Existing law makes all persons eligible and qualified to be prospective trial jurors, except persons who, among other things, are not citizens of the United States. The California Constitution vests the judicial power of the state in the Supreme Court, courts of appeal, and superior courts, and establishes the Judicial Council to, among other things, adopt rules of court and perform functions prescribed by statute. Existing law authorizes the Judicial Council to publish and distribute manuals, guides, checklists, and other materials designed to assist the judiciary. This bill would, beginning January 1, 2026, and until January 1, 2031, make a person eligible and qualified to be a prospective juror if they are a lawful permanent resident. The bill would require the Judicial Council to develop a program by January 1, 2026, to allow lawful permanent residents to participate in jury duty and would require the program to include specific requirements, including a notice stating that lawful permanent residents are eligible, but not required, to participate in jury duty, and procedures for courts to limit the sharing and disclosure of program and participant information. The bill would also make conforming changes.
Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) with regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations, while local publicly owned electric utilities are under the direction of their governing boards. Existing law requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Energy Commission) to establish the Equitable Building Decarbonization Program to, among other things, include a statewide incentive program for low-carbon building technologies. This bill would require the PUC and Energy Commission to jointly authorize the establishment of the California Affordable Decarbonization Authority as a nonprofit public benefit corporation and to take all necessary measures to create the authority. The bill would require the authority to be governed by an independent board of directors appointed by the Governor, Speaker of the Assembly, and Senate Committee on Rules, as specified. The bill would require the authority to maintain open meeting standards and meeting notice requirements consistent with the requirements of the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act and the California Public Records Act. The bill would establish the Climate Equity Trust Fund as a trust fund, separate and apart from all public moneys or funds of the state, and would, upon appropriation by the Legislature, require that the moneys in the trust fund be expended by the authority for the benefit of electricity customers and to promote affordable electricity rates, as specified. The bill would authorize disbursements from the trust fund to be made through direct credits on ratepayer bills, direct rebates or incentives to market participants, technology vendors, technology installers, and end-use customers, and reimbursement of eligible costs, including costs for building electrification programs and incentives, incurred by an electrical corporation, electric service provider, community choice aggregator, or local publicly owned electric utility in the form of matching funds. The bill would require the authority to submit annual and multiyear spending plans for review and approval to the PUC and the Energy Commission before disbursing trust fund moneys.
Existing law establishes the Department of Housing and Community Development and sets forth its powers and duties. Existing law creates a housing authority in each county or city, which functions upon the adoption of a specified resolution by the relevant governing body. Existing law authorizes these housing authorities, within their jurisdictions, to construct, reconstruct, improve, alter, or repair all or part of any housing project. Existing law establishes various programs that provide housing assistance. This bill would enact the Social Housing Act and would create the California Housing Authority as an independent state body, the mission of which would be to ensure that social housing developments that are produced and acquired align with the goals of eliminating the gap between housing production and regional housing needs assessment targets and preserving affordable housing. The bill would prescribe a definition of social housing that would describe, in addition to housing owned by the authority, housing owned by other entities, as specified, provided that all social housing developed or authorized by the authority would be owned by the authority. This bill would prescribe the composition of the California Housing Authority Board, which would govern the authority, and which would be composed of appointed members and members who would be elected by residents of social housing developments, as specified. The bill would set forth the powers and duties of the authority and the board. The bill would require the authority to seek to achieve revenue neutrality, as defined, and would require the authority to seek to recuperate the cost of development and operations over the life of its properties through mechanisms that maximize the number of Californians who can be housed without experiencing rent burden. This bill would require the authority to prioritize the development of specified property, including vacant parcels and parcels near transit, and would establish a process for the annual determination of required social housing units. Under the bill, social housing would accommodate a mix of household income ranges and would provide specified protections for residents, who would participate in the operation and management of the units in which they reside. This bill would require the California Housing Authority to employ 2 leasing models in social housing developments, referred to as the rental model and the ownership model, and would set forth the characteristics of both models. Under the ownership model, the authority would extend a 99-year lease, in the form of a limited equity arrangement, as defined, to individuals who commit to a minimum 5-year term of residence, and would authorize the authority to act as a lender for residents. The bill would specify how the units may be sold and transferred. The bill would establish eligibility requirements for social housing residents and would provide for the selection of residents by lottery, as specified, providing that people who may have been displaced from a property as part of its development would be granted a preference for occupancy. The bill, among other things, would require the authority to accept a local jurisdiction's preference for a project parcel if specified conditions are met. This bill would establish the Social Housing Revolving Loan Fund within the State Treasury to provide, upon appropriation by the Legislature, zero-interest loans for the purposes of constructing housing to accommodate a mix of household incomes. The bill would declare the intent of the Legislature to enact subsequent legislation to provide financing for the activities of the authority through the issuance of general obligation bonds. The bill would authorize the authority to issue revenue bonds, as specified. The bill would require the board to provide for regular audits of the authority's accounts and records, as specified. The bill would also require the authority to prepare and submit specified reporting information regarding its business plan and progress to the Legislature on an annual basis.
