Asm. Liz Ortega

Existing law requires each participating community college to provide a Student Success Completion Grant award to a student attending a community college if the student receives a Cal Grant B or C award, makes satisfactory academic progress, and is a California resident or is exempt from paying nonresident tuition. Existing law awards $1,298 per semester, or the quarterly equivalent, for eligible students who enroll in 12, 13, or 14 units per semester, or the quarterly equivalent number of units, awards $4,000 per semester, or the quarterly equivalent, for eligible students who enroll in 15 units per semester, or the quarterly equivalent number of units, and, commencing with the 2023–24 academic year, awards $5,250 per semester, or the quarterly equivalent, to eligible students who are current or former foster youth who enroll in 12 or more units per semester, or the quarterly equivalent number of units. This bill would require each participating community college to also award $1,298 per semester, or the quarterly equivalent, to eligible students who enroll in 9 or more units per semester, or the quarterly equivalent number of units, who are considered full-time as part of a disabled student programs and services Academic Accommodation Plan, as described.

Existing law provides for the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program, under which each county provides cash assistance and other benefits to qualified low-income families and individuals. Existing law provides for homeless assistance to a homeless family seeking shelter when the family is eligible for CalWORKs aid, including a nonrecurring special needs benefit for permanent housing assistance to pay for last month's rent and security deposits if these payments are conditions of securing a residence, or to pay for up to 2 months of rent arrearages, if these payments are a reasonable condition of preventing eviction. Existing law prohibits the last month's rent or monthly arrearage portion of the payment from exceeding 80% of the family's total monthly household income without the value of CalFresh benefits or special needs benefit for a family of that size, and requires it be made to families that have found permanent housing costing no more than 80% of the family's total monthly household income without the value of CalFresh benefits or special needs benefit for a family of that size. This bill, beginning January 1, 2026, or when specified automation processes are available, and for purposes of determining the family's total monthly household income for the permanent housing assistance, would require the county human services agency to include any amount that is regularly received or will be regularly received from other government and nonprofit housing and homeless subsidy programs and any regularly received private support intended or designed to help the family with housing. By imposing additional duties on counties, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing law continuously appropriates moneys from the General Fund to defray a portion of county costs under the CalWORKs program. This bill would instead provide that the continuous appropriation would not be made for purposes of implementing these provisions. 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 the statutory provisions noted above.

Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed by, and funded pursuant to, federal Medicaid program provisions. Under existing law, incontinence medical supplies are covered by the Medi-Cal program. This bill would establish diapers as a covered Medi-Cal benefit for a child greater than 3 years of age who has been diagnosed with a condition, as specified, that contributes to incontinence, and for an individual under 21 years of age if necessary to correct or ameliorate a condition pursuant to certain federal standards. The bill would limit the provided diapers to an appropriate supply based on the diagnosed condition and the age of the Medi-Cal beneficiary. The bill would require the department to seek any necessary federal approvals to implement these provisions. The bill would condition implementation of these provisions on receipt of any necessary federal approvals, the availability of federal financial participation, and an appropriation by the Legislature.

Existing law authorizes the operation of an autonomous vehicle on public roads for testing purposes by a driver who possesses the proper class of license for the type of vehicle operated if specified requirements are satisfied. Existing law prohibits the operation of an autonomous vehicle on public roads until the manufacturer submits an application to the Department of Motor Vehicles, as specified, and that application is approved. This bill would require a manufacturer of an autonomous vehicle to report to the department a collision on a public road that involved one of its autonomous vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of 10,001 pounds or more that is operating under a testing or deployment permit that resulted in damage of property, bodily injury, or death within 10 days of the collision. The bill would require a manufacturer of an autonomous vehicle to annually submit to the department specified information regarding the deactivation of the autonomous mode for its autonomous vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of 10,001 pounds or more that were operating under a testing or deployment permit that authorized the vehicle to operate on public roads. The bill would prohibit the operation of an autonomous vehicle with a gross vehicle weight of 10,001 pounds or more on public roads for testing purposes, transporting goods, or transporting passengers without a human safety operator physically present in the autonomous vehicle at the time of operation. The bill would require the Department of Motor Vehicles, by January 1, 2030, or 5 years after commencement of testing, whichever occurs later, and upon appropriation by the Legislature, to submit a report to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature evaluating the performance of autonomous vehicle technology and its impact on public safety and employment in the transportation sector for autonomous vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of 10,001 pounds or more. The bill would require the Department of the California Highway Patrol, the Labor and Workforce Development Agency, the Department of Transportation, the State Air Resources Board, and other relevant state agencies to provide additional information needed to research the report.

