Existing law authorizes the operation of an autonomous vehicle on public roads for testing purposes by a driver who possesses the proper class of license for the type of vehicle operated if specified requirements are satisfied. Existing law prohibits the operation of an autonomous vehicle on public roads until the manufacturer submits an application to the Department of Motor Vehicles, as specified, and that application is approved. Existing law requires the department to adopt regulations setting forth requirements for the submission and approval of an application, including, among other things, any testing, equipment, and performance standards the department concludes are necessary to ensure the safe operation of autonomous vehicles on public roads, as specified. This bill would, commencing January 1, 2026, authorize an autonomous vehicle to be equipped with automated driving system (ADS) marker lamps in accordance with specified standards. For purposes of this provision, the bill would define an "ADS marker lamp" as a device that emits a light to indicate when an ADS is engaged in the operation of the vehicle. The bill would also make conforming changes.
Existing law requires the State Department of Public Health to license and regulate health facilities, including general acute care hospitals. Existing law makes a violation of these provisions a crime. Existing federal law, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) , authorizes a covered health care provider to use specified protected health information to maintain a directory of patients in its facility, and to disclose that information to persons who ask for the patient by name. Existing federal law requires a covered health care provider to inform an individual of its privacy practices generally and the use and disclosure of information in the directory and to provide the patient with the opportunity to restrict or prohibit that use or disclosure. Existing law, the Confidentiality of Medical Information Act, prohibits a health care provider, a contractor, or a health care service plan from disclosing medical information, as defined, but does not prevent a general acute care hospital, upon an inquiry concerning a specific patient, from releasing a patient's name, address, age, and sex, and a general description of the reason for treatment, among other information, unless there is a specific written request by the patient to the contrary. This bill, beginning July 1, 2026, would require a general acute care hospital to inform a patient or the patient's representative, at the time of admission or as soon as reasonably possible in cases of patient incapacity or an emergency treatment circumstance, that the patient or the patient's representative may restrict or prohibit the use or disclosure of protected health information in the hospital's patient directory and would require the hospital to provide the patient or the patient's representative an acknowledgment of the hospital's privacy practices by using a separate document and having hospital personnel verbally inform the patient or the patient's representative, as specified. Because a violation of the bill's requirements would be 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 Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, requires all groundwater basins designated as high- or medium-priority basins by the Department of Water Resources to be managed under a groundwater sustainability plan or coordinated groundwater sustainability plans, except as specified. Existing law requires a groundwater sustainability plan to be developed and implemented for each medium- or high-priority basin by a groundwater sustainability agency. Existing law authorizes any local agency or combination of local agencies overlying a groundwater basin to decide to become a groundwater sustainability agency for that basin, as provided. Existing law requires members of the board of directors and the executive, as defined, of a groundwater sustainability agency to file statements of economic interests with the Fair Political Practices Commission using the commission's online system for filing statements of economic interests. This bill would require each groundwater sustainability agency to publish the membership of its board of directors on its internet website, or on the local agency's internet website, as provided. The bill would also require each groundwater sustainability agency to publish a link on its internet website or its local agency's internet website to the location on the Fair Political Practices Commission's internet website where the statements of economic interests, filed by the members of the board and executives of the agency, can be viewed.
Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission with regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations, while local publicly owned electric utilities are under the direction of their governing board. Existing law authorizes the commission to establish rules for all public utilities, subject to control by the Legislature. The Public Utilities Act authorizes the commission, after a hearing, to require every public utility to construct, maintain, and operate its line, plant, system, equipment, apparatus, tracks, and premises in a manner so as to promote and safeguard the health and safety of its employees, passengers, customers, and the public, and authorizes the commission to prescribe the installation, use, maintenance, and operation of appropriate safety or other devices or appliances. Existing law requires a person or entity that acquires an automated external defibrillator (AED) to comply with all regulations governing the placement of an AED, notify an agent of the local emergency medical service agency of the existence, location, and type of AED acquired, ensure the AED is maintained and tested according to the operation and maintenance guidelines set forth by the manufacturer, ensure that the AED is tested at least biannually and after each use, ensure that a specified inspection is made of all AEDs on the premises at least every 90 days, and ensure that records of this maintenance and testing are maintained. Existing law provides that any person who, in good faith and not for compensation, renders emergency care or treatment by the use of an AED at the scene of an emergency is not liable for any civil damages resulting from any acts or omissions in rendering the emergency care, except in the case of personal injury or wrongful death that results from the gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct of the person who renders emergency care or treatment by the use of an AED. This bill, the Justin Kropp Safety Act, would require each utility, which is defined to mean an electrical corporation, electrical cooperative, or local publicly owned electric utility, and an independent contractor or subcontractor of the utility, to have an AED available at every worksite where 2 or more electrical utility workers are performing work on transmission or distribution lines of 601 volts or more (AED requirement) . The bill would require the utility, and the independent contractor or subcontractor of the utility, to adopt specified written policies and procedures (policy requirement) , and to comply with the placement, notification, maintenance, testing, inspection, and recordkeeping requirements described above. This bill would provide that the above-described exemption from civil liability applies to a person who renders, in good faith and not for compensation, emergency care and treatment by use of an AED. The bill would also apply that exemption to a utility, and an independent contractor or subcontractor of the utility, that acquires an AED for emergency use, makes reasonable efforts to comply with the AED and policy requirements, and complies with the above-described placement, notification, maintenance, testing, inspection and recordkeeping requirements. The bill would not apply the civil liability exemption in case of gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct by the person rendering emergency care or treatment by the use of an AED. Under existing law, a violation of the Public Utilities Act or any order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime. Because a violation of a commission action implementing the bill's requirements would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Additionally, by placing additional duties on local publicly owned electric utilities, 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 specified reasons.
