Asm. Wesley Chesbro

This measure would encourage state and federal agencies with jurisdiction over forest resource management to collaborate across jurisdictions with regard to landscape-scale efforts to maintain and restore California's forests to protect the state's natural resources and water supply for future generations.

Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of residential care facilities for the elderly, as defined, by the State Department of Social Services, including, among other things, regulation of fees and charges. Existing law requires the admission agreement for a residential care facility for the elderly to contain specified elements. Under existing law, a violation of any of these provisions is punishable as a misdemeanor. This bill would prohibit a residential care facility for the elderly from requiring advance notice for terminating an admission agreement upon the death of a resident, would prohibit the accrual of any fees once all personal property of the deceased is removed from the facility, and would prohibit the facility from impeding the removal of a deceased resident's personal property, as specified. The bill would require a residential care facility for the elderly to issue a refund of any fees paid in advance, covering the time after a deceased resident's personal property has been removed, within 15 days of that property being removed. The bill would also require a residential care facility for the elderly to, within 3 days of becoming aware of a resident's death, provide written notice to specified persons of the facility's policies regarding contract termination at death and refunds, and to include in the admission agreement the conditions under which those refunds will be issued. The bill would exempt from these provisions fees charged by a continuing care equity project or amounts deducted from entrance fee refunds or repayment, as defined. By creating a new crime, 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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

This measure would acknowledge that the State of California made a grievous mistake that injured loyal employees who were dedicated to serving the people of California when it dismissed over 300 Americans of Japanese ancestry as a result of Senate Concurrent Resolution 15 (SCR 15) of 1942 by Senator John Swan. This measure would resolve to issue a public apology to the state civil service employees who were dismissed.

This bill would recognize June 25, 2013, and every June 25th thereafter as United States Korean War Veterans Day.

Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of health facilities, including skilled nursing facilities, by the State Department of Public Health. Existing law requires the State Department of Health Care Services to contract with skilled nursing facilities that have been designated by the State Department of State Hospitals as institutions for mental disease to provide services to the residents. Under existing law, as long as contracts require institutions for mental disease to continue to be licensed as skilled nursing facilities, they are reimbursed at a specified rate. Existing law requires that rate to increase by 4.7% annually. This bill would, effective July 1, 2014, require the reimbursement rate for services in those institutions for mental disease to increase by 3.5% annually.

Existing law provides for 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 establishes an Administrative Claiming process under which local governmental agencies and local educational consortia contract with the department for the purpose of obtaining federal matching funds to assist with the performance of administrative activities relating to the Medi-Cal program. Under existing law, a participating local governmental agency may include a Native American Indian tribe, a tribal organization, or a subgroup of a Native American Indian tribe or tribal organization. This bill would authorize a Native American Indian tribe, a tribal organization, or a subgroup of a Native American Indian tribe or tribal organization to claim, as a Medi-Cal Administrative Activity, facilitating Medi-Cal applications, which includes, but is not limited to, using the California Healthcare Eligibility, Enrollment, and Retention System. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

This measure would recognize the month of September every year as California Native American Heritage Month, would encourage Californians to participate in appropriate observances that celebrate and commemorate California Native Americans, and would applaud and encourage the observance of California Indian Nations for their outstanding contributions to this state.

This measure would recognize the month of September 2013, and each September thereafter, as Sickle Cell Anemia Awareness Month in California, and would urge the Congress of the United States to support the President's continuation of funding for sickle cell anemia centers and research and to make sickle cell anemia and other genetic hemoglobin disorders a public health priority.

This measure would designate November 2013 as California Sikh American Awareness and Appreciation Month. It would recognize and acknowledge the significant contributions made by Californians of Sikh heritage to the state and afford all Californians the opportunity to understand, recognize, and appreciate the rich history and shared principles of Sikh Americans.