Existing law requires the Department of Fish and Wildlife to administer the Significant Natural Areas Program, and requires the department, among other things, to develop and maintain a spatial data system that identifies those areas in the state that are most essential for maintaining habitat connectivity, including wildlife corridors and habitat linkages. Existing law requires the department, contingent upon the provision of certain funding, to investigate, study, and identify those areas in the state that are most essential as wildlife corridors and habitat linkages and prioritize vegetative data development in those areas. Existing law requires the department to seek input from representatives of other state agencies, local government, federal agencies, nongovernmental conservation organizations, landowners, agriculture, recreation, scientific entities, and industry in determining essential wildlife corridors and habitat linkages. This bill would declare that it is the policy of the state to encourage, wherever feasible and practicable, voluntary steps to protect the functioning of wildlife corridors through various means, as applicable. Existing law provides for the establishment of conservation banks, defined as publicly or privately owned and operated sites that are to be conserved and managed for habitat protection purposes in accordance with an agreement with the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Existing law provides for the issuance of credits by a conservation bank to, among other things, reduce adverse impacts to fish or wildlife resources from certain activities. Existing law also provides for the establishment of mitigation banks, as defined. This bill would include within the authorized purposes of a conservation bank the protection of habitat connectivity for fish and wildlife resources. This bill would provide that the fact that a project applicant does not take voluntary steps to protect the functioning of a wildlife corridor prior to initiating the application process for the project shall not be grounds for denying a permit or requiring additional mitigation beyond what is otherwise required by law to mitigate project impacts.
Sponsored bills
The Warren-Alquist State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Act establishes the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission. The act requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission, beginning November 1, 2003, and by November 1 of every odd year thereafter, to adopt an integrated energy policy report which includes an overview of major energy trends and issues facing the state, an assessment and forecast of system reliability, and the need for resource additions, efficiency, and conservation. Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations and gas corporations, as defined, while local publicly owned electric utilities, as defined, and local publicly owned gas utilities are under the direction of their governing board. Existing law establishes the system of public postsecondary education in the state, which includes the University of California, administered by the Regents of the University of California, and the California State University, administered by the Trustees of the California State University. This bill would request the Regents of the University of California, and require the California State University, to consider aligning their greenhouse gas reduction goals with those of the statewide institutional partnership between the California State University, the University of California, and investor-owned energy utilities and with those of the state, as specified. As a condition for participation in the expanded partnership, the bill would require the California State University and the University of California to report to each investor-owned energy utility or local publicly owned energy utility the annual reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases from the expanded partnership at all California State University and University of California facilities within that utility's service territory.
The Alcoholic Beverage Control Act contains various provisions regulating the application for, the issuance of, the suspension of, and the conditions imposed upon, alcoholic beverage licenses by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Existing law provides for various annual fees for the issuance of alcoholic beverage licenses, depending upon the type of license issued. This bill, the Craft Distillers Act of 2015, would authorize the department to issue a craft distiller's license to manufacture distilled spirits, subject to specified conditions, including that the licensee manufacture no more than 100,000 gallons of distilled spirits per fiscal year, excluding brandy the craft distiller manufactures or has manufactured for them. The bill would allow the craft distiller's licensee to sell distilled spirits to specified consumers, to own interests in on-sale retail licenses, and to sell beer, wines, brandies, and distilled spirits to consumers for consumption on the premises of a bona fide eating place, as provided. The bill would impose an original fee and an annual renewal fee for the license, which would be deposited in the Alcohol Beverage Control Fund. The Alcoholic Beverage Control Act authorizes a licensed distilled spirits manufacturer to conduct tastings of distilled spirits produced or bottled by, or produced or bottled for, the licensee, on the licensed premises, under specified conditions, including that tasting not be given in the form of a cocktail or mixed drink. This bill would extend that authorization to a licensed craft distiller and would revise the tasting conditions by allowing a tasting to be given in the form of a cocktail or mixed drink. Existing law prohibits a distilled spirits manufacturer's or distilled spirits manufacturer's agent's license from being held by a person that holds any ownership or interest in any distilled spirits wholesaler's, rectifier's, or retailer's license, as specified. This bill would additionally prohibit a distilled spirits manufacturer's or distilled spirits manufacturer's agent's license from being held by a person that holds any ownership or interest in a craft distiller's license.
Existing law provides for the construction and operation of various toll bridges by the state, the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District, and private entities that have entered into a franchise agreement with the state. This bill would, until January 1, 2021, prohibit a toll from being imposed on the passage of a pedestrian or bicycle over these various toll bridges.
