The Planning and Zoning Law, until January 1, 2036, authorizes a development proponent to submit an application for a multifamily housing development that is subject to a streamlined, ministerial approval process, as provided, and not subject to a conditional use permit, if the development satisfies specified objective planning standards (streamlining process) . Existing law, for purposes of this streamlining process, authorizes a development proponent to request a modification to an approved development if submitted to the local government before the issuance of the final building permit required for construction of the development. Existing law requires a local government to approve a modification if it determines the modification is consistent with the objective planning standards in effect when the original development application was first submitted. Existing law requires evaluations of modifications for consistency with the objective planning standards to be made using the same assumptions and analytical methodology the local government originally used, as described. This bill would instead require the local government to approve a modification if it determines the modification is consistent with objective zoning standards, objective subdivision standards, and objective design review standards that were in effect when the original development application or notice of intent was first submitted, as described. The bill would also require subsequent modifications to be evaluated for consistency using the same assumptions and analytical methodology the local government originally used, or that was used in a previous modification, as described. The bill would make conforming changes. Existing law provides that if a development proponent requests a modification, as described above, the time during which approval of the development remains valid is extended for the number of days between the submittal of a modification request and the date of its final approval, plus an additional 180 days to allow time to obtain a building permit. Existing law also further extends that time during the pendency of litigation, if any. This bill would provide that the litigation extension is not limited to the first request for a modification submitted by the development proponent. This bill would also make nonsubstantive changes. The bill would include findings that changes proposed by this bill address a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair and, therefore, apply to all cities, including charter cities. By imposing additional duties on local officials, 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.
This measure would declare the Legislature's opposition to any federal executive action that restricts, burdens, or interferes with California's vote by mail system and would call upon the United States Congress to reject any federal legislation that would restrict or eliminate vote by mail options and to protect the constitutional authority of states to administer their own elections.
Existing law, the Dental Practice Act, establishes the Dental Board of California to license and regulate the practice of dentistry, including the licensure and regulation of dental auxiliaries, including, among others, dental assistants, as defined, and sets forth duties and functions that those dental auxiliaries are authorized to perform. Existing law requires the board to require an applicant for licensure to successfully complete certain examinations. Existing law imposes certain requirements to take an examination, including a requirement to furnish satisfactory evidence of financial responsibility or liability insurance for certain dental patient injuries, as specified. This bill would delete the requirement to furnish satisfactory evidence of financial responsibility or liability insurance for certain dental patient injuries. Existing law also requires an applicant to furnish satisfactory evidence of having graduated from a dental college approved by the board or by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association (CODA) . Certain additional requirements for a degree issued by a foreign dental school depend on whether the school was approved by the board, as specified. Since January 1, 2024, existing law requires foreign dental schools seeking board approval to complete the international consultative and accreditation process with CODA or a comparable board-approved accrediting body. Existing law exempts a foreign dental school whose program approval was renewed by the board before January 1, 2020, through any date between January 1, 2024, and June 30, 2026. This bill would update cross-references to clarify that an applicant is not prohibited from taking an examination for licensure because their foreign dental school program was exempt from the accreditation requirement, as described above. Existing law exempts an applicant from reexamination on a subject for which the applicant, in an examination taken in the prior 2 years, received a grading of 85% or above. Existing law requires an applicant, after 3 failed attempts to pass an examination, to successfully complete a minimum of 50 hours of education for each failed subject, as specified. This bill would revise the subject reexamination exemption to instead require a grading of pass. The bill would remove the above-described education requirement for reexamination, and would instead require an applicant to retake the entire examination after 3 failed attempts at a section of the examination. Existing law authorizes the board to grant a license to an applicant who has not taken an examination if the applicant, among other things, submits proof, under penalty of perjury, that the applicant has certain credentials. With regard to those required credentials, existing law specifies that the applicant has either been in active clinical practice out of state, as described, has been engaged in full-time nonclinical practice requiring an active dentist's license for an out of state public health program, as described, for at least 5 years immediately preceding the application, or has been a full-time faculty member in an accredited dental education program and in active clinical practice for a total of at least 5,000 hours within the past 5 years immediately preceding the date of the application. This bill would revise and recast that credential requirement to clarify that 5,000 hours of clinical practice is required of an applicant who has been in active clinical practice out of state or an applicant who has been a full-time faculty member, as described above. For an applicant whose credentials are based on engagement in nonclinical practice for an out-of-state public health program, as described above, the