Under existing law, the State Air Resources Board has adopted the Control Measure for Ocean-Going Vessels At Berth regulation to reduce air polluting emissions from ocean-going vessels while docked at berth at California ports. Under that regulation, operators of tanker vessels using auxiliary engines or auxiliary boilers are required to comply with specified requirements to reduce emissions from those vessels through the use of an approved emissions control strategy beginning on January 1, 2025, if visiting the ports of Los Angeles or Long Beach and January 1, 2027, if visiting any other port in the state. This bill would delay the state board's ability to enforce those requirements with respect to tanker vessels carrying petroleum crude or petroleum products until January 1, 2027, for those vessels visiting the ports of Los Angeles or Long Beach and January 1, 2029, for those vessels visiting any other port in the state. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.
The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 designates the State Air Resources Board as the state agency charged with monitoring and regulating sources of emissions of greenhouse gases. The act authorizes the state board to include in its regulation of those emissions the use of market-based compliance mechanisms. Existing law requires all moneys, except for fines and penalties, collected by the state board from the auction or sale of allowances as part of a market-based compliance mechanism to be deposited in the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. Existing law continuously appropriates 25% of the annual proceeds of the fund to the High-Speed Rail Authority for certain purposes. This bill would require the Controller to transfer the sum of $3,000,000,000, from the unencumbered moneys appropriated to the authority before January 1, 2025, from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to the General Fund. The bill would specify that the transferred moneys, upon appropriation, are available to provide the owner of every gasoline-powered passenger vehicle, as defined, registered in the state with a $100 rebate to offset California's high gasoline prices.
Existing law, the Motor Vehicle Fuel Tax Law, imposes a tax upon each gallon of motor vehicle fuel removed from a refinery or terminal rack in this state, entered into this state, or sold in this state, at a specified rate per gallon. Existing unfair competition laws establish a statutory cause of action for unfair competition, including any unlawful, unfair, or fraudulent business act or practice and unfair, deceptive, untrue, or misleading advertising and acts prohibited by false advertisement laws. This bill would suspend the imposition of the tax on motor vehicle fuels for one year. The bill would require that all savings realized based on the suspension of the motor vehicle fuels tax by a person other than an end consumer, as defined, be passed on to the end consumer, and would make the violation of this requirement an unfair business practice, in violation of unfair competition laws, as provided. The bill would require a seller of motor vehicle fuels to provide a receipt to a purchaser that indicates the amount of tax that would have otherwise applied to the transaction. This bill would also direct the Controller to transfer a specified amount from the General Fund to the Motor Vehicle Fuel Account in the Transportation Tax Fund. By transferring General Fund moneys to a continuously appropriated account, this bill would make an appropriation. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.
The Petroleum Industry Information Reporting Act of 1980 requires operators of refineries in the state that produce gasoline meeting California specifications, within 30 days of the end of each calendar month, to submit a report to the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission that contains certain information regarding its refining activities related to the production of gasoline that month. Existing law requires the commission to post, among other things, the reported data, in aggregate, on its internet website within 45 calendar days of the end of each calendar month. This bill would additionally require the commission to post, and regularly update, a dashboard on its internet website that includes the difference in average gasoline prices in California compared to national average gasoline prices, California-specific taxes, fees, regulations, and policies that directly or indirectly contribute to higher gasoline prices within the state and their individual contribution to the difference in average gasoline prices, and any substantiated evidence of price gouging or other anticompetitive behavior within the petroleum industry and its contribution to the difference in average gasoline prices, as specified.
The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 establishes the State Air Resources Board as the state agency responsible for monitoring and regulating sources emitting greenhouse gases. The act requires the state board to adopt rules and regulations to achieve the maximum technologically feasible and cost-effective greenhouse gas emissions reductions to ensure that the statewide greenhouse gas emissions are reduced to at least 40% below the statewide greenhouse gas emissions limit, as defined, no later than December 31, 2030. Pursuant to the act, the state board has adopted the Low-Carbon Low Carbon Fuel Standard regulations. This bill would prohibit the state board from amending the Low-Carbon Low Carbon Fuel Standard regulations prior to January 1, 2026.
