Asm. Joe Coto

Existing law authorizes a local, special, or consolidated election to be conducted as an all-mailed ballot election, so long as specified conditions are satisfied. This bill would authorize as a pilot program, until December 31, 2016, elections in Yolo and Santa Clara Counties, other than statewide primary or general elections or special elections to fill a vacancy in a state office, the Legislature, or Congress, to be conducted as all-mailed ballot elections if specified conditions are satisfied.

Existing law prohibits a pawnbroker from charging or receiving compensation at a rate exceeding 2.5% per month on that portion of the unpaid principal balance of any loan up to, including, but not in excess of $225. For other loan amounts, existing law prohibits a pawnbroker from charging or receiving compensation at a rate exceeding specified amounts based upon the unpaid principal balance of the loan. A knowing violation of the laws regulating pawnbrokers is a crime. This bill would revise these limits on pawnbroker compensation and would instead prohibit a pawnbroker from charging or receiving compensation at a rate exceeding 2.5% per month on the unpaid principal balance of any loan. Because a knowing violation of this bill's provisions 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 relating to the administration of personal income taxes authorizes individual taxpayers to contribute amounts in excess of their tax liability for the support of specified funds or accounts. This bill would allow individual taxpayers to designate on their tax returns, that a specified amount in excess of their tax liability be transferred to the Safely Surrendered Baby Fund, which would be created by this bill. This bill would provide that all moneys contributed to the fund, upon appropriation by the Legislature, be allocated to the Franchise Tax Board and the Controller for reimbursement of costs, as provided, and to the State Department of Social Services for programs to increase public awareness and outreach regarding the Safely Surrendered Baby Law, as specified. This bill would provide that these voluntary contribution provisions are repealed on either January 1 of the 5th taxable year following the taxable year the fund first appears on the personal income tax return or on January 1 of an earlier calendar year, if the Franchise Tax Board estimates that the annual contribution amount will be less than $250,000, or an adjusted amount, as specified, for subsequent taxable years.

Existing law establishes the Office of Problem and Pathological Gambling within the State Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs, and sets forth it duties relating to prevention and control of problem and pathological gambling, as defined. This bill would require the prevention program developed by the office to include development of education and awareness programs that specifically target geographically diverse multicultural populations, and would require the office to develop a grant program for education, outreach, and prevention, giving preferences to grant applications that meet prescribed conditions.

The federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) , provides $4.3 billion for the State Incentive Grant Fund (Race to the Top Fund) , which is a competitive grant program designed to encourage and reward states that are implementing specified educational reforms in 4 specified areas: (1) achieving equity in teacher distribution, (2) improving collection and use of data, (3) implementing standards and assessments, and (4) supporting struggling schools. The ARRA requires a Governor to apply on behalf of a state seeking a Race to the Top grant, and requires the application to include specified information. The federal Secretary of Education has issued proposed regulations for the Race to the Top Fund. This bill would require the Governor, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and the President of the State Board of Education to ensure that California's application for a grant under the Race to the Top Fund includes specified provisions, including, among others, a limit on the amount of grant funds that may be used for expenditures that occur at the State Department of Education and county offices of education, and for administrative costs of local educational agencies. The bill would require the application to include the 4 core elements identified in the Multiple Pathways approach to school reform, as specified. The bill would require participating local educational agencies, no later than January 1, 2011, to have their governing bodies approve an alternative performance-based incentive compensation package for certificated staff and school administrators, as specified. The bill would require the application to include provisions for the closure of failing schools, beginning in July 2012, and to include a commitment from the State Department of Education to have proposed a new, transparent process for funding California pupils based on a weighted formula. The bill would require the application to include provisions to redesign statewide tests, as specified.

Under existing law, unemployment compensation benefits are based on wages paid in a base period that is calculated according to the month within which the benefit year begins. This bill would, for new claims filed on or after January 1, 2010, for which a valid claim or benefit year cannot be established under the currently defined base periods, establish alternative base periods, as provided. This bill would also require a claimant to submit specified information regarding wages to the Employment Development Department via an affidavit, under specified conditions. Because this measure would increase the amount of unemployment compensation paid, it would make an additional amount payable from the Unemployment Fund, a continuously appropriated special fund, and thereby would make an appropriation. Because this measure would require specified information to be submitted to the Employment Development Department on an affidavit, the submission of which, if false, is a misdemeanor under existing law, it would impose a state-mandated 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. The California Constitution authorizes the Governor to declare a fiscal emergency and to call the Legislature into special session for that purpose. The Governor issued a proclamation declaring a fiscal emergency, and calling a special session for this purpose, on December 19, 2008. This bill would state that it addresses the fiscal emergency declared by the Governor by proclamation issued on December 19, 2008, pursuant to the California Constitution.