bill would instead require the applicant to have been engaged in that practice for a minimum average of 40 hours per week, as specified. The bill would require certain applicants to submit certain documentation verifying compliance with the applicable requirements described above. By expanding the scope of the crime of perjury, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing law authorizes an applicant to meet the clinical practice requirement described above by submitting documentation that the applicant has agreed to teach or practice dentistry in California for a minimum average of 40 hours per week for 2 years in at least one accredited dental education program approved by the board. This bill would revise that provision by removing the requirement that the dental education program be approved by the board, and instead specifying that the program be accredited by CODA. Existing law requires a dentist to possess an elective facial cosmetic surgery permit in order to perform specified procedures. One category of those procedures is cosmetic contouring of the osteocartilaginous facial structure, and another category is cosmetic contouring or rejuvenation of the facial soft tissue, as specified. In this regard, existing law authorizes the board to issue a permit that authorizes the dentist to perform one or both of those categories of elective facial cosmetic surgical procedures. Existing law requires the board to appoint a credentialing committee to review the qualifications of an applicant for a permit and, upon completion of review, recommend to the board whether or not to issue a permit to the applicant. Under existing law, permits issued by the board may be unqualified, entitling the permitholder to perform either category of elective facial cosmetic surgical procedures, or may contain limitations if the committee is not satisfied that the applicant has the training or competence to perform certain classes of procedures, or the applicant has not requested to be permitted for both categories. This bill would delete the above-described provisions relating to the limitations that may be imposed on that permit, and would instead authorize the committee to recommend that an applicant who has applied for a permit to perform both categories of procedures be issued a permit limited to one category if the committee is not satisfied that the applicant has the training or competence to perform both categories of procedures. The bill would specify that the committee serves at the pleasure of the board, and would authorize the board to remove any member of the committee for continued neglect of duties required by law, incompetence, or unprofessional or dishonorable conduct. The bill would authorize the board to convene in closed session to consider any evidence relating to the removal of a member of the committee, as specified. Existing law authorizes a registered dental assistant in extended functions licensed on or after January 1, 2010, to perform specified procedures under direct supervision and pursuant to the order, control, and full professional responsibility of a licensed dentist, including gingival retraction for impression and restorative procedures. This bill would add polishing and contouring existing amalgam restorations to that list of authorized duties and make conforming changes. Existing law requires a person seeking licensure as a registered dental assistant in extended functions to meet certain eligibility requirements, including completion of an extended functions postsecondary program approved by the board, as specified. If the applicant completes a program that teaches the duties that registered dental assistants in extended functions were allowed to perform pursuant to board regulations before January 1, 2010, existing law also requires the applicant to complete a course approved by the board in a list of specified procedures. This bill would revise the list of procedures required to be covered by that course by removing taking final impressions for permanent indirect restorations, and adding, among other things, performing post, core, and build-up procedures in conjunction with direct and indirect restorations. Existing law establishes various requirements for courses in radiation safety for certain dental auxiliaries, including that the course establish specific instructional objectives, utilize objective evaluation criteria for measuring student progress, and meet certain requirements related to duration of instruction. Existing regulations require a dental assisting program or course to meet certain criteria to secure and maintain board approval. Existing regulations authorize the board to approve, provisionally approve, or deny approval of a program or course, as specified. Existing regulations impose specific requirements on a radiation safety course for board approval, including that the course provide no fewer than 32 clock hours of instruction, including at least 8 hours of didactic instruction, at least 12 hours of laboratory instruction, and at least 12 hours of clinical instruction. This bill would modify the requirements for courses in radiation safety and would codify those regulations with certain modifications, including, among other things, requiring that provisional approval for a course in radiation safety expire after one year or upon subsequent board approval or denial, whichever occurs first, and that the board provide, in writing, the specific reasons for provisionally approving or denying a course to the course director within 90 days of that decision. The bill would authorize the board to, in lieu of conducting its own investigation for a course in radiation safety, accept the findings of a commission or accreditation agency approved by the board, or its designee, and adopt those findings as its own. This bill would authorize didactic instruction to be provided through distance learning modalities. The bill would require the course provider to, among other things, notify prospective students of the computer or communications technology necessary to participate in didactic instruction. This bill would also make nonsubstantive changes. 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. 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 county elections officials to update a voter's registration record if change-of-address information indicates the voter has moved to a new residence address in California. Existing law requires county elections officials to change a voter's registration status to inactive if mailings have been returned as undeliverable or if other sources of information indicate that the voter has moved out of state. This bill would repeal an obsolete version of these requirements.