Under existing law, the State Water Resources Control Board and the 9 California regional water quality control boards regulate water quality and prescribe waste discharge requirements in accordance with the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act and the federal national pollutant discharge elimination system permit program established by the federal Clean Water Act. The California Integrated Waste Management Act of 1989 prohibits a regional water board from issuing a waste discharge permit for a new landfill, or a lateral expansion of an existing landfill, that is used for the disposal of nonhazardous solid waste if the land has been primarily used at any time for the mining or excavation of gravel or sand, as specified. The act defines "landfill used for the disposal of nonhazardous solid waste" as a disposal site regulated by a regional water board as a Class III landfill, as provided. This bill would additionally prohibit a regional water board from issuing a waste discharge permit for a new landfill that is used for the disposal of nonhazardous solid waste if the land is located within the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve or within an area that is tributary to the Tijuana River, except as provided. The bill would also expand the definition of "landfill used for the disposal of nonhazardous solid waste" to also include a disposal site regulated by a regional water board as a Class II landfill, as provided. The bill would state that its provisions are severable.
Existing law declares that all water within the state is the property of the people of the state, but the right to the use of the water may be acquired by appropriation in the manner provided by law. Existing law requires the appropriation to be for some useful or beneficial purpose. Existing law provides, however, that the diversion of floodflows for groundwater recharge does not require an appropriative water right if certain conditions are met, including that a local or regional agency that has adopted a local plan of flood control or has considered flood risks as part of its most recently adopted general plan has given notice, as provided, of imminent risk of flooding and inundation of lands, roads, or structures. Existing law defines "floodflow" for these purposes, to include circumstances in which flows would inundate ordinarily dry areas in the bed of a terminal lake to a depth that floods dairies and other ongoing agricultural activities, or areas with substantial residential, commercial, or industrial development. Existing law defines "imminent" for these purposes to mean a high degree of confidence that a condition will begin in the immediate future. Existing law also requires the person or entity making the diversion for groundwater recharge purposes to file with the State Water Resources Control Board and any applicable groundwater sustainability agency for the basin, a notice containing specified information no later than 48 hours after initially commencing diversion of floodflows for groundwater recharge, a preliminary report no later than 14 days after initially commencing that diversion, and a final report no later than 15 days after the diversions cease. These requirements apply to diversions commenced before January 1, 2029. This bill would, among other things, expand the conditions that are required to be met for the diversion of floodwaters for groundwater recharge that do not require an appropriative water right. The bill would expand the definition of "floodflow" to include flows that are projected by the local or regional agency to inundate ordinarily dry areas in the bed of a terminal lake, as described above. The bill would revise the definition of "imminent" to mean a high degree of confidence that a condition will begin or is projected to begin within the next 72 hours. The bill would require that a local or regional agency with the responsibility for flood management take specified actions, including making a declaration that diversion of floodflows for groundwater recharge from a delineated stretch of waterway within its jurisdiction is in accordance with one of certain enumerated plans relating to flood control or flood risk, as specified, or a local hazard mitigation plan under specified federal law, and to give public notice, as specified, that a delineated area within the local or regional agency's jurisdiction is at imminent risk of flooding and inundation of land, roads, or structures. The bill would require diversions to cease no later than 30 days after the public notice is given, unless they are renewed. The bill would require, not less than 48 hours from the projected end of flood conditions, a local or regional agency that has made a declaration authorizing flood diversions to issue a declaration when flood conditions are projected to end informing the public and diverters when diversions shall cease, as provided. The bill would further require, within 24 hours of the declaration, that agency to post the declaration and forward the declaration to all diverters that have informed the agency of diversion. This bill would also require an entity making the diversions for groundwater recharge that is required to file the notice and the reports, including the final report, as described above, with the board and the applicable groundwater sustainability agency for the basin, to also file those documents with the agency that issued the applicable flood determination. The bill would require the final report to contain information, if applicable, describing the forecasting models used to determine a likely imminent escape of surface water and a description of the methodology used to determine the abatement of flood conditions. The bill would further require the board to post the notice and the reports on the board's internet website on the next business day after receipt. The bill would require that temporary floodflow diversions be consistent with the most junior priority relative to all water rights holders in the watershed and prohibit those diversions from injuring a prior water rights holder. Existing law imposes a condition, pursuant to the provisions described above, applicable only to diversions from water tributaries to the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Delta) , that the diversion of floodflows for groundwater recharge does not require an appropriative water right if water rights holders are not making releases of stored water or reoperating facilities to provide flow for the purposes of meeting water quality control plan or endangered species requirements in the Delta at the time of the diversion. This bill would revise that condition by additionally authorizing, with respect to diversions from water tributaries to the San Joaquin River upstream of Vernalis, water to be diverted only when the Delta is in excess conditions, as defined, and without restrictions. With respect to all other diversions from water tributaries to the Delta, the bill would authorize water diversions only when the Delta is in excess water conditions and (1) either without restrictions or (2) with restrictions, but Delta operations are controlled only by Old and Middle River flow or San Joaquin River inflow-to-export ratio. The bill would require the diverter to monitor conditions daily, as provided.
