not comply with program requirements, and to make recommendations to DSS regarding the facility's license. The bill also would authorize DSS to initiate proceedings for temporary suspension of the license, as specified. The bill would be implemented only to the extent that funds for its purposes are made available through an appropriation in the annual Budget Act. By imposing new duties on local behavioral health agencies, 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, 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.
The California Constitution entitles the victim of a crime to restitution. Existing law requires the court in each criminal case to order a convicted defendant to pay full restitution to the victim and a separate restitution fine, as specified. Existing law requires the order of restitution to include interest at the annual rate of 10%. Under existing law, certain delinquent payments, including payments for fines, fees, and restitution, may be referred to the Franchise Tax Board for collection. Existing law imposes interest on these delinquent payments. This bill would change the annual interest rate on restitution orders to the adjusted annual rate, as specified, and not to exceed 10%. The bill would cap the annual interest rate charged by the Franchise Tax Board on certain delinquent payments, including fines, fees, and restitution, to no more than 1%. The bill would additionally require the Franchise Tax Board, when issuing a withholding order for the purpose of fulfilling a restitution order, to use a sliding scale model that considers income and ability to pay to determine the amount to be withheld. The bill would also require an entity collecting money for restitution orders and fines to first use the money to fulfill any restitution order before using it to fulfill any restitution fine or any administrative costs of the agency.
Existing law provides that in a civil action, if a copy of the summons and complaint cannot with reasonable diligence be personally delivered to the person to be served, as specified, a summons may be served by leaving a copy of the summons and complaint at the person's dwelling house, usual place of abode, usual place of business, or usual mailing address, in the presence of a competent member of the household or a person apparently in charge of their office, place of business, at least 18 years of age, and by thereafter mailing a copy of the summons and complaint to the person to be served at the place where a copy of the summons and complaint were left. This bill would provide a process for personal service where the only address reasonably known for the person to be served with the summons is a state prison or county jail. Where that process cannot be effectuated, the bill provides that substitute service may be made by leaving a copy of the summons and complaint with the warden, sheriff, or jailer of that state prison or county jail, as specified. If the person to be served has been transferred or released, the bill would require a warden, sheriff, or jailer who receives a copy of a summons on the person's behalf to notify the server of that fact within 24 hours of the attempted service, and the attempted service would not be effective.
Existing law, the State Civil Service Act, requires the Department of Human Resources to administer the Personnel Classification Plan of the State of California, including allocating every position to the appropriate class. Existing law requires the allocation of a position to a class be derived from, and determined by, ascertaining the duties and responsibilities of the position, and be based on the principle that all positions are to be included in the same class if certain qualifications apply, including, but not limited to, that the positions are sufficiently similar in respect to duties and responsibilities that the same descriptive title may be used, and substantially the same requirements as to education, experience, knowledge, and ability are demanded of incumbents. Existing law also prescribes a comprehensive civil service personnel system for the state and specifically provides certain preferences for veterans. Existing law grants to a person retired from the United States military, honorably discharged from active military duty with a service-connected disability, or honorably discharged from active duty eligibility for civil service examinations for which they meet the minimum qualifications for the classification. Existing law requires that, in evaluating minimum qualifications, related military experience be considered state civil service experience in a comparable class, based on the duties and responsibilities assigned. This bill would require the department, on or before January 1, 2026, to review the department Personnel Classification Plan of the State of California and identify which classes are compatible with creating a waiver for a bachelor's degree requirement for a veteran, as defined, who has served at the level of E-6 or higher for more than 2 years. For a class identified by the department, where a bachelor's degree is required as a minimum qualification for a civil service examination, the bill would require the department to, commencing July 1, 2026, waive the bachelor's degree requirement for a veteran who has served at the level of E-6 or higher for more than 2 years.