Existing law requires, by July 1, 2030, a water supplier, as defined, to have access to sufficient backup energy sources to operate critical fire suppression infrastructure, as defined, needed to supply water for at least 24 hours for the purpose of fire suppression in high or very high fire hazard severity zones in the County of Ventura, or to have access to alternative sources of water supplied by a different water supplier or agency that can serve this same purpose of supplying backup water to critical wells and water pumps for 24 hours, as provided. Existing law authorizes a water supplier that uses a backup energy source that is not permanent and stationary to use mobile backup energy sources or procure an energy source via an established mutual aid agreement provided that the backup energy source can provide power within 12 hours of the National Weather Service alerting the County of Ventura of a red flag warning and provide power for at least 24 hours after a loss of power and within 60 minutes of a loss of power. Existing law requires, if any fire damages and makes uninhabitable more than 10 residential dwellings within the service area of a water supplier, a report be made by the Ventura County Fire Department in cooperation with the water supplier, as specified. This bill would authorize a water supplier to use a backup energy source that is not permanent or stationary, provided that the backup energy source can, among other things, provide power within 90 minutes of a loss of power, or as soon as practically possible after deenergization. The bill would require a water supplier that uses a backup energy source that is not permanent and stationary to notify the Ventura County Office of Emergency Services as soon as practically possible, but no later than 3 business days after a loss of power, if that backup energy source does not provide power within 90 minutes of a loss of power. The bill would require a water supplier that used a backup energy source to include in the report made by the Ventura County Fire Department, in cooperation with the water supplier, whether that water supplier made a notification to the Ventura County Office of Emergency Services due to a loss of power and the amount of time critical infrastructure for that water supplier experienced a loss of power, if applicable. Existing law requires a water supplier, in coordination with the Ventura County Office of Emergency Services and the Ventura County Fire Department, to establish an emergency preparedness plan, as specified, for response to red flag warnings, extreme weather events, and other major power outages or emergencies that pose a potential threat to providing water service. This bill would require the emergency preparedness plan described above to be established by July 1, 2027. To the extent the bill would require a higher level of service by local agencies, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the County of Ventura. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
Existing law establishes the California State University and its various campuses under the administration of the Trustees of the California State University. Existing law provides that the name "California State University" and the names of various campuses of the California State University, and abbreviations of those names, including "Cal Maritime," are the property of the state, and prohibits the use of any of these names without the permission of the trustees. Under existing law, a violation of this provision is punishable as a misdemeanor. This bill would add "Cal Poly Maritime" and "Cal Poly Maritime Academy" to the list of abbreviations of campus names of the California State University that are the property of the state. By expanding the scope of a crime, the bill would create a state-mandated local program. This bill would require the Trustees of the California State University, on or before January 1, 2028, to submit a report to the Legislature regarding the Cal Poly Maritime Academy following its integration with California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, as provided. 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, in the event of an emergency within the jurisdiction of a local agency that provides emergency response services and that serves a population within which 5% or more of the people speak English less than "very well," according to American Community Survey data, and jointly speak a language other than English, that the local agency provide information related to the emergency in English and in all languages spoken jointly by the 5% or more of the population that speaks English less than "very well," as specified. This bill would revise these provisions to instead require the local agency to provide information related to an emergency within a local agency's jurisdiction in English and translated in each language spoken by 5% or more of the population that speaks English less than "very well." The bill, to determine whether a language meets the criteria for translation, would require a local agency to calculate the total population of those within its jurisdiction that speaks English less than "very well," and, for each language included in the American Community Survey data, or data from an equally reliable source, determine whether speakers of any language who speak English less than "very well" comprise at least 5% of the total population of that jurisdiction that speaks English less than "very well." The bill would make organizational and clarifying changes to the above-described provisions, as specified. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.
