Existing law requires all contracts for the acquisition of information technology goods and services related to information technology projects, as defined, to be made by or under the supervision of the Department of Technology, which also has the final authority in the determination of information technology procurement policy. This bill, the Affordable Internet and Net Equality Act of 2024, would require the Department of Technology, in coordination with the Public Utilities Commission and the Department of General Services, to develop and establish the Net Equality Program. The bill would require the state and state agencies to only enter into a procurement contract with an internet service provider offering affordable home internet service to households participating in certain public assistance programs, as specified. The bill would define affordable home internet service to mean internet service costing no more than $30 per month and that meets specified minimum speed requirements. The bill would require these internet service providers to establish a telephone number to sign up eligible households and would require these providers to advertise the availability of affordable home internet service, among other requirements placed on these providers. This bill would require the Department of Technology to annually post on its internet website a list of internet service providers that meet the requirements of the bill, as provided. The bill would not apply to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the Office of Emergency Services, a contract entered into before January 1, 2026, or an internet service provider with fewer than 100,000 California residential subscribers. The bill would also make its provisions severable.
Existing law establishes a basic speed law that prohibits a person from driving a vehicle upon a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable or prudent given the weather, visibility, traffic, and highway conditions, and in no event at a speed that endangers the safety of persons or property. Existing law also prohibits driving in excess of a posted speed limit, as specified. Existing law makes it a violation of the basic speed law to drive in excess of a reduced speed limit posted in a road construction zone, as specified. Existing law temporarily authorizes a speed safety pilot program in certain cities using automated speed enforcement systems, as specified. This bill would require the Secretary of Transportation to develop guidelines for the implementation of a state highway work zone speed safety program using automated speed enforcement systems, as specified. The bill would authorize the Department of Transportation to establish a state highway work zone speed safety program in accordance with those guidelines. The bill would require the department, if a program is established, to prepare and submit a report to the Legislature, as specified. The bill would require any moneys generated from the issuance of the citations to be deposited in the Safe Highway Work Zone Account, created in the State Transportation Fund, and for the moneys to be allocated, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Transportation for administration of the program. The provisions of the bill would become inoperative on July 1, 2030. Existing constitutional provisions require that a statute that limits the right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for protecting that interest. This bill would make legislative findings to that effect.
Existing law prohibits a person from driving, moving, or leaving standing upon a highway any motor vehicle, as defined, unless it has been registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles. Existing law generally requires specified information to be submitted to the department and specified vehicle registration fees to be paid to the department at the time of a vehicle's registration or a renewal of a vehicle's registration. Under existing law, it is an infraction for a person to violate, or fail to comply with, a provision of the Vehicle Code, unless otherwise specified. This bill would require the owner of an aircraft based in this state to register the aircraft with the department, as specified. The bill would require the original or renewal registration of an aircraft to include specified information. Because a violation of these provisions would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would require the department to determine the aircraft registration fee, but would require the fee to cover the costs incurred in connection with the administration of this program and to include an amount to be used to combat the detrimental environmental impacts of aircraft emissions, thereby imposing a tax. The bill would create the Aircraft Registration Account in the State Transportation Fund, and would require the fee revenues to be deposited in that account. The bill would continuously appropriate moneys in that account without regard to fiscal years, thus making an appropriation. 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. This bill would include a change in state statute that would result in a taxpayer paying a higher tax within the meaning of Section 3 of Article XIIIA of the California Constitution, and thus would require for passage the approval of 23 of the membership of each house of the Legislature.
Existing law requires the State Department of Public Health to adopt and enforce regulations relating to public swimming pools. Existing law provides various building and safety standards for public swimming pools, as defined. Existing law requires that every person or entity operating or maintaining a public swimming pool do so in a sanitary, healthful, and safe manner. Existing law requires county health officers to enforce department regulations and authorizes a county health officer or any department inspector to enter the premises of a public swimming pool and investigate for violations, as specified. A violation of these provisions is a misdemeanor. Existing law requires a public wading pool to have at least 2 circulation suction outlets per pump that are hydraulically balanced and symmetrically plumbed through one or more "T" fittings, as specified. Existing law requires a public wading pool suction outlet to be covered with antivortex grates or similar protective devices, as specified. Existing law requires a public swimming pool to be equipped with anti-entrapment devices or systems that comply with the ANSI/APSP-16 performance standard or successor standard designated by the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission. Existing law also requires a public swimming pool with a single suction outlet that is not an unblockable suction outlet to be equipped with at least one specified device or system designed to prevent physical entrapment by pool drains. This bill would require a public swimming pool constructed on or after January 1, 2025, to comply with the standards and requirements of the federal Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (act) . The bill would require an existing public swimming pool to be retrofitted to comply with the act whenever a construction permit is issued to alter the public swimming pool. Under the bill, to the extent that the above-described existing requirements for public wading pools and public swimming pools conflict with the act, the requirements of the act would prevail. This bill would require a person or entity that owns or maintains a public swimming pool, as defined, to ensure that there is an operating telephone on or adjacent to the pool deck, available and conspicuously labeled for emergency use, at all times. By expanding 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.
