Asm. Catharine B. Baker

Existing law establishes the California State University, under the administration of the Trustees of the California State University, and the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as 2 of the segments of public postsecondary education in this state. This bill would establish the California Promise, which would require the trustees and the board of governors to establish a program that authorizes a campus of the California State University and the California Community Colleges to enter into a pledge with a student who satisfies specified criteria to support the student in obtaining an associate degree within 2 academic years, or a baccalaureate degree within 4 academic years, of freshman admission. The bill would prohibit systemwide tuition charged to a California State University student who participates in a California Promise program for an academic year from exceeding the amount of tuition charged to the student for the academic year of the student's freshman admission, and would prohibit tuition of a community college transfer student from exceeding a specified amount. By imposing new duties on community college districts, 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, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.

This measure would declare the month of April 2016 as the Month of the Military Child.

This measure would designate April 3, 2016, to April 9, 2016, inclusive, as Women and Girls in STEM Week and would encourage all citizens and community organizations to support the observance of California Women and Girls in STEM Week by encouraging and celebrating women in the STEM fields.

This measure would declare the week of March 7, 2016, through March 13, 2016, as Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week.

Existing law establishes prima facie speed limits, including 15 miles per hour and 25 miles per hour, for various circumstances relating to traversing a railway grade crossing, approaching or passing a school building, and passing a senior center, among others. A violation of the Vehicle Code is a crime. This bill would establish a prima facie speed limit of 40 miles per hour when driving on a road designated by a local governing body as a rural road, other than a state highway, as specified. Because the bill would create a new crime, it would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing law prohibits a peace officer or other person from using a speed trap in arresting, or participating in the arrest of, any person for any alleged violation of the Vehicle Code. Existing law prohibits the use of a speed trap in securing evidence as to the speed of any vehicle for the purpose of an arrest or prosecution under the Vehicle Code. Existing law defines a speed trap as, among other things, a particular section of a highway with a prima facie speed limit that is provided by the Vehicle Code or by local ordinance if that prima facie speed limit is not justified by an engineering and traffic survey, as specified, and enforcement of the speed limit involves the use of radar or any other electronic device that measures the speed of moving objects. Existing law exempts local streets, roads, or school zones from the application of these provisions. This bill would make the definition of speed trap inapplicable to a rural road, as described above. 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.

The California Environmental Quality Act requires a lead agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of an environmental impact report on a project that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment, or to adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that effect. The act authorizes specified entities to file and maintain with a court an action or proceeding to attack, review, set aside, void, or annul an act of a public agency on grounds of noncompliance with the requirements of the act. This bill would require a plaintiff or petitioner, in an action brought pursuant to the act, to disclose the identity of a person or entity that contributes in excess of $1,000, as specified, toward the plaintiff's or petitioner's costs of the action. The bill also would require the plaintiff or petitioner to identify any pecuniary or business interest related to the project or issues involved in the action of any person or entity that contributes in excess of $1,000 to the costs of the action, as specified. The bill would provide that a failure to comply with these requirements may be grounds for dismissal of the action by the court.

This measure would proclaim the month of March 2016 as Grand Jury Awareness Month in California, recognize those who volunteer in a grand jury, and encourage all Californians to learn about its role in the judicial system.

The Political Reform Act of 1974 requires every state and local government agency to adopt and promulgate a Conflict of Interest Code and requires each Conflict of Interest Code to include, among other things, a requirement that each designated employee file statements, as specified, disclosing reportable investments, business positions, interests in real property and income. Existing law prohibits a faculty member or academic department or other adopting entity at an institution of higher education from demanding or receiving anything of value, as specified, for adopting specific course materials required for coursework or instruction, except as specified, including royalties or other compensation from sales of course materials that include the instructor's writing or other work. This bill would require that the Conflict of Interest Code of each public postsecondary educational institution require an employee of that institution to disclose any item of value, any royalties, or any other compensation the employee receives as a result of making or influencing a decision to adopt specific course materials required for coursework or instruction. By requiring the revision of Conflict of Interest Codes for community colleges, the 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, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions. The Political Reform Act of 1974, an initiative measure, provides that the Legislature may amend the act to further the act's purposes upon a 23 vote of each house and compliance with specified procedural requirements. This bill would declare that it furthers the purposes of the act.