(1) Existing law provides that a person who willfully disturbs a public school or a public school meeting is guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a fine of not more than $500. This bill would exempt from those misdemeanor and fine provisions a person who, at the time of the disturbance, is a pupil of the school district. (2) Existing state law requires the principal of a school or the principal's designee to notify the appropriate law enforcement authorities of the county or city in which the school is situated of certain acts committed by a pupil that may be unlawful, including, among others, the selling or possession of narcotics or other designated controlled or regulated substances, and acts of assault, as specified. This bill instead would eliminate the requirement that the principal or principal's designee notify the appropriate law enforcement authorities of possession of designated controlled or regulated substances by a pupil. The bill would require that the principal or principal's designee notify the appropriate law enforcement authorities if a pupil's act requires notification pursuant to the federal Gun-Free Schools Act of 1994, which conditions certain federal funding on a criminal or juvenile delinquency referral policy for a student who brings a firearm or weapon to a school.
Existing law provides for the payment of unemployment compensation benefits and extended benefits to eligible individuals who meet specified requirements. Under existing law, unemployment benefits are paid from the Unemployment Fund, which is continuously appropriated for these purposes. Existing law makes an employee ineligible for benefits if the employee left work because of a trade dispute and specifies that the employee remains ineligible for the duration of the trade dispute. Existing case law holds that employees who left work due to a lockout by the employer, even if it was in anticipation of a trade dispute, are eligible for benefits. This bill would restore eligibility after the first 2 weeks for an employee who left work because of a trade dispute. The bill would codify specified case law that holds that employees who left work due to a lockout by the employer, even if it was in anticipation of a trade dispute, are eligible for benefits. The bill would specify that the bill's provisions do not diminish eligibility for benefits of individuals deprived of work due to an employer lockout or similar action, as specified. Because this bill would expand the categories of people eligible to receive benefits from a continuously appropriated fund, it would make an appropriation.
Existing law prohibits a court from ordering a case into mediation where the amount in controversy exceeds $50,000, as specified. This bill would instead prescribe the following requirements that must be met before a court may order a case to mediation: (1) the amount in controversy does not exceed $150,000, (2) the case has been set for trial, (3) at least one party has notified the court of its interest in mediation, and (4) the parties have been notified of their option to stipulate to a mutually agreeable mediator. The bill would require the court to select a mediator, at no cost to the parties, if the parties do not stipulate to a mutually agreeable mediator. The bill would require all parties and counsel attending the mediation to comply with specified attendance provisions set forth in the California Rules of Court. The bill would require the mediation to conclude no later than 120 days before the trial date. The bill would provide that determination and any stipulation of the amount in controversy shall be without prejudice as to any finding on the value of the case or in a subsequent trial.
Existing law makes a person who willfully, maliciously, and repeatedly follows or willfully and maliciously harasses another person and who makes a credible threat with the intent to place that person in reasonable fear for the person's safety, or the safety of the person's immediate family, guilty of the crime of stalking, punishable as a misdemeanor or a felony. This bill would also make a person guilty of stalking if the person willfully, maliciously, and repeatedly follows or willfully and maliciously harasses another person and who makes a credible threat with the intent to place that person in reasonable fear for the safety of that person's pet, service animal, emotional support animal, or horse. By changing the definition 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 requires each gas corporation to develop a plan for the safe and reliable operation of its Public Utilities Commission-regulated gas pipeline facility. Existing law requires the commission and gas corporation to provide opportunities for meaningful, substantial, and ongoing participation by the gas corporation workforce in the development and implementation of the plan, with the objective of developing an industrywide culture of safety that will minimize accidents, explosions, fires, and dangerous conditions for the protection of the public and the gas corporation workforce. This bill would require a gas corporation, whenever it files a formal application with the commission, to serve the application on all employee organizations representing the gas corporation's employees' labor interests. The bill would require a gas corporation, whenever the commission, on its own motion, opens a formal proceeding to which the gas corporation is a party, to notify all employee organizations representing the gas corporation's employees' labor interests within 3 days of the gas corporation's receipt of service for the proceeding. The bill would authorize the commission to grant party status to the employee organizations after those organizations have filed a motion for party status and would require the commission to allow those organizations to file a notice of intent to claim intervenor compensation after they have been granted party status. Under existing law, a violation of the Public Utilities Act is a crime. Because the above requirements would be part of the Public Utilities Act, a violation of which 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.
