Existing law generally provides for the release of inmates from prison on parole. Existing law requires, in the case of any inmate sentenced pursuant to any provision of law other than specified provisions of law providing for determinate sentences, that a panel of 2 or more commissioners or deputy commissioners of the Board of Parole Hearings meet with an inmate one year prior to the inmate's minimum eligible parole release date to set a parole release date. Existing law requires the panel, or the board if sitting en banc, to set a release date at the meeting unless it determines that the gravity of the current convicted offense or offenses, or that the timing and gravity of current or past convicted offense or offenses, is such that consideration of the public safety requires a more lengthy period of incarceration, and that a parole date cannot be fixed at the meeting. This bill would instead require the panel or board to deny parole for this class of inmate unless the inmate proves that the gravity of the current convicted offense or offenses, or that the timing and gravity of current or past convicted offense or offenses, is such that consideration of the public safety does not require a more lengthy period of incarceration, and that a parole date can be fixed at the meeting. The bill would also make a related technical, nonsubstantive change. The bill would authorize the board to base its decision to deny parole solely upon the circumstances of the current convicted offense or offenses or the inmate's past criminal history, and would require the board to give greater weight and consideration to those factors than those of institutional behavior or psychiatric evaluations in determining whether the inmate has proven that he or she does not pose an unreasonable risk of danger to society if released from prison. The bill would provide that the facts of the commitment offense or offenses alone may support the ultimate conclusion that the inmate has not proven that he or she does not pose an unreasonable risk to public safety if released on parole. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.
Sponsored bills
(1) Existing law establishes the California Water Commission in the Department of Water Resources and requires the commission to conduct an annual review of the progress and operation of the State Water Project and to carry out various other related functions. Existing law requires the members of the commission to select a chairperson, and authorizes the commission to employ an executive officer and other staff from the staff of the department. The commission is also authorized to employ clerical assistants. Existing law requires the department to furnish the commission with assistance, including technical, legal, and clerical services. This bill would provide for the organization of the commission as a separate agency in state government, instead of as an agency within the Department of Water Resources. The bill would recast and revise provisions relating to the commission's selection of a chairperson and executive officer employment of staff, and delegation of its functions. The bill would also enact the Water Resources Investment Planning Act, and would declare legislative intent relating to the establishment of regional water planning agencies and the development of the California Water Investment Plan. The bill would require the commission to administer the development and implementation of the California Water Investment Plan. (2) Existing law requires the department to update every 5 years the plan for the orderly and coordinated control, protection, conservation, development, and use of the water resources of the state, which is known as the California Water Plan. Existing law prescribes various requirements for the contents of updates to the plan, and requires the department, or the commission at the department's request, to conduct hearings relative to the plan. This bill would instead require the commission to update the plan by an unspecified date, and every 5 years thereafter. The bill would require the plan to include reports developed by the department and regional water planning agencies established pursuant to the Water Resources Investment Planning Act. The bill would require the department and the regional agencies to submit those reports to the commission by an unspecified date, would prescribe the contents of the reports, and would require the department and regional agencies to collaborate and consult with specified agencies and entities for purposes of developing the reports. The bill would recast, and make conforming changes to, requirements for the contents of updates to the plan. The bill would also require the commission, instead of the department, to conduct hearings relative to the plan.
This bill would urge the United States Patent and Trademark Office to place a satellite office in California.
This measure would designate that January 16, 2012, be observed as the official memorial of the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birth, commemorate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Civil Rights Movement in changing public policy in California and in the United States of America.
The Rees-Levering Motor Vehicle Sales and Finance Act regulates motor vehicle conditional sale contracts, and, among other things, requires a person selling or leasing a motor vehicle under a conditional sale contract to disclose certain information to a buyer. A violation of those disclosure requirements makes a conditional sale contract unenforceable, except as specified. This bill would provide that a conditional sale contract shall not be made unenforceable solely for a violation of provisions requiring the disclosure of certain fees paid to public officials, including vehicle license fees, registration fees, and California tire fees. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.
(1) Existing law establishes the Credit Union Advisory Committee in the Department of Financial Institutions. The duties of this committee include advising the commissioner and the Deputy Commissioner of Financial Institutions for the Division of Credit Unions on matters relating to credit unions and the credit union business. Existing law establishes the Boating and Waterways Commission in the Department of Boating and Waterways. The duties of this committee include advising the department, recommending proposed changes to regulations, and causing studies and surveys to be made of the need for small craft harbors and connecting waterways throughout the state. Existing law establishes the Joint Sunset Review Committee, which consists of 5 members from each house of the Legislature, to identify and eliminate waste, duplication, and inefficiency in government agencies. Existing law requires each eligible agency, as defined, that is scheduled for repeal, to submit to the committee an agency report, as provided. Existing law requires the committee to evaluate the agency prior to the date the agency is scheduled to be repealed. This bill would, as of January 1, 2014, abolish the Credit Union Advisory Committee and the Boating and Waterways Commission and the duties and responsibilities carried out by each. The bill would make these changes operative with respect to each entity only if, prior to January 1, 2014, a review of that entity is conducted by the Joint Sunset Review Committee and the Joint Sunset Review Committee has notified the Secretary of State of this review. (2) Existing law establishes the State Race Track Leasing Commission and repeals the commission on January 1, 2013. This bill would delete the repeal date, thereby indefinitely extending the existence of the commission. (3) Existing law establishes the Capitol Area Committee and the California Recreational Trails Committee. Existing law repeals these commissions and committees on January 1, 2013. This bill would provide that the repeal date would not take effect unless, prior to January 1, 2013, the particular commission or committee has been reviewed by the Joint Sunset Review Committee and that committee has notified the Secretary of State of this review.
Existing law regulates pesticide use and generally provides that, except for specified provisions that are within the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Food and Agriculture, the enforcement of these provisions is the duty of the Director of Pesticide Regulation. Existing law also requires the Secretary of Food and Agriculture to establish and administer a research program to control vertebrate pests, as defined, including the investigation of effective and economical alternative materials for the control of vertebrate pests. Existing law limits the expenditure of funds for this research to specified activities, including educational outreach regarding vertebrate pest control methods. Under existing law, a person is prohibited from killing an animal by using carbon monoxide gas. This bill would authorize the use of carbon monoxide for the control of burrowing rodent pests, only until January 1, 2018, and only if the carbon monoxide delivery device is permanently affixed with a specified warning label in plain view of the operator, subject to specified provisions governing (1) the protection of endangered species, (2) the mode of taking a fur-bearing animal, and (3) pest control operations and the use of agricultural chemicals, as specified. The bill would revise the provision requiring the Secretary of Food and Agriculture to establish a research program to control vertebrate pests, including the investigation of alternative materials, as described above, to specifically include the use of carbon monoxide to control burrowing rodent pests. The bill would make a similar change to the provision authorizing the expenditure of funds for educational outreach. The bill would also include a statement of legislative intent.
This measure would recognize October 2011 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month and urge all Californians to take a stand against domestic violence.
This measure would urge the United States government to consider the California jobs and economic stimulus provided by the California floriculture industry when advancing free trade agreements, specifically with Colombia.
This measure would proclaim February 28, 2011, as Rare Disease Day.