Existing law, the Medical Practice Act, establishes the Medical Board of California to license and regulate the practice of medicine. Former law, repealed as of January 1, 2025, established the Licensed Physicians and Dentists from Mexico Pilot Program, which allowed up to 30 licensed physicians and up to 30 licensed dentists from Mexico to practice medicine or dentistry in California for a period not to exceed 3 years, in accordance with certain requirements. Existing law, operative January 1, 2025, instead, establishes within the act the Licensed Physicians from Mexico Program, which authorizes the board to issue a limited number of nonrenewable 3-year physician's and surgeon's licenses to licensed physicians from Mexico who meet specified criteria. This bill would require the board to issue a full and unrestricted physician's and surgeon's license to a person who has completed 2 3-year terms of the Licensed Physicians from Mexico Program or the former Licensed Physicians and Dentists from Mexico Pilot Program in good standing upon satisfaction of specified requirements, including having an offer of continued employment from a health care facility or practice in California. This bill would establish the California Physician Expansion Act, which would require the board to issue a provisional license to an applicant who holds a full and unrestricted license to practice medicine in another country who meets specified requirements, including that the applicant has not committed any acts or crimes constituting grounds for denial of a certificate, as specified. In this regard, the bill would require the board to submit to the Department of Justice fingerprint images and related information required by the department of all applicants for a provisional license to determine whether the applicant has a criminal conviction record, as specified, and would require the department to provide a state- and federal-level response pursuant to specified provisions for the board to determine whether the applicant is subject to denial of licensure, as specified. The bill would make the provisional license valid for 3 years and would authorize the board to grant a one-time renewal for an additional period of up to 3 years, as specified. The bill would require a provisional licensee to, among other things, be employed by, and practice medicine only within, a sponsoring entity, as specified. The bill would authorize the board to revoke a provisional license or take any other disciplinary action deemed appropriate by the board, as specified. The bill would deem a provisional licensee applicant who meets specified requirements, including having completed at least 36 months of practice under the provisional license without any disciplinary actions, to meet the professional instruction, preliminary education, and postgraduate training requirements for a certificate under the Medical Practice Act. The bill would require the board to establish application, initial licensure, renewal, and conversion fees for the provisional license, as specified. The bill would make findings and declarations relating to its provisions.
Existing law, the California Values Act, requires the Attorney General, by October 1, 2018, in consultation with the appropriate stakeholders, to publish model policies limiting assistance with immigration enforcement to the fullest extent possible consistent with federal and state law at public schools, public libraries, health facilities operated by the state or a political subdivision of the state, courthouses, Division of Labor Standards Enforcement facilities, the Agricultural Labor Relations Board, the Division of Workers' Compensation, and shelters and ensure that they remain safe and accessible to all California residents, regardless of immigration status. The act requires all public schools, health facilities operated by the state or a political subdivision of the state, and courthouses to implement the model policy or an equivalent policy. This bill would require the Attorney General, on or before October 30, 2027, and annually thereafter, to submit to the Legislature and the Governor, and post on its internet website, a report that includes, among other things, a summary of all immigration enforcement incidents and activities occurring on or after September 1, 2025, conducted by a person at a designated location that have been reported by the designated location or a person who witnessed the activity to the Attorney General, as specified. The bill would authorize the Attorney General to request representatives of a designated location to furnish any reported immigration enforcement incidents and activities as part of compiling its annual report and would authorize the Attorney General to issue civil penalties or conduct other enforcement activity to ensure compliance with these provisions. The bill would prohibit the report from including any personally identifiable information regarding an individual stopped, detained, or arrested by an individual conducting an immigration enforcement activity. The bill would define "designated location" to mean schoolsites, health care provider entities, shelters, polling places, state courthouses, public transportation access points, and state and local government property. The bill would define "immigration enforcement" for these purposes to mean an effort to investigate, enforce, or assist in the investigation or enforcement of a federal civil or criminal immigration lawsuit. To the extent the bill would impose duties on locals, 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.
Existing law generally regulates various business activities and practices related to consumer rights. Existing law requires law enforcement and state and local governments to interact with and report on federal action against individuals based on their perceived or actual immigration status in various specified manners. This bill would require a large retail store doing business in this state, as defined, to provide the Attorney General with copies of specified documentation related to immigration enforcement activity, as defined, that occurs on the large retail store's premises, including copies of any video footage, upon receipt of an administrative subpoena, as specified. The bill would exempt documentation submitted as described above from the California Public Records Act. The bill would require the large retail store to preserve the documentation described above, as specified. The bill would also require the large home improvement retailer to disclose on the retailer's internet website certain information, including any policies and practices the large home improvement retailer maintains that relate to immigration enforcement activity on its premises, as specified. The bill would also require the large retail store to provide the county in which the immigration enforcement activity occurred with access to the above-described documentation, as specified. In connection with that requirement, the bill would require every county board of supervisors to select that appropriate agency in the county to have the authority to access that documentation. By imposing new duties on counties, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would authorize the Attorney General or a county counsel to bring an action for injunctive relief for a violation of the above provisions. The bill would repeal its provisions on January 1, 2030. The bill would make related findings and declarations and would declare the severability of its provisions. 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. 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, 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 various benefit programs, including grant programs and loan programs. Existing law, the California Values Act, generally prohibits California law enforcement agencies from using their moneys or personnel for immigration enforcement purposes, except as specified. This bill would prohibit an administrator of a covered program, as those terms are defined, from awarding a grant or issuing a loan from a covered program to a private entity that contracts with United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, except as specified. The bill would require each private entity applying to a covered program to agree to identify to the administrator of that covered program any subcontractors to be used under the contract and to certify to the administrator that the subcontractors do not contract with United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The bill would require an administrator to include in their eligibility requirements for their covered programs that an eligible private entity and its subcontractors for each covered program, if any, shall not contract with United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The bill would make related findings and declarations. 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 agencies and 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 with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
Senate Resolution 120 establishes Filipino American History Month to recognize the long-standing contributions of Filipinos and Filipino Americans to California and the United States. The resolution highlights key historical events, including early immigration, service during World War II, and the significant role Filipino workers played in California's agricultural industry and labor rights movements. By documenting these achievements, the bill aims to honor the resilience and impact of this community throughout American history.
