Asm. Tom Ammiano

This measure would proclaim May 2010 as Buy California Small Business First Month to raise awareness that when California consumers, businesses, colleges, universities, and governmental agencies choose to first support California small businesses when making purchasing decisions, a wave of positive economic impacts occurs within the state and local economies.

This measure would proclaim May 2 through May 8, 2010, as Cinco de Mayo Week, and would urge all Californians to join in celebrating Cinco de Mayo.

Existing law makes it a crime to possess, deliver, furnish, or transfer drug paraphernalia, as specified, or to loiter in any public place with the intent to engage in drug-related activity, which intent may be shown by the possession of drug paraphernalia, and requires a business that keeps, displays, or offers drug paraphernalia to meet specified requirements with respect to minors and drug paraphernalia or be subject to the revocation, nonrenewal, or denial of a local business license, as specified. "Drug paraphernalia" is defined for purposes of these provisions to include objects designed or marketed for use in various activities relating to the production, sale, and consumption of specified controlled substances, including the ingesting, inhaling, or otherwise introducing of those controlled substances into the human body. Existing law also lists specified items which are included in the definition of "drug paraphernalia." This bill would revise the definition of "drug paraphernalia" to refer to those same objects when designed or marketed for use in the unlawful conduct of those acts, including the unlawful ingesting, inhaling, or other introduction of those controlled substances into the human body. This bill would delete the lists of specified items included in the definition of "drug paraphernalia" and make conforming changes to related provisions.

Existing law, including law added by an initiative act that requires amendments to its provisions to be approved by 23 of the membership of both houses of the Legislature, commonly known as the Three Strikes law, provides for increased penalties for certain recidivist offenders. In particular, it provides that, in addition to any other enhancement or penalty provisions that may apply, (1) if a defendant has one prior felony conviction, as defined, the determinate term, or minimum term for an indeterminate term, shall be twice the term otherwise provided as punishment for the current conviction, and (2) if a defendant has 2 or more prior felony convictions, the term for the current felony conviction shall be an indeterminate term of imprisonment in the state prison for life with a minimum term of the greatest of (A) 3 times the term otherwise provided as punishment for each current felony conviction subsequent to the 2 or more prior felony convictions, (B) imprisonment in the state prison for 25 years, or (C) the term determined by the court for the underlying conviction, including any applicable enhancement or punishment provisions. "Prior conviction for a felony" is defined, for purposes of the Three Strikes law, to include a prior juvenile adjudication, as specified. This bill would delete a prior juvenile adjudication from the definition of "prior conviction of a felony" for purposes of the Three Strikes law.

This measure would request the Congress to develop a comprehensive federal regulatory framework for marine aquaculture that undergoes complete environmental review and is at least as protective as that codified in California's Sustainable Oceans Act to address environmental and economic concerns.

This bill would recognize the month of June as Portuguese Heritage Month.

This measure would declare May 2010 to be American Stroke Month in California and would urge all Californians to familiarize themselves with the risk factors, and to recognize the warning signs and symptoms associated with stroke, to help reduce the devastating effects of stroke on the population.

This measure would designate April 2010 as Autism Awareness Month, would affirm the Legislature's commitment to the important issues related to autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) , would emphasize that each and every individual with an ASD is a valued and important member of our society, would recognize and commend the parents and relatives of individuals with ASDs for their sacrifice and dedication in providing for the special needs of individuals with ASDs, would recognize and commend the work of all nonprofit organizations that are contributing to the well-being of individuals with autism and their families, and would stress the need to identify children with ASDs and to begin early intervention services immediately after a child has been diagnosed with an ASD.

This measure would urge the Congress and the President of the United States to adopt the Military Readiness Enhancement Act of 2009 (H.R. 1283) , which institutes a policy of nondiscrimination based on sexual orientation, and to repeal the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.