Asm. Jim Frazier

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 generally requires a defendant in a criminal trial in which a felony is charged to be present at the arraignment, at the time of plea, during the preliminary hearing, during those portions of the trial when evidence is taken before the trier of fact, and at the time of the imposition of sentence. Existing law requires the accused to be personally present at all other proceedings unless he or she executes a written waiver of his or her right to be personally present. Existing law authorizes a court to permit the initial court appearance and arraignment of a defendant held in any state, county, or local facility within the county on felony or misdemeanor charges, except for those defendants who were indicted by a grand jury, to be conducted by 2-way electronic audiovideo communication between the defendant and the courtroom in lieu of the physical presence of the defendant in the courtroom. Existing law requires the defendant to execute a written waiver if the defendant decides not to exercise the right to be physically present in the courtroom to make his or her plea. Existing law requires the attorney of a defendant so held to be present in court during the hearing for an initial court appearance and arraignment if the attorney is not present with the defendant. Existing law, notwithstanding this provision, requires the attorney to be present with the defendant in any county exceeding 4,000,000 persons in population. This bill would delete the requirement that the attorney be present in any county exceeding 4,000,000 persons in population. The bill would authorize a defendant who does not wish to be personally present for noncritical portions of the trial when no testimonial evidence is taken to submit an oral waiver in open court prior to the proceeding, or submit a written request to the court and would allow the court to grant the request in its discretion. The bill would allow a court, when a defendant has waived the right to be personally present, to require the appearance of a defendant held in any state, county, or local facility within the county on felony or misdemeanor charges to be conducted by 2-way electronic audiovideo communication between the defendant and the courtroom in lieu of the physical presence of the defendant in the courtroom for noncritical portions of the trial. If the defendant is represented by counsel, the bill would not require the attorney to be personally present with the defendant for noncritical portions of the trial, if the audiovideo conferencing system or other technology allows for private communication between the defendant and the attorney. The bill would state that it does not expand or limit the right of a defendant to be personally present with his or her counsel at a particular proceeding as required by the California Constitution.

Existing law requires a party who subpoenas an employee of a local agency to attend a civil action or proceeding as a witness in a matter regarding an event or transaction that the employee perceived or investigated, and to which that local agency is not a party, to reimburse the local agency for the employee's salary or compensation and other travel expenses, as specified, incurred in complying with the subpoena. Existing law requires the subpoenaing party to tender $150 with the subpoena to the local agency for compensation and traveling expenses of the employee for each day that the employee is required to be in attendance at the proceeding pursuant to the subpoena. Existing law provides for adjusting the amount tendered if actual expenses exceed or are less than the $150 daily amount, as specified. This bill would increase the amount to be tendered with the subpoena from $150 to $275 for each day the employee is required to be in attendance at the proceeding pursuant to the subpoena.

The Personal Income Tax Law authorizes an individual to contribute amounts in excess of his or her tax liability for the support of specified funds, including, among others, the California Firefighters' Memorial Fund and the California Peace Officer Memorial Foundation Fund. Existing law provides for the repeal of the contribution provisions for these funds on January 1, 2016. This bill would instead repeal those provisions on January 1, 2021.

This measure would proclaim June 12, 2014, as Women Veterans' Day and urge all citizens to join in celebrating the many contributions of women to our military forces.

This measure would declare the week of May 25, 2014, to May 31, 2014, inclusive, as Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) Awareness Week to honor those who work to make research and resources a reality for children suffering from DIPG and their families.

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