This resolution would state, among other things, that the Legislature supports the establishment of a Mexican Consulate in the County of Kern to strengthen the state's relationship with Mexico and empower immigrant communities.
This measure would proclaim the month of March 2026 as Afghan American Heritage Month and recognize Afghan Americans as an essential part of cultural and civic life of this state.
Existing law, the California Emergency Services Act, establishes the Office of Emergency Services and vests the office with responsibility for the state's emergency and disaster response services for natural, technological, or manmade disasters and emergencies, as specified. Existing law establishes the California Specialized Training Institute within the Office of Emergency Services. This bill would require, on or before January 1, 2027, the Office of Emergency Services, through the California Specialized Training Institute, to develop a transnational repression recognition and response training, as specified.
This Senate Resolution establishes CalEITC Awareness Week from January 30 to February 6, 2026, to promote awareness of the California Earned Income Tax Credit among eligible low-income residents. The resolution highlights the program's role in reducing poverty by providing tax credits to working families, including those with Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers and children under six. It aims to encourage eligible households to claim their benefits through Volunteer Income Tax Assistance sites, which offer free, culturally responsive tax preparation services. The text notes that over 3.3 million Californians claimed the credit in 2024, yet many eligible families still do not receive the full benefits they qualify for.
Existing law designates 8 agencies in state government and requires the secretary of an agency to be generally responsible for the sound fiscal management of each department, office, or other unit within the agency. Existing law further requires the secretary of an agency to, among other duties, continually seek to improve the organization structure, the operating policies, and the management information systems of each department, office, or other unit. This bill would establish the Immigrant and Refugee Affairs Agency as an agency within state government, to be headed by a secretary who is appointed by the Governor and subject to Senate confirmation. The bill would specify that the purpose of the agency is to enhance, and reduce obstacles to, immigrant and refugee inclusion into the social, cultural, economic, and civic life of the state. The bill would authorize the secretary to, among other things, assist other state agencies in evaluating their programs for accessibility and effectiveness in providing services to immigrants and refugees and recommending policy and budget mechanisms for meeting immigrant and refugee inclusion. This bill would establish the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs within the agency, under the direction of the Statewide Director of Immigrant and Refugee Inclusion. The bill would declare the intent to incorporate existing and future programs created to assist immigrants and refugees into the office. The bill would transfer to the office the property of any other office, agency, or department that relates to functions concerning immigrant and refugee affairs. The bill would require every officer and employee who is performing a function at another office, agency, or department that is transferred to the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs to also be transferred to the office, and would provide that every officer and employee who is serving in the state civil service who is transferred to the office shall retain their status, position, and rights, except as specified. The bill would create the Immigrant and Refugee Inclusion Fund within the State Treasury, and would make the moneys in the fund available to the office upon appropriation by the Legislature. The bill would transfer to the office any unencumbered balance of any appropriation or other funds that were available for use in connection with any function transferred to the office. This bill would limit interagency sharing of information, would prohibit sharing of personal information of immigrants and refugees outside of the agency, and would prohibit use of agency resources to directly or indirectly participate or assist in immigration enforcement activity. Existing law establishes the Statewide Director of Immigrant Integration and requires the director serve as the statewide lead for the planning and coordination of immigrant services and policies in California. Existing law requires, among other things, that the director develop a comprehensive statewide report on programs and services that serve immigrants, develop an online clearinghouse of immigrant services, resources, and programs, and monitor the implementation of statewide laws and regulations that serve immigrants. This bill would recast those provisions to rename the director as the Statewide Director of Immigrant and Refugee Inclusion and would require the director to, among other things, develop a mission statement, strategic plan, and matrix of success for the office, and to report to the Legislature biannually on successes and challenges in meeting immigrant and refugee inclusion goals. The bill would require the director, by January 1, 2027, to report to the Governor and the Legislature on programs and services that serve immigrants and refugees and on a statewide plan for better implementation and coordination of immigrant and refugee assistance policies and programs. The bill would repeal the bill's provisions on January 1, 2036. 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.