Existing law, the Mobilehome Residency Law, governs tenancies in mobilehome parks and includes provisions that are applicable to those who have an ownership interest in a subdivision, cooperative, or condominium for mobilehomes, or a resident-owned mobilehome park, as specified. Among other things, these provisions set forth the rights of residents and homeowners regarding the use of the property. This bill would make any covenant, restriction, or condition contained in any rental agreement or other instrument affecting the tenancy of a homeowner or resident in a mobilehome park, in a subdivision, cooperative, or condominium for mobilehomes, or in a resident-owned mobilehome park that effectively prohibits or restricts the installation, upgrade, replacement, or use of a cooling system, as defined, in a mobilehome void and unenforceable. The bill would make it unlawful for the management or the ownership to prohibit or restrict a homeowner or resident from installing, upgrading, replacing, or using a cooling system in their mobilehome or to take other specified actions in connection with the installation, upgrade, replacement, or use of a cooling system, subject to specified exceptions. This bill would prohibit the termination of tenancy for the installation, upgrade, replacement, or use of a cooling system. The bill would make any entity that willfully violates these provisions in a subdivision, cooperative, or condominium for mobilehomes, or a resident-owned mobilehome park liable to the homeowner, resident, or other party for actual damages occasioned thereby, and for a civil penalty paid to the homeowner, resident, or other party in an amount not to exceed $2,000.
Existing law imposes various business practice restrictions on a food delivery platform, defined as an online business that acts as an intermediary between consumers and multiple food facilities to submit food and beverage orders from a consumer to a participating food facility, and to arrange for, or to complete, the delivery of the order, as prescribed. Existing law makes it unlawful for a food delivery platform to charge a customer any purchase price for food or beverage that is higher than the price posted on the food delivery platform's internet website by the food facility at the time of the order or to retain any portion of amounts designated as a tip or gratuity. This bill would also make it unlawful for a food delivery platform to maintain a payment model that uses any amount designated as tips or gratuity to offset the base pay to the person delivering the food or beverage. Existing law requires a food delivery platform to prominently disclose to the customer and to the food facility an accurate, clearly identified, and itemized cost breakdown of each transaction, including, among other information, the purchase price of the food and beverage, each fee charged to the customer, and any tip or gratuity. This bill would also require a food delivery platform to prominently disclose to the person delivering the food or beverage an accurate, clearly identified, and itemized breakdown of the pay received for a delivery, including the base pay, gratuity or tips, and any promotional bonuses. Existing law requires a food delivery platform to clearly and regularly disclose to the food facility and the customer the status of the order, including the method of delivery. This bill would require a food delivery platform to include a clear and conspicuous customer service feature that allows a customer to contact a natural person. The bill would authorize the food delivery platform to use an automated system to address customer service concerns. However, if the automated system is unable to address the customer's concerns, the bill would require the food delivery platform to ensure that the customer is able to promptly connect with the natural person in order to address the concern. The bill would further require a food delivery platform to provide a full refund to the customer if an order is not delivered or the wrong order is delivered, unless the food delivery platform determines that the customer was responsible for the nondelivery or finds evidence indicating the refund request may be fraudulent. The bill would require the food delivery platform to refund the amount of the original paid gratuity to the customer but to not take or deduct the original gratuity amount from the delivery driver. The bill would require the food delivery platform, if it is not feasible to refund the paid gratuity in the original method of payment, to provide an alternate refund method for the gratuity. The bill would also require the food delivery platform, if a customer receives an order that is only partially fulfilled, to charge the customer only for the portion of the order the customer received and to adjust any taxes, fees, or gratuities directly associated with the undelivered items. The bill would additionally require the food delivery platform to provide a mechanism that allows the customer to adjust a gratuity that was included in the order prior to its delivery and request that the amount of the refund be returned to the original method of payment.