Under existing law, a person is guilty of sexual exploitation of a child if the person knowingly develops, duplicates, prints, or exchanges any representation of information, data, or image, including, but not limited to, any film, filmstrip, photograph, negative, slide, photocopy, videotape, video laser disc, computer hardware, computer software, computer floppy disc, data storage media, CD-ROM, or computer-generated equipment or any other computer-generated image that contains or incorporates in any manner, any film or filmstrip that depicts a person under 18 years of age engaged in an act of sexual conduct, as defined. Existing law makes a violation of this section punishable as a misdemeanor or a felony, as specified. This bill would additionally make a person guilty of a misdemeanor or a felony if the person knowingly develops, duplicates, prints, or exchanges any representation of information, data, or image, generated using artificial intelligence, that depicts a person under the age of 18 years engaged in an act of sexual conduct, as specified. 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 requires the State Department of Social Services to report every 3rd year, commencing in 1989, to the Legislature on the operation and progress of the child welfare services program, and include specified child abuse case information. This bill would instead require the department to make that report annually.
Existing law prohibits a person from performing, or otherwise procuring or arranging for the performance of, surgical claw removal, declawing, an onychectomy, or a tendonectomy on any cat that is a member of an exotic or native wild cat species, and prohibits a person from otherwise altering such a cat's toes, claws, or paws to prevent the normal function of the cat's toes, claws, or paws, except solely for a therapeutic purpose. This bill would prohibit a person from performing surgical claw removal, declawing, or a tendonectomy on any cat or otherwise altering a cat's toes, claws, or paws to prevent or impair the normal function of the cat's toes, claws, or paws, except for a therapeutic purpose. The bill would subject a person that violates that prohibition to specified civil penalties.
Existing law requires the Employment Development Department to implement and administer the unemployment insurance program in this state, and provides for the payment of unemployment compensation benefits to eligible individuals who are unemployed through no fault of their own. Under existing law, unemployment compensation benefit award computations are based on wages paid in the base period. Existing law provides that an individual who is unemployed in any week and is eligible for unemployment compensation benefits shall be paid an unemployment compensation benefit with respect to that week in an amount equal to their weekly benefit amount, as provided. Existing law provides the maximum amount of unemployment compensation benefits payable to an individual during any one benefit year shall not exceed the lower of 26 times their weekly benefit amount or 12 the total wages paid to the individual during their base period. This bill would establish, until January 1, 2029, the California Unconditional Benefit Income (CalUBI) Pilot Program, to be administered by the Employment Development Department upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the purpose of providing assistance to individuals who are unemployed because of automation or artificial intelligence. The bill would authorize an eligible individual, as defined, to submit an application to the department to receive $1,000 each month for a period of 12 months, starting as late as January 1, 2027, and until January 1, 2028, upon a determination that the individual is unemployed because of automation or artificial intelligence and has received the maximum amount of unemployment compensation benefits described in the paragraph above before the first $1,000 is distributed. The bill would require the department to adopt regulations to implement the CalUBI Pilot Program, on or before January 1, 2026, pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act. The bill would provide that income received pursuant to the program is not considered taxable income for the purpose of state income taxes, shall not be considered in calculating any state tax credits, and does not affect income eligibility for any other programs administered and funded by the state. The bill would require the department to submit a report to the Legislature of policy recommendations based on the performance of the CalUBI Pilot Program, as specified, no later than December 31, 2028. This bill would make findings and declarations related to a gift of public funds.
