This measure would declare February 19, 2010, as a Day of Remembrance in order to increase public awareness of the events surrounding the internment of Americans of Japanese ancestry during World War II.
This measure would memorialize the President and the Congress of the United States to enact the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which would make supplemental appropriations for job preservation and creation, infrastructure investment, energy efficiency and science, assistance to the unemployed, and state and local fiscal stabilization.
Existing law establishes the partnership academies program as a school-business partnership program to provide occupational training to educationally disadvantaged high school pupils. Under existing law, the Superintendent of Public Instruction is required to award grants to school districts maintaining high schools to plan, establish, and maintain these partnership academies. Existing law requires the surcharge imposed on the consumption of electricity in the state to be transferred to the Energy Resources Programs Account in the General Fund, which is available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for ongoing energy programs and projects. This bill would require the Controller annually to allocate $8,000,000 from the Energy Resources Program Account, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Superintendent of Public Instruction for expenditure in the form of local grants to be allocated pursuant to the existing provisions for creating and maintaining partnership academies. The bill would require a grantee to implement or maintain a partnership academy that focuses on employment in clean technology businesses and renewable energy businesses and provides skilled workforces for the products and services for energy or water conservation, or both, renewable energy, pollution reduction, or other technologies. The bill would require the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission, in consultation with the State Department of Education, to develop guidelines, that would be exempted from the Administrative Procedure Act, to ensure that programs receiving grants reflect current state energy policies and priorities as well as provide skills and education linked to the needs of relevant industries. The bill would authorize a school district to apply for planning grants for implementing a partnership academy and would allow the Superintendent to expend up to 5% of the funds transferred to the Superintendent to pay the costs incurred in the administration of this program. The bill would require the State Department of Education in consultation with the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission to provide a report to the Legislature that includes a description of the curriculum and substance of the programs funded by grants awarded pursuant to these provisions, and specified data. The bill would provide that the bill's provisions would become inoperative on June 30, 2016, and, as of January 1, 2017, would repeal these provisions.
This measure would recognize February 2010 as Black History Month, urge all citizens to join in celebrating the accomplishments of African Americans during Black History Month, and encourage the people of California to recognize the many talents, achievements, and contributions that African Americans make to their communities.
Existing law provides unemployment compensation benefits to eligible persons who are unemployed through no fault of their own. Existing law, until January 1, 2015, provides for retraining benefits to eligible individuals pursuant to the federal Trade Act of 1974, as amended by the federal Trade Act of 2002. Existing law authorizes an unemployed individual who files a claim for unemployment compensation benefits or extended duration benefits, or an application for federal-state extended benefits or any federally funded unemployment compensation benefits, to apply to the Employment Development Department for benefits during a period of training or retraining. Existing law also requires that a determination of potential eligibility for specified training and retraining benefits be issued to an unemployed individual if the Director of Employment Development finds that specified conditions apply. This bill would establish the California Training Benefits Program, which, among other things, would revise those eligibility requirements to, instead, specify that an unemployed individual who qualifies for unemployment compensation benefits, extended duration benefits, or federal-state extended benefits or any federally funded unemployment compensation benefits, and applies for the program shall be deemed to automatically be eligible for the program during a period of training or retraining. Existing law requires that a determination of potential eligibility for training or retraining benefits be issued to an unemployed individual if the director makes a specified finding. This bill would, instead, require that a determination of automatic eligibility for training or retraining be issued to an unemployed individual if any of specified conditions apply. The bill would also require that, if training or retraining is not authorized under those provisions governing automatic eligibility for those benefits, a determination of potential eligibility for benefits be issued to the unemployed individual if the director finds that specified criteria apply. Existing law requires the department to inform all individuals who claim unemployment compensation benefits in this state of the benefits potentially available, and permits the department to convey this information verbally or in written form, as provided. This bill would, instead, require the department to convey that information verbally, in written form, or online, and would require that the information be made available on the department's Internet Web site in close proximity to information on unemployment compensation claim forms. This bill would provide that these changes are effective on January 1, 2011, unless the department determines that implementation by that date is not feasible, in which case it would require the department to implement the changes no later than July 1, 2011. Because the bill would make various changes to existing eligibility requirements for training and retraining benefits, which would result in additional amounts being payable from the Unemployment Fund for those benefits, the bill would make an appropriation. The bill would require the department, not later than September 1, 2016, to prepare and submit to the Governor and the Legislature a report evaluating the effectiveness of the program, containing data and information as prescribed.