Existing law outlines requirements for civil actions for unlawful detainer filed by landlords to remove tenants from their properties. Existing law also requires plaintiffs to ensure service of a summons and complaint to defendants in civil suits, as specified. Existing law requires a summons to contain, among other things, (1) a direction that the defendant file with the court a written pleading in response to the complaint within 30 days after service on the defendant, (2) a notice that, unless the defendant responds, default will be entered upon application of the plaintiff, (3) a statement advising the defendant of their right to seek an attorney, and (4) an introductory legend at the top of the summons, in English and Spanish, notifying the defendant that they have been sued. This bill would require the Judicial Council to create, by January 1, 2027, a single summons form for mandatory use in an action for unlawful detainer to remove a tenant from a residential property that includes the information specified above in English, Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, Vietnamese, and Korean. The bill would require the Judicial Council to publish this form on its internet website.
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 sustained in the course of employment. Existing law creates a rebuttable presumption that specified injuries, such as cancer or post-traumatic stress disorder, developed or manifested in the course of employment of a specified member of law enforcement or a specified first responder arose out of and in the course of employment. Existing law makes these provisions applicable to certain active firefighting members, including active firefighting members of a fire department that serves a United States Department of Defense installation or active firefighting members of a fire department that serves a National Aeronautics and Space Administration installation. This bill would, for injuries occurring on or after January 1, 2026, additionally apply these provisions to active firefighting members of a fire department that provides fire protection to a commercial airport, as specified. Existing law creates a rebuttable presumption that other injuries, including pneumonia, tuberculosis, or meningitis, developed or manifested in the course of employment of a specified member of law enforcement or a specified first responder arose out of and in the course of employment. Existing law makes these provisions applicable to certain active firefighting members, including volunteers who are partly paid or fully paid by, among others, the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection or a county forestry or firefighting unit. The bill would, for injuries occurring on or after January 1, 2026, also apply these provisions to active firefighting members of a fire department that provides fire protection to a commercial airport, National Aeronautics and Space Administration installation, or United States Department of Defense installation.
Existing law provides for the creation of a county air pollution control district in every county not included within other specified districts. Existing law requires, under certain circumstances, the membership of the governing board of each county air pollution control district to include one or more members who are mayors, city council members, or both, and one or more members who are county supervisors. This bill would provide that a member of the board is entitled to reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of board duties, as specified. The bill would require, upon adoption of a resolution by the county district board, each member of the board to receive compensation, subject to specified daily and annual limits, while attending meetings of the board or any committee of the board or while engaged in the official business of the county district, as specified. The bill would require a county district board that elects to provide compensation to its board to submit a report containing specified information to the relevant committees of the Legislature within 3 years of the commencement of that compensation. The bill would provide that these provisions apply only to a county district board subject to the above-described membership requirement. Existing law establishes the Antelope Valley Air Quality Management District, governed by a 7-member board, and prescribes the powers and duties of the district board with respect to the control of air pollution in the district. This bill would provide that a member of the board is entitled to reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of board duties, as specified. The bill would require, upon adoption of a resolution by the district board, each member of the board to receive compensation, subject to specified daily and annual limits, while attending meetings of the board or any committee of the board or while engaged in the official business of the county district, as specified. The bill would require the district board, if it elects to provide compensation to its board, to submit a report containing specified information to the relevant committees of the Legislature within 3 years of the commencement of that compensation. This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the boards.