This measure would recognize August 26, 2026, as Women's Equality Day and its historic importance to women's rights, including the battle to attain those rights in the past, present, and future.
Existing law regulates the operation of recreational off-highway motor vehicles on lands, other than a highway, that are open and accessible to the public. Existing law generally prohibits a motor vehicle from being driven upon a highway unless it is registered. However, existing law authorizes off-highway motor vehicles that are issued identification plates or devices to cross highways in certain situations, including, among others, a peace officer operating an off-highway motor vehicle in an emergency response situation. This bill would expand the above-described provision to additionally authorize first responders, as defined, to operate off-highway motor vehicles in an emergency response situation. The bill would also authorize peace officers and first responders to operate off-highway motor vehicles upon a highway, at a distance not to exceed 5 miles, for the purpose of accessing off-highway recreational areas or locations of patrol, within jurisdictions that have adopted a policy or plan for the operation of those off-highway motor vehicles pursuant to the provisions described below. The bill would require peace officers and first responders operating off-highway motor vehicles pursuant to these provisions to comply with the terms and requirements of the policy or plan adopted by the applicable local authority. Existing law prohibits a local authority from enacting or enforcing an ordinance on matters covered by the Vehicle Code unless expressly authorized by the Vehicle Code. Existing law authorizes local authorities to adopt rules and regulations by ordinance or resolution regarding specified matters. This bill would authorize a local authority to regulate the operation of off-highway motor vehicles subject to identification by peace officers and first responders upon highways within the local authority's jurisdiction while performing official duties subject to specified requirements. Among those requirements, the bill would require a local authority, after public review, to adopt a policy or plan for the operation of off-highway motor vehicles by peace officers and first responders while performing official duties and to make the policy or plan available to the public on its internet website. The bill would also require the policy or plan to include, among other things, a requirement that off-highway motor vehicles may only be operated upon a highway for up to 5 miles for the purpose of accessing an off-highway recreational area or a location of patrol.
(1) Existing law authorizes the consolidation of 2 or more elections that are to be held on the same day, in the same territory, or in territory that is in part the same. When an election called by a district, city, or other political subdivision for the submission of a question, proposition, or office is to be consolidated with a statewide election, and the question, proposition, or office is to appear on the same ballot as that provided for the statewide election, existing law requires the political subdivision, at least 88 days before the election, to file with the county board of supervisors a resolution of the governing board of the political subdivision that, among other things, sets forth the exact form of the question, proposition, or office to be voted on. Existing law requires the political subdivision to also file a copy of the resolution with the county elections official. This bill would authorize the political subdivision to file the resolution with only the elections official if, at least 88 days before the election, the elections official provides the resolution to the board of supervisors or the board of supervisors has authorized the elections official to receive resolutions and consolidate elections without seeking new approval by the board of supervisors for each election. (2) Existing law allows the governing body of a city, district, or other political subdivision with an election that has been consolidated with an election held in the county or counties in which the political subdivision is situated to authorize the county board of supervisors to canvass the returns of the election. Existing law also allows the governing body of a city, district, or other political subdivision with an election that has been consolidated with an election held in another city, district, or political subdivision to authorize the governing body of that other political subdivision to canvass the election returns. This bill would instead allow the governing body of the political subdivision to authorize the county elections official, for an election consolidated with a county election, or the elections official of the other city, district, or political subdivision, for an election consolidated with an election held in another city, district, or political subdivision, to canvass the returns of the consolidated election. The bill would make related conforming changes. (3) Existing law requires elections officials to provide each polling place with specified materials, including not fewer than 6 nor more than 12 instruction cards to guide voters in obtaining and marking their ballots. This bill would eliminate the maximum limit of 12 instruction cards. (4) Existing law prescribes various election day procedures, including the hours that the polls must be open and when voting will commence. Existing law requires the precinct board to proclaim aloud at the polling place that the polls are open and closed, as specified. This bill would require that a precinct board member make those proclamations.
Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is in part governed by, and funded pursuant to, federal Medicaid program provisions. Existing law sets forth various procedures, including the submission of an application package, for provider enrollment, continuing enrollment, or enrollment at a new location or a change in location under the Medi-Cal program. Existing law requires an applicant or provider who is a natural person and is licensed or certificated under provisions relating to healing arts, the Osteopathic Initiative Act, or the Chiropractic Initiative Act, or is a professional corporation, to comply with the above-described procedures and to be enrolled in the Medi-Cal program as either an individual provider or as a rendering provider in a provider group for each application package that is submitted and approved. This bill would also apply the above-described provision to a nonprofit public benefit corporation that has been granted tax-exempt status and through which licensed providers enumerated in the Medicaid state plan provide nonspecialty mental health services, as specified.
(1) Existing law requires a legal document assistant, unlawful detainer assistant, process server, or professional copier to be registered by the county clerk in the county where their principal place of business is located, as provided. Existing law requires an application for a certificate of registration by an individual, partnership, or corporation to be accompanied by a bond, as provided. Existing law requires the county recorder to record the bond and any notice of cancellation, revocation, or withdrawal of the bond, as provided. Existing law specifies that the fee for filing, canceling, revoking, or withdrawing the bond is $7. Existing law, notwithstanding any other provision of law that prescribes an amount or otherwise limits the amount of a fee or charge that may be levied by a county, a county service area, or a county waterworks district governed by a county board of supervisors, authorizes a county board of supervisors to increase or decrease a fee or charge, which is otherwise authorized to be levied by another provision of law, in the amount reasonably necessary to recover the cost of providing any product or service or the cost of enforcing any regulation for which the fee or charge is levied, as provided. This bill, beginning January 1, 2028, would remove the requirement that the bond and any notice of cancellation, revocation, or withdrawal of the bond be recorded by the county recorder and, instead, require that the county clerk file the bond and any notice of cancellation, revocation, or withdrawal, as specified. The bill would also on this date delete the above-referenced fee of $7 and would, instead, specify that the fee for filing, canceling, revoking, or withdrawing the bond is determined pursuant to above-described authorization to increase or decrease a fee. The bill would also on this date require the county clerk to retain the bond for a minimum of 6 years from the filing date and would require the county clerk to provide the registrant with one certified copy of the bond on file, as provided. (2) Existing law authorizes the Secretary of State to appoint and commission notaries public in such number as the Secretary deems necessary for the public convenience. Existing law requires every person appointed a notary public to file an official bond and an oath of office in the office of the county clerk within which the person maintains a principal place of business, as provided. Existing law requires that the county recorder record the bond, as provided. Existing law requires the county clerk to retain the oath of office for one year following the expiration of the term of the commission for which the oath was taken, after which the oath may be destroyed or otherwise disposed of. This bill, beginning January 1, 2028, would remove the requirement that the county recorder record the bond and would, instead, require the county clerk to retain the oath of office for 10 years, as provided. The bill would also on that date, specify that the fee for filing the bond is determined by the above-described authorization to increase or decrease a fee, would require the county clerk to retain the bond for 10 years from the filing date, and would require the county clerk to provide the registrant with one certified copy of the bond on file, as provided. By imposing additional duties on local officials, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (3) 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.