Existing law authorizes the Department of Parks and Recreation to install, or permit the installation of camping cabins within the units of the state park system if installation of camping cabins is consistent with the general plan of the unit. This bill would authorize the department to acquire, install or permit the installation of, and operate or permit the operation of, camping cabins and parking facilities for recreational vehicles within the units of the state park system, if the installation and operation is consistent with the classification of the park system unit, and with the general plan of the unit, if one exists. The bill would authorize the department to enter into an agreement with a qualified nonprofit organization for those purposes. Existing law authorizes the department to receive and accept in the name of the people of the state any gift, dedication, devise, grant, or other conveyance of title to or any interest in real property, including water rights, roads, trails, and rights-of-way, to be added or used in connection with the state park system, subject to the approval of the Director of Finance, except as provided. This bill would include buildings, facilities, and other improvements to the types of interests that the department may receive to be used in connection with the state park system. Existing law authorizes the department to enter into an agreement to receive money from any entity for the maintenance or operation, on a nonprofit basis, of a designated state park unit or facility. Existing law requires the money received to be used to supplement existing resources for enhancing the maintenance and operation of the unit or facility, with priority given to preventing closure or reduced hours of service to the public. This bill would authorize the department to enter into an agreement to receive funds from any entity for the maintenance, operation, restoration, repair, development, improvement, or enhancement of a designated state park system unit or facility or for research, educational, interpretive, recreational, or visitor services provided on or for a designated state park system unit or facility. The bill would provide that the funds received shall be used to supplement, but not replace, existing resources, would remove the priority given to preventing closure or reduced hours of service to the public, and would authorize the department to provide free or reduced-cost access to and use of park facilities to an entity that enters into this agreement, if the public benefit provided by the agreement exceeds or is of comparable value, as determined by the department, to the access to or use of park facilities granted. Existing law authorizes the department to enter into an agreement to receive funds from any entity for the maintenance or operation of a state beach, any other unit of the state park system that encompasses a beach, or any area or facility of the state beach or other unit. Existing law requires funds received to be used to supplement existing resources. This bill would authorize the department to enter into an agreement to receive funds from any entity for the maintenance, operation, restoration, repair, development, improvement, or enhancement of a state beach, any other unit of the state park system that encompasses a beach, or any area or facility of the state beach or other unit, or for research, educational, interpretive, recreational, or visitor services provided on or for a state beach, any other unit of the state park system that encompasses a beach, or any area or facility of the state beach or other unit. The bill would provide that funds received shall be used to supplement, but not replace, existing resources, and would authorize the department to provide free or reduced-cost access to and use of beach facilities to an entity that enters into this agreement, if the public benefit provided by the agreement exceeds or is of comparable value, as determined by the department, to the access to or use of beach facilities granted. Existing law requires the department to develop a revenue generation program as an essential component of a long-term sustainable park funding strategy. Existing law establishes the State Park Revenue Incentive Subaccount in the State Parks and Recreation Fund with money available to the department for activities, programs, and projects, as provided, relating to the revenue generation program. Existing law requires 50% of certain program revenues deposited into the subaccount generated by a park district to be allocated to that district, as provided. Existing law requires the department to report to the Legislature annually on or before July 1 on the revenue distributed to each park district. This bill would instead require the department to report to the Legislature annually on or before December 31. Existing law authorizes the department to enter into competitively bid contracts with natural persons, corporations, partnerships, and associations for the construction, maintenance, and operation of concessions within units of the state park system. This bill would require all renewals of those concession contracts to be subject to competitive bidding requirements. Existing law requires every concessionaire to submit to the department its sales and use tax returns. This bill would also require every concessionaire to, at the request of the department, provide an annual financial statement prepared or audited by a certified public accountant. Existing law requires a concession contract entered into pursuant to specified provisions that is expected to involve a total investment or gross sales in excess of $500,000 to comply with certain other contract requirements. This bill would impose those requirements on a concession contract that is expected to involve a total investment or gross sales in excess of $1,000,000 and would revise those contract requirements, as specified.