Existing law provides for the professional review of specified healing arts licentiates through a peer review process conducted by peer review bodies, as defined. This bill would encourage a peer review body to obtain external peer review, as defined, for the evaluation or investigation of an applicant, privilegeholder, or member of the medical staff in specified circumstances. This bill would require a peer review body to respond to the request of another peer review body and produce the records reasonably requested concerning a licentiate under review, as specified. The bill would specify that the records produced pursuant to this provision are not subject to discovery, as specified, and may only be used for peer review purposes. Existing law requires the governing body of acute care hospitals to give great weight to the actions of peer review bodies and authorizes the governing body to direct the peer review body to investigate in specified instances. Where the peer review body fails to take action in response to that direction, existing law authorizes the governing body to take action against a licentiate. This bill would prohibit a member of a medical or professional staff from being required to alter or surrender staff privileges, status, or membership solely due to the termination of a contract between that member and a health care facility, except as specified. The bill would specify that a peer review body is entitled to review and make timely recommendations to the governing body of a health care facility, and its designee, if applicable, regarding quality considerations relating to clinical services when the selection, performance evaluation, or any change in the retention or replacement of licensees with whom the facility has a contract occurs. The bill would require the governing body to give great weight to those recommendations. Existing law provides various due process rights for licentiates who are the subject of a final proposed disciplinary action of a peer review body, including authorizing a licensee to request a hearing concerning that action. Under existing law, the hearing must be held before either an arbitrator selected by a process mutually acceptable to the licensee and the peer review body or a panel of unbiased individuals, as specified. Existing law prohibits a hearing officer presiding at a hearing held before a panel from, among other things, gaining direct financial benefit from the outcome. This bill would additionally require the hearing officer to be an attorney licensed in California, except as specified, and to disclose all actual and potential conflicts of interest, as specified. The bill would specify that the hearing officer is entitled to determine the procedure for presenting evidence and argument and would give the hearing officer authority to make all rulings pertaining to law, procedure, or the admissibility of evidence. The bill would authorize the hearing officer to recommend termination of the hearing in certain circumstances. Existing law requires the peer review body to adopt written provisions governing whether a licensee may be represented by an attorney and prohibits a peer review body from being represented by an attorney where a licensee is not so represented, except as specified. This bill would give both parties the right to be represented by an attorney but would prohibit a peer review body from being represented if the licensee notifies the peer review body within a specified period of time that he or she has elected to not be represented, except as specified.
Existing law, the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975, provides for the licensure and regulation of health care service plans by the Department of Managed Health Care, and makes a willful violation of its provisions a crime. Existing law also provides for the regulation of health insurers by the Department of Insurance. Existing law requires contracts between plans or insurers and providers to be fair and reasonable and requires plans and insurers to reimburse a claim for covered services within a specified period of time of receiving the claim. This bill would, with respect to a contract between a health care service plan, specialized health care service plan, or insurer covering dental services and a dentist to provide dental services to enrollees or insureds, prohibit the contract from requiring a dentist to accept an amount set by the plan or insurer as payment for dental care services provided to an enrollee or insured that are not covered services under the enrollee's contract or the insured's policy. The bill would also prohibit a provider from charging more than his or her usual and customary rate for dental services not covered under a health care service plan contract or health insurance policy. The bill would require the evidence of coverage and disclosure form for a plan contract or health insurance policy covering dental services that is issued, amended, or renewed on or after July 1, 2011, to contain a specified statement regarding noncovered services. Because a willful violation of these requirements by a health care service plan would be a crime, 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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Existing law, the California High-Speed Rail Act, creates the High-Speed Rail Authority to develop and implement a high-speed rail system in the state, with specified powers and duties. Existing law, pursuant to the Safe, Reliable High-Speed Passenger Train Bond Act for the 21st Century, approved by the voters as Proposition 1A at the November 4, 2008, general election, provides for the issuance of $9.95 billion in general obligation bonds for high-speed rail and related purposes. The federal Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (PRIIA) and the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) provide funding for allocation nationally to high-speed rail projects. This bill would require federal high-speed rail funds received on a reimbursement basis from ARRA to be deposited in the federal trust fund. The bill would require certain ARRA funds to be used for planning and engineering, and for capital costs, for the high-speed train system consistent with federal law and regulations and specified provisions of SB 965 of the 2009–10 Regular Session. The bill would identify the corridors eligible for federal PRIIA funds. The above provisions would become operative only if SB 965 is also enacted and becomes operative. Existing law provides for appointment of an executive director by the authority, who is exempt from civil service and serves at the pleasure of the authority. Under existing law, the salary of the executive director is established by the authority and approved by the Department of Personnel Administration. This bill, for purposes of managing and administering the ongoing work of the authority in implementing the high-speed rail project, would authorize the Governor, upon recommendation of the executive director and subject to an appropriation, to appoint up to 6 additional executive staff exempt from civil service who would serve in specified positions at the pleasure of the executive director. The bill would require the authority to cause a salary survey to be conducted to determine the compensation for the executive director and additional exempt staff, and would require the salaries to be approved by the Department of Personnel Administration. The bill would state the intent of the Legislature to approve additional positions at the authority for purposes of creating an Office for Project Controls and Risk Management in the authority.