Existing law, the California Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1973, imposes safety responsibilities on employers and employees, including the requirement that an employer establish, implement, and maintain an effective injury prevention program, and makes specified violations of these provisions a crime. Existing law also requires the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board to adopt standards developed by the Division of Occupational Safety and Health that require specified types of hospitals to adopt a workplace violence prevention plan as part of the hospital's injury and illness prevention plan to protect health care workers and other facility personnel from aggressive and violent behavior. This bill would require the standards board, by March 1, 2027, to amend the standards to include a requirement that a hospital implement a weapons detection screening policy that requires the use of weapons detection devices that automatically screen a person's body at specific entrances of the hospital, a requirement that a hospital assign appropriate personnel who meet specified training standards, a requirement that a hospital have reasonable protocols for alternative search and screening for patients, family, or visitors who refuse to undergo weapons detection device screening, and a requirement that a hospital adopt reasonable protocols addressing how the hospital will respond if a dangerous weapon is detected, as specified. Among other provisions, the bill would require that the standards include a requirement that a hospital post, in a conspicuous location, within reasonable proximity of any public entrances where weapons detection devices are utilized, a notice notifying the public that the hospital conducts screenings for weapons upon entry but that no person shall be refused medical care, pursuant to specified federal law. The bill would require the Division of Occupational Safety and Health to set an effective date that is no longer than 90 days after the standard is adopted for hospitals to comply with these requirements. By expanding the scope of an existing 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 establishes the Department of General Services within the Government Operations Agency and charges it with various duties regarding contracting for the acquisition of goods and services by state agencies. Existing law further requires state agencies to comply with specified procedures in awarding agency contracts. Existing law prohibits a state agency authorized to enter into contracts relating to public benefit programs from contracting for services provided by a call center that directly serves applicants for, recipients of, or enrollees in, those public benefit programs with a contractor or subcontractor unless that contractor or subcontractor certifies in its bid for the contract that the contract, and any subcontract performed under that contract, will be performed solely with workers employed in California. This bill would require each state agency, on and after January 1, 2025, that enters into a contract with a private entity solely for call center work to provide public or customer service for that agency or another state agency to provide a report to the Department of General Services containing certain information about the number of total jobs that will be located within California and outside the state, subject to specified exceptions. The bill would further require the department to maintain a master list of contracts that are subject to these provisions and an aggregate number of jobs, and to make that list available, upon request, to any member of the public.

Existing law establishes the California State University, under the administration of the Trustees of the California State University, the University of California, under the administration of the Regents of the University of California, the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, and independent institutions of higher education, as defined, as 4 segments of postsecondary education in the state. This bill would establish the Designation of California Black-Serving Institutions to recognize campuses of these segments that excel at providing academic resources to Black and African American students. The bill would establish a governing board composed of certain members to approve or deny initial and renewal applications to receive this designation. The bill would designate the California State University Statewide Central Office for the Advancement of Black Excellence as the managing entity and would require it to act as a neutral administrative body tasked with, among other duties, developing the application processes and processing and presenting applications to the governing board, as specified. The bill would make an initial and renewal award for this designation valid for 5 years.

