Asm. Marc Levine

This measure would state the Legislature's support for the memorandum of understanding for establishing strategic partnerships between California and Israel.

This measure would urge the United States Department of Transportation and other relevant federal entities to (1) safeguard communities and environmentally sensitive areas from rail accidents involving transportation of crude oil by expediting rail safety reforms, (2) prioritize safety considerations over cost-effectiveness in deliberations about improving the transport of crude oil by rail, (3) mandate, at a minimum, the best practices explained in a 2014 safety initiative, as specified and (4) partner with the Canadian Transportation Agency to improve safety of the North American railroad tank car fleet by swiftly adopting a stricter design standard, and by retrofitting or phasing out tank cars that do not meet that standard.

This measure would commend the government of El Salvador on its handling of the recent election and would recognize the efforts of the United Nations, the Organization of American States, and other institutions in assisting with the election in the spirit of the Chapultepec Peace Accords.

This measure would proclaim June 11, 2014, and June 11 of each subsequent year, California LGBT Veterans Day, to be celebrated statewide.

Existing law requires the court, in the case of any person convicted of a criminal offense who could otherwise be sentenced to county jail or state prison and who alleges that he or she committed the offense as a result of sexual trauma, traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, or mental health problems stemming from service in the United States military, to make a determination, prior to sentencing, as to whether the defendant was, or currently is, a member of the United States military and whether the defendant may be suffering from sexual trauma, traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, or mental health problems as a result of that service. If the court concludes that the defendant is one of the persons described above, and if the defendant is otherwise eligible for probation and the court places the defendant on probation, the court is authorized to order the defendant into a local, state, federal, or private nonprofit treatment program for a period not to exceed that period which the defendant would have served in state prison or county jail, provided the defendant agrees to participate in the program and the court determines that an appropriate treatment program exists. This bill would additionally require the court to consider its conclusion that a defendant eligible for probation was, or currently is, a member of the United States military and that the defendant may be suffering from sexual trauma, traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, or mental health problems as a result of that service as a factor in favor of granting probation. Existing law provides that specified felonies are punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for 16 months, or 2 or 3 years or, where the term is specified, for the term described in the underlying offense. When a judgment of imprisonment is to be imposed and the statute specifies 3 possible terms, the choice of the appropriate term rests within the sound discretion of the court. This bill would require the court, if it concludes that a defendant convicted of a felony offense is, or was, a member of the United States military who may be suffering from sexual trauma, traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, or mental health problems as a result of his or her military service, to consider those circumstances as a factor in mitigation when imposing a term pursuant to the above provisions. The bill would provide that this consideration does not preclude the court from considering similar trauma, injury, substance abuse, or mental health due to other causes as evidence or factors in mitigation.

Existing law creates the Board of Administration of the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) for the purpose of governing the system, and prescribes the composition of the board and its powers and duties. This bill would require the Board of administration of PERS to adopt an education policy, as specified, for its members, and would require all board members to receive a minimum of 24 hours of board member education within the first 2 years of assuming office and for every subsequent 2-year period in which the person serves on the board. The bill would require the board to maintain a record of a board member's compliance with the policy and to post the policy and an annual report on board member compliance on the retirement system's Internet Web site.

This measure would designate July 10, 2014, as Journeyman Linemen Recognition Day to honor and recognize the contribution of the countless journeyman linemen who often place themselves in harm's way to serve their communities.

The Alcoholic Beverage Control Act permits the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to issue special temporary licenses and permits to various entities for limited purposes. The act permits the department to issue a certified farmers' market sales permit that authorizes a licensee under a winegrower's license, a member of the licensee's family, or an employee of the licensee to sell wine produced and bottled by the winegrower at certified farmers' market locations, under specified conditions. The act provides that a violation of its provisions is a misdemeanor, unless otherwise specified. This bill would specify that, pursuant to the certified farmers' market sales permit, the licensee may only sell wine that is produced entirely from grapes or other agricultural products grown by the winegrower and that is bottled by the winegrower. This bill would require the certified farmers' market sales permit to authorize the licensee, a member of the licensee's family, or an employee of the licensee to conduct an instructional tasting event on the subject of wine at a certified farmers' market, subject to certain conditions. By expanding the definition of an existing 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. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

This measure would declare May 2014 to be American Stroke Month in California.