Asm. Carlos Villapudua

Existing law establishes the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection in the Natural Resources Agency to provide fire protection and prevention services, as specified. This bill would require the department to maintain a standard minimum level of staffing for each of its engines, as specified, without the regular practice of forcing overtime on its personnel. The bill would require the department to increase its existing firefighter fuel crews, as specified. The bill would require the department, on or before January 1, 2024, to provide to the Legislature a long-term staffing plan to meet the new era of wildfire firefighting.

Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services, under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions. Existing law requires the department to establish a list of covered services and maximum allowable reimbursement rates for prosthetic and orthotic appliances and requires that the list be published in provider manuals. Existing law prohibits reimbursement for prosthetic and orthotic appliances from exceeding 80% of the lowest maximum allowance for California established by the federal Medicare Program for the same or similar services. This bill would instead require reimbursement for these appliances to be set at least at 80% of the lowest maximum allowance for California established by the federal Medicare Program, and would require that reimbursement to be adjusted annually, as specified.

Under existing law, a person who deprives or violates the personal liberty of another with the intent to obtain forced labor or services, or for the purpose of prostitution or sexual exploitation, is guilty of the crime of human trafficking and subject to imprisonment. This bill would, upon appropriation by the Legislature, establish the California Multidisciplinary Alliance to Stop Trafficking Act (California MAST) to review collaborative models between governmental and nongovernmental organizations for protecting victims and survivors of trafficking, among other related duties. The task force would be comprised of specified state officials or their designees and specified individuals who have expertise in human trafficking or providing services to victims of human trafficking, as specified. The bill would require the task force to hold its first meeting no later than July 1, 2023, and would require the task force to meet at least 4 times. The bill would require the task force to report its findings and recommendations to the Office of Emergency Services, the Governor, the Attorney General, and the Legislature by January 1, 2025. The bill would make related findings and declarations. The bill would repeal these provisions on July 1, 2025.

This measure would recognize that the Antelope Valley will henceforth be affectionately and acceptably referred to by the State of California as the Aerospace Valley.

This measure would proclaim the week of August 1, 2022, to August 7, 2022, inclusive, as California HPV Vaccine Week in order to increase awareness of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine as a cancer prevention tool and to promote the vaccination of all adolescents who are 9 to 13 years of age, inclusive, throughout California. The measure would urge all health providers and community members to get California adolescents caught up on all routine vaccinations, especially the cancer-preventing HPV vaccine.

This measure would designate the month of October 2022 as California Hindu American Awareness and Appreciation Month. The measure would also recognize and acknowledge the significant contributions made by Californians of Hindu heritage to the state and seek to increase awareness and understanding of the Hindu American community.

This measure would recognize September 20, 2022, and every year on that date thereafter, as California Surfing Day to celebrate the California surfing lifestyle, would commend all those who honor the history, culture, and future of surfing, as well as the sport of surfing and the protection of our beach and ocean environments, would express support for future surfers and encourage potential surfing Olympians to work diligently, and would encourage all Californians to enjoy California Surfing Day.

This measure would designate the month of October 2022 as Women's Small Business Month and encourage all citizens to recognize the economic importance of women's small businesses in California.