Asm. Wesley Chesbro

This resolution would recognize the month of January 2012, and each following January, as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and it would recognize February 1, 2012, and each following February 1, as California's Free From Slavery Day.

Existing law encourages and authorizes all state agencies to cooperate with federally recognized California Indian tribes on matters of economic development and improvement for the tribes. This bill would establish the position of Tribal Advisor in the Governor's office, to be appointed by the Governor. The bill would set forth the duties of the Tribal Advisor. The bill would additionally require every state agency and department to communicate and consult with California Indian tribes, as specified.

The Z'Berg-Nejedly Forest Practice Act of 1973 prohibits a person from conducting timber operations unless a timber harvesting plan prepared by a registered professional forester has been submitted to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The Forest Practice Act of 1973 provides that the Director of Forestry and Fire Protection has the final authority to determine whether a timber harvesting plan conforms with rules and regulations pertaining to timber harvesting. This bill would require the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency to convene a timber harvest working group to consider how to improve the health of California's forests, continuing California's commitment to the environment, and supporting the state's climate and energy goals. The working group would be composed of representatives from environmental organizations and the timber industry, and the chairperson and vice chairperson of certain legislative committees. The bill would authorize the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency to designate one or more individuals representing the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the Department of Fish and Game, the California Coastal Commission, the California Geological Survey, and the State Water Resources Control Board to serve on the working group. The bill would require the working group, on or before June 1, 2013, to report its recommendations to the Legislature.

The Sherman Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Law makes it unlawful to manufacture, sell, deliver, hold, or offer for sale, any food that is misbranded. Food is misbranded if its labeling does not conform to specified federal labeling requirements regarding nutrition, nutrient content or health claims, and food allergens. Violation of this law is a misdemeanor. This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to require the labeling of all genetically engineered salmon entering and sold within the state. This bill would provide that food is misbranded if the food is a genetically engineered fish or fish product, as defined, and its labeling does not conspicuously identify the fish or fish product as genetically engineered. This bill would make related findings. By changing the definition of a 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.

Existing law requires various state agencies to administer programs relating to water supply, water quality, and flood management in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. This bill would prohibit the construction of a peripheral canal, as defined, that conveys water from a diversion point in the Sacramento River to a location south of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, unless expressly authorized by the Legislature. The bill would require the Legislative Analyst's Office to complete an economic feasibility analysis prior to the enactment of a statute authorizing the construction of a peripheral canal. The bill would prohibit the construction and operation of a peripheral canal from diminishing or negatively affecting the water supplies, water rights, or quality of water for water users within the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta watershed, or imposing any new burdens on infrastructure within, or financial burdens on persons residing in, the Delta or the Delta watershed.

Existing law provides that, when a child is removed from his or her family by the juvenile court, placement of the child in foster care should secure, as nearly as possible, the custody, care, and discipline equivalent to that which should have been given the child by his or her parents. Existing law provides enumerated rights for children who are placed in foster care. Existing law establishes the Office of the State Foster Care Ombudsperson to disseminate specified information, including the stated rights of foster youth, and to investigate and attempt to resolve complaints made by or on behalf of children placed in foster care, related to their care, placement, or services. This bill would enumerate rights for foster youth relating to mental health services. The bill would require the office, in consultation with various entities, to develop, no later than July 1, 2012, standardized information explaining the rights specified and to distribute this information to foster youth.

The Vehicle License Fee Law, in lieu of any ad valorem property tax upon vehicles, imposes an annual license fee for any vehicle subject to registration in this state in the amount of 1% of the market value of that vehicle, as provided, for a specified amount of time. Existing law also, until June 30, 2011, imposes an additional tax equal to 0.15% of the market value of specified vehicles, as determined by the Department of Motor Vehicles, to the vehicle license fee, to be deposited in the General Fund and transferred to the Local Safety and Protection Account, a continuously appropriated fund. This bill would repeal the provision relating to the sunset date and repeal of the additional 0.15% tax, thereby depositing additional moneys into a continuously appropriated fund. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

Existing law, the California Safe Drinking Water Act, provides for the operation of public water systems, and requires the State Department of Public Health to adopt regulations for these purposes, as prescribed. Under existing law, regulations adopted by the department are required to include requirements governing the use of point-of-entry and point-of-use treatment by public water systems in lieu of centralized treatment, as provided. Existing law authorizes the department to develop limited emergency regulations governing the permitted use of point-of-entry and point-of-use treatment by public water systems in lieu of centralized treatment and requires that these emergency regulations remain in effect until the earlier of January 1, 2014, or the effective date of the required nonemergency regulations. Existing law limits these regulations to public water systems with less than 200 service connections. This bill would, instead, limit these regulations to public water systems with less than 2,500 service connections and would permit the emergency regulations to remain in effect until the earlier of January 1, 2016, or the effective date of the required nonemergency regulations.

Existing law provides for the establishment and operation of the Veterans' Home of California at various sites for aged and disabled veterans who meet certain eligibility requirements. Existing law requires members of the homes to pay fees and charges as determined by the department, but prohibit the total of the member's fees and charges for specified types of care for any fiscal year to be greater than a certain percentage of the member's annual income. This bill would instead require the member's fees and charges for any fiscal year be the lesser of a percentage of the member's annual income or a flat amount. This bill would also, beginning January 1, 2012, and each year thereafter, require the flat amount to be recalculated to reflect any changes in the VA disability compensation, as specified, from the previous year.