Existing law, the Radiologic Technology Act, prohibits a person from administering or using diagnostic or therapeutic X-rays on human beings in this state, unless that person either qualifies for a specified exemption or has been certified or granted a permit by the State Department of Public Health, as specified, is acting within the scope of that certification or permit, and is acting under the supervision of a healing arts licensee. A person who violates a provision of the Radiologic Technology Act or regulation of the department adopted pursuant to that act is guilty of a misdemeanor. This bill would prohibit a person from holding themselves out as a radiologist assistant unless the person meets certain requirements, including that they have passed the radiologist assistant examination, as specified, and that they maintain current registration with prescribed entities. The bill would require a radiologist assistant to work only under the supervision of a radiologist and would prohibit a radiologist assistant from functioning in that capacity independent of a supervising radiologist. The bill, among other things, would authorize a radiologist assistant to communicate and document initial clinical and imaging observations or procedures only to a radiologist for the radiologist's use. The bill would authorize a supervising radiologist to delegate to a radiologist assistant, as the radiologist determines appropriate to the assistant's competence, those tasks or services that a radiologist usually performs and is qualified to perform. By imposing additional prohibitions and requirements under the Radiologic Technology Act, the violation of which is a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Existing law provides for state cooperation with the federal government in the construction of specified flood control projects. For certain flood control projects authorized on or after January 1, 2002, or for small flood management projects for which specified findings have been made on or after that date, existing law requires the state to pay 50% of specified nonfederal costs. Existing law authorizes the state to pay up to 70% of those nonfederal costs upon the recommendation of the Department of Water Resources or the Central Valley Flood Protection Board if either entity determines that the project will advance one of several specified objectives. Existing law authorizes a plan of improvement for flood control and water conservation on Cache Creek, including Clear Lake, in the Counties of Yolo and Lake. This bill would specifically adopt and approve the Lower Cache Creek Flood Risk Management Project, as provided. The bill would also authorize the state to provide funds, up to 99% of the costs, as specified, for the project for flood control on the Lower Cache Creek in the County of Yolo, and would authorize the City of Woodland to receive funds for these purposes under specified conditions. The bill would also authorize the state to authorize funding, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to be used for planning, engineering, designing, mitigating, and constructing the project if the Director of Water Resources makes specified findings. The bill would provide that the state assumes no liability related to the authorization and funding of the project. This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the City of Woodland.
Existing law consolidates within the State Department of Health Care Services all substance use disorder functions and programs from the former State Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs. Under existing law, the State Department of Health Care Services is responsible for administering prevention, treatment, and recovery services for alcohol and drug abuse. Existing law authorizes each county to establish a drug court program. If a county elects to provide that program, existing law requires the county to develop a plan for the operation of a drug court program that, among other things, provides a local action plan for implementing cost-effective drug court systems. This bill would, upon appropriation by the Legislature, authorize the superior courts in the Counties of Sacramento, San Diego, Contra Costa, and Solano to conduct a pilot program to provide specific supportive services to adult defendants who participate in the county's drug court, as specified. The bill would require the Judicial Council to administer the program and would authorize the council to establish guidelines and reporting requirements for the participating drug courts. This bill would require a participating drug court to enroll eligible defendants in specific supportive services unless a defendant refuses or is already enrolled in those services. The bill would require a county probation department or another county department designated by the court, to administer the supportive services payments and reimbursements. By increasing the duties of county agencies, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would require participating drug courts to collect and submit specific data to the Judicial Council. The bill would also require the Judicial Council to prepare and submit a report to the Legislature and the Governor on or before January 1, 2028, that compares the data gathered by the participating drug courts to other similar, nonparticipating drug courts, as specified. The bill would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2029. 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, the Mello-Granlund Older Californians Act, establishes the California Department of Aging in the California Health and Human Services Agency and sets forth its mission to provide leadership to the area agencies on aging in developing systems of home- and community-based services that maintain individuals in their own homes or least restrictive homelike environments. Existing law establishes the State Department of Social Services in the California Health and Human Services Agency. Existing law designates the department as the single state agency with full power to supervise every phase of the administration of public social services, except health care services and medical assistance, as specified. This bill, the Secure Seniors Protection Act, would require the State Department of Social Services to, subject to an appropriation, on or before January 1, 2026, establish and administer a toll-free hotline to assist all Californians in dealing with scams, as provided. The bill would require the State Department of Social Services to ensure that the program and its staff are equipped to meet the needs of individuals who are 60 years of age and older. The bill would require, on or before January 31, 2027, and annually thereafter, the State Department of Social Services to submit a report to the Legislature and the relevant policy committees containing, among other things, the number of seniors served, the types of problems the program assisted seniors with, and recommendations for improving the program.
Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, the California State University, under the administration of the Trustees of the California State University, and the University of California, under the administration of the Regents of the University of California, as segments of public postsecondary education in this state. Existing law establishes community college districts, locations of the California State University, and campuses of the University of California throughout the state. Existing law requires each California Community College to designate a staff person as the basic needs coordinator to, among other things, act as a broker in identifying, supporting, and linking students to on- and off-campus housing, food, mental health, and other basic needs services and resources. Existing law establishes the State Department of Social Services and requires the department and the counties to administer public social services programs. Existing law requires a county human services agency to designate at least one employee as a staff liaison to serve as a point of contact for academic counselors and other professional staff at a campus of an institution of public higher education located within the county. Existing law requires a county human services agency, with input from the public institutions of higher learning in the county, to develop protocols for engagement between the agency and a campus of an institution of public higher education located within the county and encourages those entities to consult with specified stakeholders in the development of those protocols. This bill would require a county human services agency to additionally receive input from basic needs directors and basic needs coordinators, as specified, when developing the above-described protocols for engagement between the county human services agency and institutions of public higher education. The bill would require the department, in consultation with staff liaisons and basic needs directors or basic needs coordinators, to develop training on topics related to determining student eligibility for public social services, as specified. The bill would require the department to facilitate that training, as specified. The bill would require the department to convene a workgroup that includes all 58 county staff liaisons and representatives from the segments of postsecondary education, as specified. The bill would require the department, in collaboration with the workgroup, to (1) discuss enrollment trends in public social services programs and (2) identify barriers to enrollment and action to resolve those barriers. By imposing additional duties on counties, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would require the department, on or before May 1, 2026, and every 3 years thereafter, to submit a report to the Legislature with findings and recommendations relating to enrollment success trends and services offered by the department that may be available to students attending a campus of an institution of public higher education. 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, the Control, Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA) , an initiative measure, authorizes a person who obtains a state license under AUMA to engage in commercial adult-use cannabis activity pursuant to that license and applicable local ordinances. AUMA authorizes legislative amendment of its provisions with a 23 vote of both houses, without submission to the voters, to further its purposes and intent, except as provided. Existing law, the Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MAUCRSA) , among other things, consolidates the licensure and regulation of commercial medicinal and adult-use cannabis activities, and requires the Department of Cannabis Control to administer its provisions. MAUCRSA grants to the department the sole authority to create, issue, deny, renew, discipline, condition, suspend, or revoke licenses for commercial cannabis activity. This bill would also grant to the department the sole authority to transfer, assign, or reassign those licenses. The bill would declare that its provisions further the purpose and intent of AUMA.