The Psychology Licensing Law provides for the licensure and regulation of psychologists by the Board of Psychology. The law defines the practice of psychology as rendering or offering to render, for a fee, psychological services involving the application of psychological principles and methods, including the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of psychological problems and emotional and mental disorders. The law prohibits unlicensed persons from practicing psychology, but authorizes unlicensed persons, including psychological assistants who meet certain requirements and do not provide psychological services to the public for a fee, to perform limited psychological functions. The law requires applicants for licensure to, among other things, engage in at least 2 years of supervised professional experience under the direction of a licensed psychologist and authorizes an applicant who obtains this experience in the United States to send verification of the experience directly to the board if the supervising licensed psychologist fails to submit the verification within 30 days of receiving a request from the applicant, as specified. The law requires the board to establish qualifications by regulation for supervising licensed psychologists and to review and approve applicants for the position of supervising psychologist on a case-by-case basis. The law provides that a violation of any of its provisions is a misdemeanor. This bill would remove the reference to fees for services from the definition of the practice of psychology, thereby expanding that definition. The bill would further modify that definition to specify that the application of psychological principles and methods includes assessment, diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and intervention to increase effective functioning of individuals, groups, and organizations. The bill would revise the above-described authorization for psychological assistants to prohibit services to the public, except as specified, without reference to a fee. The bill would revise that experience verification procedure to require a supervising licensed psychologist to submit verification of the experience to the trainee in a manner prescribed by the board, and would authorize the board to establish alternative procedures for obtaining the necessary documentation if the supervising licensed psychologist fails to provide that verification in a timely manner. The bill would make the failure to provide verification to the board upon request, absent good cause, unprofessional conduct. The bill would eliminate the requirement that the board review and approve applicants for the position of supervising psychologist on a case-by-case basis. The bill would also make technical and conforming changes. By expanding the scope of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing law establishes for a patient of a psychotherapist, whether or not a party to a proceeding, the privilege to refuse to disclose and to prevent another from disclosing a confidential communication between the patient and psychotherapist, as specified, and defines a psychotherapist for these purposes. This bill would include in the definition of psychotherapist a person who is registered with the Board of Psychology as a registered psychologist and who is under the supervision of a licensed psychologist or a board certified psychiatrist. 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 makes it a crime to import into the state for commercial purposes, to possess with intent to sell, or to sell within the state, the dead body, or any part or product thereof, of an elephant. Existing law exempts the possession with intent to sell, or sale of the dead body, or any part or product thereof, of any elephant before June 1, 1977, or the possession with intent to sell or the sale of any such item on or after June 1, 1977, if the item was imported before January 1, 1977. This bill would delete this exemption. By changing the definition of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would make it unlawful to purchase, sell, offer for sale, possess with intent to sell, or import with intent to sell ivory or rhinoceros horn, except as specified, and would make this prohibition enforceable by the Department of Fish and Wildlife. The bill would make a violation of this provision or any rule, regulation, or order adopted pursuant to this provision a misdemeanor subject to specified criminal penalties. By creating a new crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. In addition to the specified criminal penalties, the bill would authorize the department to impose an administrative penalty of up to $10,000 for a violation of this provision or any rule, regulation, or order adopted pursuant to this provision. This bill would provide that the provisions of this bill are severable. This bill would make these provisions operative on July 1, 2016. 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 establishes the Office of Farm to Fork within the Department of Food and Agriculture, and requires the office, to the extent that resources are available, to work with various entities, including, among others, the agricultural industry and other organizations involved in promoting food access, to increase the amount of agricultural products available to underserved communities and schools in the state. Existing law requires the office to, among other things, identify urban and rural communities that lack access to healthy food, and to coordinate with local, state, and federal agencies to promote and increase awareness of programs that promote greater food access. This bill would establish the Nutrition Incentive Matching Grant Program in the Office of Farm to Fork, and would create the Nutrition Incentive Matching Grant Account in the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund to collect matching funds received from a specified federal grant program and funds from other public and private sources, to encourage the purchase and consumption of California fresh fruits, nuts, and vegetables by nutrition benefit clients, as defined. The bill would provide that the program shall only provide grants upon the deposit of sufficient funds, as specified, into the account. The bill would require that moneys in the Nutrition Incentive Matching Grant Account be awarded in the form of grants to qualified entities, as defined, for consumer incentive programs, as defined, subject to specified regulations and in accordance with certain priorities. The bill would require the Office of Farm to Fork to establish minimum standards, funding schedules, and procedures for awarding grants, as specified.
Existing law specifies the powers and duties of the Department of Transportation, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, and the Bay Area Toll Authority with respect to the collection and expenditure of toll revenue from the 7 state-owned toll bridges within the geographic jurisdiction of the commission, including the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge. This bill, if the commission and the department develop a project to open the third lane on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge to automobile traffic on the eastbound level and to bicycle traffic on the westbound level, would authorize the lead agency to complete the design work for the project simultaneously with the environmental review conducted pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.
The Alcoholic Beverage Control Act imposes various requirements relating to the labels and containers of alcoholic beverages sold within the state, including a requirement that every manufacturer or bottler of beer whose beer is sold within the state file with the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control the brand name or names under which the beer is sold or labeled, as provided. The act provides that a violation of its provisions is a misdemeanor if not otherwise specified. This bill would require a manufacturer, before the first sale of a brand of beer in this state, to register the brand with the department, as specified, and would make the manufacturer responsible for compliance with labeling and registration requirements. The bill, if beer is sold or offered for sale in this state without first complying with these provisions or other provisions of the act, would authorize the department to take action it deems reasonable and necessary including, but not limited to, ordering that the beer not be sold, or allowing it to be sold for a reasonable time, until these requirements are met. This bill, by expanding the scope of an existing crime, 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.