Existing law imposes liability upon a person who denies, aids or incites a denial of, or makes any discrimination or distinction contrary to, rights afforded by law for actual damages suffered, exemplary damages, a civil penalty, and attorney's fees, as specified, to any person who was denied the specified rights. Existing law also imposes liability upon a person, firm, or corporation that denies or interferes with admittance to, or enjoyment of, public facilities or otherwise interferes with the rights of an individual with a disability, as specified, for damages and attorney's fees to a person who was denied those rights. This bill would provide that statutory damages based upon the inaccessibility of an internet website under these provisions shall only be recovered against an entity, as defined, if the internet website fails to provide equally effective communication or facilitate full and equal enjoyment of the entity's goods and services to all members of the public. The bill would make statutory damages for internet website inaccessibility contingent on the plaintiff proving that they had one of 2 sets of experiences. Specifically, the plaintiff may prove that they personally encountered a specific barrier that caused a difference in the plaintiff's access to or use of the internet website as compared to other users, as specified. Alternatively, the plaintiff may prove that they were deterred from accessing all or part of the internet website, as specified, because of the internet website's failure to provide equally effective communication or to facilitate full and equal enjoyment of the entity's goods and services offered to the public. Under the bill, an entity's internet website would be presumed to comply with the above-described accessibility requirements, as specified, if the internet website has a certain certification by a professional reviewer, as defined, that, among other things, the internet website is designed and intended to conform to the internet website-related accessibility standard, as defined. This bill would make it unlawful for a resource service provider, as defined, in exchange for remuneration, to intentionally, negligently, recklessly, or knowingly construct, license, distribute, or maintain for online use an internet website that fails to provide equally effective communication or fails to facilitate full and equal enjoyment of the entity's goods and services to all members of the public, including any member of the public who is a person with a disability. The bill would also make it unlawful for a resource provider to intentionally, negligently, knowingly, or recklessly make certain false representations, including that the resource provider is a professional reviewer or otherwise qualified to assess the accessibility of an internet website. The bill would authorize a civil action, with specified remedies, by a person or entity that pays, compensates, or contracts with a resource service provider to construct, license, distribute, or maintain an internet website that complies with the above-described accessibility requirements, as specified. The bill would also authorize the Attorney General, the Civil Rights Department, or a district attorney, county counsel, or city attorney to bring an action to obtain injunctive or declaratory relief and attorney's fees and costs. The bill would provide that a provision within a contract between a person or entity and a resource service provider that seeks to waive liability under these provisions, or otherwise shift liability to a person or entity that pays, compensates, or contracts with the resource provider, as provided, is void as a matter of public policy and subject to specified provisions of the Ralph Civil Rights Act of 1976 relating to waiver of rights. Existing law enacts specified provisions requiring an attorney, with each demand letter or complaint alleging an internet website-related disability claim, to provide the defendant with a copy of a written advisory notice pertaining to disability access. Existing law makes those provisions operative only if AB 1757 of the 2023–24 Regular Session is enacted and goes into effect on or before January 1, 2025. This bill would instead make those provisions operative on January 1, 2025.
Existing law establishes a Native American Heritage Commission, and requires at least 5 of the 9 members of the commission to be elders, traditional people, or spiritual leaders of California Native American tribes, nominated by Native American organizations, tribes, or groups within the state. This bill would instead require at least 5 of 9 members of the commission to be elders, traditional people, or spiritual leaders of California Native American tribes that are federally recognized or that are actively seeking federal recognition, nominated by Native American organizations or tribes within the state. Existing law empowers the commission to do certain things, including (1) to develop a list of all California Indian tribes, as provided, (2) to make recommendations to the Director of Parks and Recreation and the California Arts Council relative to the California State Indian Museum and other Indian matters touched upon by Department of Parks and Recreation programs, and (3) to provide, on or before July 1, 2016, each California Native American tribe, defined to mean a Native American tribe located in California that is on that contact list maintained by the commission, with a list of all public agencies that may be a lead agency, pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act, within the geographical area with which the tribe is traditionally and culturally affiliated, the contact information of those public agencies, and information on how the tribe may request the public agency to notify the tribe of projects within the jurisdiction of those public agencies for the purposes of requesting consultation pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act. This bill, among other things relating to the commission's powers and duties, would continue the existing requirement on the commission to make recommendations to the Director of Parks and Recreation and the California Arts Council relative to the California State Indian Museum, but would remove the requirement on the commission to make recommendations to the Director of Parks and Recreation and the California Arts Council relative to other Indian matters touched upon by Department of Parks and Recreation programs. The bill would require the commission to provide, on or before July 1, 2025, each California Indian tribe that is federally recognized or that is actively seeking federal recognition with the list of public agencies and the other information described above for the purposes of requesting consultation pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act.
Existing law requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission to evaluate and quantify the maximum feasible capacity of offshore wind generation to achieve reliability, ratepayer, employment, and decarbonization benefits and to develop a strategic plan for offshore wind energy developments installed off the California coast in federal waters, as specified. Article XVI of the California Constitution requires measures authorizing general obligation bonds to specify the single object or work to be funded by the bonds and further requires a bond act to be approved by a 23 vote of each house of the Legislature and a majority of the voters. This bill would enact the California Ports Development and Offshore Wind Infrastructure Bond Act of 2024, which, if approved by the voters, would authorize the issuance of bonds in the amount of $ 1,000,000,000, pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law to support activities related to the development of offshore wind energy generation, as provided. This bill would provide for the submission of the bond act to the voters at the next statewide election.
Existing law makes it a crime to inflict unnecessary cruelty or to abuse an animal in any manner, including, but not limited to, maliciously and intentionally maiming, mutilating, torturing, or wounding an animal. This bill would additionally make it a crime to otherwise abuse or subject a living animal to needless suffering. By expanding the scope of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would require that specified handling and husbandry practices widely regarded as routine, including rodeo or rodeo related events, not be presumed to constitute animal mistreatment. The bill would make animal treatment laws inapplicable to acts authorized pursuant to permits issued by a wildlife agency as part of wildlife conservation research and to traditional methods of animal testing performed for the purpose of medical research, as defined. 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.
