This measure would declare February 17, 2022, as PTA Day, commend the National Parent Teacher Association on the occasion of its 125th anniversary, and encourage all California residents to attend and participate in the celebration of this commemorative event.
Existing law, the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) , establishes the Department of Fair Employment and Housing within the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency and sets forth its powers and duties relating to the enforcement of civil rights laws with respect to housing and employment. Existing federal law, the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, authorizes the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services to approve new drugs and products, including vaccines, for introduction into interstate commerce, and authorizes the secretary to authorize vaccines for use in an emergency upon declaring a public health emergency. On February 4, 2020, the secretary determined that there is a public health emergency and declared circumstances exist justifying the authorization of emergency use of drugs and biological products. The secretary subsequently authorized the emergency use of 3 vaccines for the prevention of COVID-19, and on August 23, 2021, the secretary approved a vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19. The California Emergency Services Act authorizes the Governor to declare a state of emergency during conditions of disaster or extreme peril to persons or property, including epidemics. On March 4, 2020, the Governor declared a state of emergency relating to the COVID-19 pandemic. Pursuant to this authority, the Governor issued several executive orders requiring individuals in specified employment, health care, school, or other settings to provide proof of a COVID-19 vaccination status, unless specified exceptions are met. This bill would require an employer to require each person who is an employee or independent contractor, and who is eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, to show proof to the employer, or an authorized agent thereof, that the person has been vaccinated against COVID-19. This bill would establish an exception from this vaccination requirement for a person who is ineligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine due to a medical condition or disability or because of a sincerely held religious belief, as specified, and would require compliance with various other state and federal laws. The bill would require proof-of-vaccination status to be obtained in a manner that complies with federal and state privacy laws and not be retained by the employer, unless the person authorizes the employer to retain proof. This bill would require, on January 1, 2023, each employer to affirm, in a form and manner provided by the department, that each employee or independent contractor complied with these provisions, and would require the employer to affirm that each new employee or independent contractor is in compliance at the time of hiring or contracting with that person. The bill would require the department to impose a penalty of an unspecified amount on an employer for any violation of these provisions. This bill would repeal these provisions when the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices determines that COVID-19 vaccinations are no longer necessary for the health and safety of individuals. This bill would include findings that changes proposed by this bill address a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair and, therefore, apply to all cities, including charter cities. This bill would declare that its provisions are severable.
This measure would proclaim March 2022 as American Red Cross Month and would dedicate it to all those who continue to advance the noble legacy of the organization's founder. The measure would encourage all Californians to reach out, support the organization's humanitarian mission, and join in their commitment to care for people in need.
This measure would proclaim March 20, 2022, to March 26, 2022, as California Down Syndrome Awareness Week and March 21, 2022, as California Down Syndrome Day, and would encourage all Californians to support and participate in related activities.
This measure would, among other things, designate March 2022 as Irish American Heritage Month in honor of the multitude of contributions that Irish Americans have made to the country and state.
This measure would celebrate Monday, March 21, 2022, as the beginning of the Persian New Year and extend best wishes for a peaceful and prosperous Nowrūz to all Californians.
This measure would resolve that the Legislature is proud to join the Girl Scouts of the USA in recognizing their 110th Anniversary.
This measure would proclaim March 31, 2022, as Transgender Day of Visibility.
Existing law provides that an unemployed individual is eligible to receive unemployment compensation benefits with respect to any week only if the Director of Employment Development makes certain findings, including that the person was able to work and was available for work that week. Under existing law, unemployment compensation benefits are paid from the Unemployment Fund, which is continuously appropriated for this purpose. This bill would prohibit an unemployed individual who is otherwise eligible for unemployment compensation benefits from being deemed ineligible, and would require that individual to be considered as being able to and available for work, for any week in which the individual meets any of certain conditions, including if the claimant is available exclusively for telework for which the claimant is reasonably fitted. Because this bill would make changes to existing eligibility requirements for unemployment compensation benefits that would result in additional amounts being payable from the Unemployment Fund, a continuously appropriated special fund, the bill would make an appropriation.
This measure would proclaim March 7, 2022, to March 11, 2022, inclusive, as School Breakfast Week and would recognize the importance of school nutrition programs and school nutrition staff in addressing the needs of the state's pupils.