This bill would eliminate the requirement of residence with the plaintiff. (1) Existing law provides that a hearing on a petition for a civil harassment or workplace violence restraining order must be held within 15 days from the date a temporary restraining order is issued, or within 21 days, if good cause appears to the court. This bill would provide that a hearing on a petition for a civil harassment or workplace violence restraining order must be held within 21 days from the date a temporary restraining order is granted or denied, or within 25 days, if good cause appears to the court. (2) Existing law requires the court to order the plaintiff, or his or her attorney, to deliver a copy of each civil harassment, workplace violence, or elder or dependent adult abuse restraining order to specified law enforcement agencies within one business day. Existing law requires the Department of Justice to maintain a statewide telecommunications system, entitled the California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System, for use by law enforcement agencies. This bill would provide that courts may alternately transmit these orders to law enforcement for entry into the California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (CLETS) , or enter the order directly into CLETS with the approval of the Department of Justice. (3) Existing law provides that an elder or dependent adult who has suffered abuse may seek a protective order. This bill would allow an action to be brought on behalf of an elder or dependent adult by a conservator or by specified other authorized persons. (4) Existing law authorizes a court, on a showing of good cause, to include in a civil harassment restraining order other named family or household members who reside with the plaintiff. (5) This bill also would make technical and conforming changes to those provisions of law that govern the issuance of protective orders.
(1) Existing law, the Veterinary Medicine Practice Act, provides for the licensure and registration of veterinarians and registered veterinary technicians and the regulation of the practice of veterinary medicine by the Veterinary Medical Board and makes a violation of the act a crime. Under existing law, the board consists of 7 members, 3 of whom are public members and 4 of whom are licensed veterinarians. Existing law makes the provisions establishing the board, and authorizing the board to appoint an executive officer, inoperative as of July 1, 2011, and repealed as of January 1, 2012. This bill would add one registered veterinary technician to the board, to be appointed by the Governor, and would make the provisions establishing the board and authorizing it to appoint an executive officer inoperative and repealed on January 1, 2014. (2) Existing law requires the board to appoint a voluntary, advisory multidisciplinary committee to assist, advise, and make recommendations for the implementation of rules and regulations necessary to ensure proper administration and enforcement of the act. Existing law makes the provision establishing this committee inoperative on July 1, 2011, and repealed as of January 1, 2012. This bill would eliminate those inoperative and repeal dates, thereby making the committee operative indefinitely. The bill would name the committee the Veterinary Medicine Multidisciplinary Advisory Committee, would eliminate its voluntary nature, and would require it to also assist the board in its examination, licensure, and registration programs. The bill would prescribe the committee's composition and would require members to serve 3-year terms, as specified. The bill would authorize the board to remove a member of the committee for continued neglect of duty, incompetency, or unprofessional conduct. (3) Existing law requires the board to establish the tasks that may be performed by a registered veterinary technician and requires a person performing those tasks to be registered by the board. This bill would provide an exemption from those provisions for specified veterinary technology students. The bill would also prohibit a person from using the title "registered veterinary technician" or "veterinary technician," or any other words, letters, or symbols with the intent to represent that the person is authorized to act as a registered veterinary technician, unless he or she has met certain requirements. Because a violation of this requirement would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing law requires the board to establish an advisory committee on issues pertaining to the practice of veterinary technicians known as the Registered Veterinary Technician Committee. The bill would make the Registered Veterinary Technician Committee inoperative as of the July 1 following the initial appointment of a registered veterinary technician to the board. (4) Existing law authorizes an unregistered assistant to operate radiographic equipment under the direct supervision of a registered veterinary technician or a licensed veterinarian. This bill would require an unregistered assistant to be trained in the area of radiation safety and techniques in order to operate radiographic equipment under the direct supervision of a registered veterinary technician or licensed veterinarian and would require the responsible managing licensee of a veterinary premises to maintain records of that training. Because a violation of this requirement would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (5) Existing law requires the attending or on-call veterinarian at a rodeo event to submit a brief written listing of any animal injury requiring veterinary treatment to the board within 48 hours of the conclusion of the event. This bill would add that reporting requirement to the Veterinary Medicine Practice Act and would also require any other veterinarian to report to the board within 7 days of rendering treatment to an animal known to be injured at a rodeo event. The bill would require the report to consist of specified information and would require the board to post a form on its Internet Web site for purposes of this requirement. Because a violation of these reporting requirements under the Veterinary Medicine Practice Act would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (6) Existing law exempts certain healing arts practitioners from liability for specified services rendered during a state of war, state of emergency, or local emergency. This bill would exempt veterinarians and registered veterinary technicians for services rendered to animals during a state of war, state of emergency, or local emergency. (7) 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.