Existing law regulates certain contracts for artistic employment between an unemancipated minor and third parties, including employment as an actor, dancer, musician, comedian, singer, stuntperson, voice-over artist, or other performer or entertainer, or sports participant. Existing law provides for the establishment of a trust for the purpose of preserving for the benefit of the minor 15% of the minor's gross earnings. This bill would require a vlogger, as defined, to compensate a minor under 18 years of age if the minor is engaged in the work of vlogging, as specified. The bill would require the vlogger to set aside gross earnings on the content in a trust account to be preserved for the benefit of the minor, as specified. The bill would also require the vlogger to prepare a written statement, under penalty of perjury, that includes specified information relating to the trust account. By expanding the scope of the crime of perjury, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would require the vlogger to maintain records, including, among others, the number of vlogs that generated compensation and the amount deposited into the trust account, and to provide them to the minor upon request. The bill would authorize the minor to enforce these provisions in court. The bill would require that these provisions do not apply to a contract for vlogging services between a minor and their parent or guardian only if a court approves the contract, as specified. 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.

Under existing law, human trafficking is a crime and law enforcement officers who are assigned field and investigative duties are required to complete minimum training pertaining to the handling of human trafficking complaints. Existing law generally provides support services for individuals who are survivors of human trafficking, including public social services and address confidentiality, as specified. Existing law establishes the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training to prescribe selection and training standards for peace officers. Existing law requires the commission to develop training curriculum in specified areas and to develop model policies that may be used by local law enforcement agencies, including model policies for investigations of missing persons, elder and dependent adult abuse, and hate crimes. This bill would require the commission to, by no later than June 1, 2026, develop guidelines for interacting with survivors of human trafficking. The bill would require each law enforcement agency to, by no later than December 1, 2026, adopt a written policy for interacting with survivors of human trafficking based on the guidelines developed by the commission. By requiring local agencies to adopt a new policy, 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 the statutory provisions noted above.

Existing law requires the State Department of Public Health to maintain a program of maternal and child health, which may include, among other things, facilitating services directed toward reducing infant mortality and improving the health of mothers and children. Existing law requires the Office of Health Equity within the department to serve as a resource for ensuring that programs collect and keep data and information regarding ethnic and racial health statistics, and strategies and programs that address multicultural health issues, including, but not limited to, infant and maternal mortality. Existing law makes legislative findings relating to implicit bias and racial disparities in maternal mortality rates. Existing law requires a hospital that provides perinatal care, and an alternative birth center or a primary clinic that provides services as an alternative birth center, to implement an evidence-based implicit bias program, as specified, for all health care providers involved in perinatal care of patients within those facilities. Existing law requires the health care provider to complete initial basic training through the program and a refresher course every 2 years thereafter, or on a more frequent basis if deemed necessary by the facility. Existing law requires the facility to provide a certificate of training completion upon request, to accept certificates of completion from other facilities, and to offer training to physicians not directly employed by the facility. Existing law requires the department to track and publish data on pregnancy-related death and severe maternal morbidity, as specified. This bill would make a legislative finding that the Legislature recognizes all birthing people, including nonbinary persons and persons of transgender experience. The bill would extend the evidence-based implicit bias training requirements to specified health care providers at hospitals that provide perinatal care, alternative birth centers, or primary care clinics, as specified. The bill would require an implicit bias program to include recognition of intersecting identities and the potential associated biases. The bill would require initial basic training for the implicit bias program to be completed by June 1, 2025, for current health care providers, and within 6 months of their start date for new health care providers, unless exempted. The bill would require specified facilities to, by February 1 of each year, commencing in 2026, provide the Attorney General with proof of compliance with these provisions, as specified. The bill would authorize the Attorney General to pursue civil penalties for violations of these provisions, as specified. The bill would require that Attorney General be awarded all attorney's fees and costs in any civil action in which a court imposes any of those civil penalties. The bill would authorize the Attorney General to post on its internet website a list of facilities that did not timely submit proof of compliance or were assessed penalties under these provisions, as specified. The bill would authorize the Attorney General to post any other compliance data they deem necessary and would authorize the Attorney General to biennially publish a report outlining compliance data related to these provisions. The bill would make the provisions of the act severable.