Existing law establishes homeless youth emergency service pilot projects in the City of Los Angeles and the City and County of San Francisco providing services to homeless minors, including food and access to an overnight shelter and counseling to address immediate emotional crises or problems. Existing law also requires similar programs to be established in the Counties of San Diego and Santa Clara, and all of these programs to be operated by an agency in accordance with a grant award agreement with the Office of Emergency Services. Existing law requires the Governor to create the California Interagency Council on Homelessness and specifies the duties of the council. Existing law requires agencies and departments administering state programs to collaborate with the council to adopt guidelines and regulations to incorporate core components of Housing First, which include, among other things, a tenant screening process that accepts applicants regardless of sobriety, not rejecting applicants based on poor credit or financial history, and prohibiting participation in services or program compliance from being a requirement for permanent housing. This bill, until January 1, 2029, and upon appropriation by the Legislature for these purposes, would require the Department of Housing and Community Development to establish the Unicorn Homes Transitional Housing for Homeless LGBTQ+ Youth Program, to be administered by local community-based organizations that provide a majority of its services to the LGBTQ+ community. The bill would require the department to fund community-based organizations in up to 5 selected counties that provide transitional housing for LGBTQ+ youth, 18 to 24 years of age, inclusive, experiencing homelessness due to family rejection, with the ultimate goal of reunification with the youth's original family. The bill would require the community-based organization to place eligible youth with volunteer host families who meet specified criteria, pursuant to the results of a background check, and who are able to provide crisis intervention with a trauma-informed approach, as defined, to their care. The bill would also require the program to comply with the existing core components of Housing First. The bill would require each community-based organization to prepare and submit an annual report to the department, with the first report due on or before December 1, 2026, and a final report due on or before June 30, 2028, which would be required to include specified information, including the number of times the organization was contacted by youths, how many of those contacts became participants in the program, and how many of those initial contacts became repeat contacts. The bill would also require the department to compile the annual reports into a final report, to be submitted to the Legislature on or before December 31, 2028.
Existing law creates the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development, known as "GO-Biz," and requires GO-Biz to serve the Governor as the lead entity for economic strategy and the marketing of California on issues relating to business development, private sector investment, and economic growth. Under existing law, GO-Biz is under the direct control of the Director of the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development, who is responsible to the Governor. Existing law authorizes GO-Biz to undertake various activities relating to economic development, including the provision of prescribed information. Existing law requires the Transportation Agency to prepare a state freight plan that provides a comprehensive plan to govern the immediate and long-range planning activities and capital investments of the state with respect to the movement of freight. This bill would authorize GO-Biz to serve as the coordinating entity to steer the growth, competitiveness, and sustainability for freight and the supply chain across the state and to promote and assess the continued economic vitality, economic competitiveness, and sustainability of the freight sector. The bill would also authorize GO-Biz to provide freight and supply chain economic competitiveness information. This bill would require the Governor to appoint a freight coordinator with prescribed experience to serve as the advisory and coordinating entity for GO-Biz. The bill would require the freight coordinator to advise and coordinate policies that promote the growth, competitiveness, and sustainability for freight and the supply chain across the state, and to promote and assess the continued economic vitality and sustainability of the freight sector. The bill would require the freight coordinator to advocate for the implementation of these policies in the freight sector. The bill would require the freight coordinator to advise the Governor and director on issues affecting the state's freight and supply chain and on policy and administrative regulations affecting the state's freight and supply chain. The bill would require the freight coordinator to work directly with prescribed state entities as necessary to address and discuss ongoing freight and supply chain issues. The bill would authorize the freight coordinator, in consultation with the director, to establish and convene one or more stakeholder advisory groups to help inform the work of the freight coordinator in implementing their mission and duties. The bill would require the freight coordinator to undertake additional responsibilities relating to developing relevant information, goal setting, and making recommendations, as prescribed. The bill would also require the freight coordinator to participate in future updates to the California Freight Mobility Plan of the Department of Transportation and the AB 32 climate change scoping plan pursuant to the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006.
Existing law authorizes courts generally to suspend a criminal sentence and make and enforce terms of probation for a period not to exceed 2 years, except as specified. Existing law authorizes courts in misdemeanor cases to suspend a sentence and make and enforce terms of probation for a period not to exceed one year, except as specified. Under existing law, a prisoner can reduce their term of imprisonment by earning credit for, among other things, continuous incarceration, good behavior, and participation in approved rehabilitative programming. This bill would make a person who is prohibited from owning a firearm due to prior convictions who commits a felony while armed with a firearm or while using a firearm subject to various conditions, including, among others, requiring the sentencing court to afford great weight to those facts when determining what term to impose, requiring treatment, rehabilitation, or education programs to be completed before the person can receive good conduct credits, and, if probation is granted, requiring it to be for a duration of 5 years. By imposing additional duties on local prosecutors and law enforcement, 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, 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.