Existing law authorizes a rental company, when providing a quote, or imposing charges for a rental, to separately state the rental rate, additional mandatory charges, if any, and a mileage charge, if any, that a renter must pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies, and authorizes the rental company to impose other additional charges, as specified. Existing law prohibits a rental company from charging in addition to the rental rate, additional mandatory charges, or a mileage charge, as those may be applicable, any other fee that is required to be paid by the renter as a condition of hiring or leasing the vehicle. Existing law requires, if a rental company states a rental rate in print advertisement or in a quotation, the rental company to disclose clearly in that advertisement or quotation the terms of mileage conditions relating to the advertised or quoted rental rate, as specified, and requires all rate advertisements to include a prominently displayed disclaimer providing that additional specified mandatory charges may be imposed. This bill would additionally apply the above-described provisions to third parties. The bill would also specify that mandatory third-party service fees are included in the additional mandatory charges that a rental company or third party shall not charge in addition to the rental rate. The bill would additionally require a rental company or third party to provide the total charges estimate for the entire rental, including all taxes and fees imposed by a government, as soon as specified information about the rental is provided to the rental company or third party. The bill would require a rental company or third party to clearly indicate the fuel source, as defined, of the vehicle prior to completion of a reservation. Existing law requires rental companies that impose additional mandatory charges to comply with certain requirements, including providing the person receiving the quote with a good faith estimate of the rental rate and all additional mandatory charges, as well as the total charges for the entire rental, as specified. This bill would instead require a rental company to provide the person receiving the quote with a total charges estimate of the rental rate and all additional mandatory charges for the entire rental, as specified. The bill would also require a third party that imposes additional mandatory charges to comply with specified requirements. Existing law requires a person or entity other than a rental company, including a passenger carrier or a seller of travel services, to clearly disclose the existence and amount of additional mandatory charges, as applicable, and provides that the rental car company is not responsible for the failure of that person or entity to comply with this provision if a rental company provides the person or entity with rental rate and additional mandatory charges information. This bill would instead provide that, with regard to specified requirements on imposing charges for a rental, a rental company is not responsible for the failure of a third party to comply with those requirements if the rental company provides the third party with information about certain charges, and also that, if a rental company fails to comply with those requirements when providing a third party with information about certain charges or fails to provide the third party with additional mandatory charges and fuel source information along with the rental rate information, the third party is not responsible for that failure.
Existing law, the Architects Practice Act, establishes the California Architects Board within the Department of Consumer Affairs for licensing and regulation of persons engaged in the practice of architecture, and defines the term "architect" for those purposes. That act requires an applicant for licensure as an architect to, among other things, take an examination. The act imposes various fees on licensees and applicants for a license, which are deposited in the California Architects Board Fund, a continuously appropriated fund. This bill would authorize a person to apply to the board and obtain authorization to use the title "architect-in-training" after they have been identified as a candidate for licensure by the board and certain requirements are met, including that they successfully passed at least one division of the above-described examination. The bill would require, before the board approves an authorization to an applicant to use that title, the licensed architect who will be responsible for supervising the applicant while using the title to submit to the board a form agreeing to be responsible for the work to be performed by the applicant while using the title, as specified, and require a person using the title, if the licensed architect responsible for supervising the person while using the title changes, to notify the board of the change within 30 days of the change, as specified. The bill would authorize a person using the title, during any period in which the person is not under supervision of a licensed architect, to request the board to place their authorization to use the title on inactive status, as specified. The bill would prohibit the use of an abbreviation or derivative of that title, other than "AIT," and would prohibit a person from using that title to independently offer or provide architectural services to the public. The bill would authorize the board to disclose a person's authorization to use that title to a member of the public upon request. The bill would provide that the use of that title in violation of these provisions may constitute unprofessional conduct and subject the user of the title to administrative action, including denial of a license. The bill would authorize the board to charge a reasonable fee to evaluate whether a person meets the requirements to use the title "architect-in-training." By increasing moneys deposited into a continuously appropriated fund, the bill would make an appropriation. The bill would authorize a person to use the title "architect-in-training" for no more than 4 years after approval by the board. The bill would authorize a person to apply to the board and obtain authorization to use the title "architect-in-training" a 2nd time if the person has passed a division of the above-described exam in the 4 years immediately preceding the person's application. The bill would prohibit a person from applying to the board to use the title "architect-in training" on or after January 1, 2033. The act authorizes the board, upon its own motion, and requires the board, upon the verified complaint in writing of any person, to investigate the actions of any architect. In this regard, the act authorizes the board to temporarily suspend or permanently revoke the license of any architect who is guilty of, or commits one or more of, certain acts or omissions constituting grounds for disciplinary action under the act, including the conviction of a crime substantially related to the qualifications, functions, and duties of an architect by the holder of a license. This bill would authorize the board, upon its own initiative or upon the receipt of a complaint, to investigate the actions of any person using the title "architect-in-training" as described above, and to make findings for those purposes. In this regard, the bill would authorize the board to suspend or revoke an active authorization to use the title "architect-in-training" for certain reasons, including that the person using the title committed any act of fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation in obtaining the authorization to use that title. The bill would specify that a licensed architect who is responsible for supervising a person using the title "architect-in-training" as described above is subject to disciplinary actions for any violations of the act committed by the person using that title within the course and scope of their employment. The bill would make its provisions operative on January 1, 2027, and would repeal its provisions on January 1, 2037.
Existing law makes it a misdemeanor to have specified tools or other items, with the intent to feloniously break or enter into a building or other specified place. Existing law makes it a misdemeanor to make, alter, or repair specified instruments if the person knows or has reason to believe the instrument is intended to be used in the commission of a misdemeanor or felony. This bill would add key programming devices, key duplicating devices, and signal extenders, as defined, to the list of instruments that are an element of the above offenses. By expanding the scope of an existing 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.