(1) Existing law requires the State Air Resources Board to adopt procedures for determining the compliance of any system designed for the control of gasoline vapor emissions during gasoline marketing operations, including storage and transfer operations, and additional performance standards to ensure that systems for the control of gasoline vapors from motor vehicle fueling operations do not cause excessive spillage and emissions. Existing law prohibits the state board from requiring a gasoline dispensing facility that meets certain requirements from undergoing an Enhanced Vapor Recovery Phase II upgrade until April 1, 2011. This bill would exempt a gasoline dispensing facility that does not meet these requirements from penalties for failing to undergo an Enhanced Vapor Recovery Phase II upgrade until April 1, 2010. (2) The California Constitution authorizes the Governor to declare a fiscal emergency and to call the Legislature into special session for that purpose. The Governor issued a proclamation declaring a fiscal emergency, and calling a special session for this purpose, on December 19, 2008. This bill would state that it addresses the fiscal emergency declared by the Governor by proclamation issued on December 19, 2008, pursuant to the California Constitution.

Under existing law, 2 or more public agencies may enter into an agreement to jointly exercise any power common to the contracting parties, as specified. This bill would provide that the Santa Clara Stadium Authority, a joint powers agency formed by the City of Santa Clara and the Redevelopment Agency of the City of Santa Clara, has the authority to acquire, finance, construct, manage, maintain, and operate a stadium and related facilities suitable for use by a professional football team, in addition to the powers common to the city and the redevelopment agency. The bill prohibits the redevelopment agency from expending property tax increment revenues to operate or maintain the stadium. This bill would authorize the Santa Clara Stadium Authority to let a design-build contract without utilizing a competitive bid process for the stadium construction project, if, among other requirements, a ballot measure endorsing the development of a stadium suitable for use by a professional football team is approved by voters in a citywide election, the design-build contract does not require expenditures from the general fund of the City of Santa Clara, and the design-build contract is not funded by contributions from the Redevelopment Agency of the City of Santa Clara or a community facilities district except as provided in the bill. The bill would provide that redevelopment agency funds and community facilities district funds may be used to fund subcontracts awarded pursuant to a competitive bidding process established by the joint powers agency. This bill would provide that for state highway improvement projects deemed necessary by the Department of Transportation based on the construction and maintenance of the stadium, the department is the responsible agency for project development services, as specified.

(1) The Santa Clara Valley Water District Act establishes the Santa Clara Valley Water District and specifies its powers and purposes relating to water supply and flood management. The act requires the board of the district, until January 1, 2010, to consist of 2 directors who are appointed and 5 directors who are elected in accordance with specified procedures. The act requires the board of directors, on and after January 1, 2010, to consist of 5 directors who are elected in accordance with specified procedures. This bill would repeal certain provisions of the act relating to the board of the district. The bill would revise the composition of the board of the district by requiring the board to transition to an all-elected board that, on and after noon on December 3, 2010, consists of 7 directors who are elected pursuant to specified requirements. The board also would be required to adopt a resolution establishing the boundaries of the 7 electoral districts. By imposing requirements on the district, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (2) The act requires the board of the district, on or before June 15 of each year, to meet at the time and place designated by published notice, at which meeting any member of the public may appear to be heard regarding any item in the proposed budget. This bill would require the board to review its financial reserves and its reserve management policy at this meeting. The bill would require the directors who serve on the board to comply with various requirements relating to the activities of persons who lobby the district, contract bidding, severance pay, travel reimbursement, and other matters. The bill would require the district to make available to the public specified reports prepared by district staff for the board. These requirements on the district would impose a state-mandated local program. (3) The act authorizes the district to impose special taxes at minimum rates according to land use category and size. The act authorizes the district to provide an exemption from these taxes for residential parcels owned and occupied by one or more taxpayers who are at least 65 years of age and meet a specified total household income limit. This bill would extend the exemption to an otherwise qualified taxpayer who qualifies as totally disabled under the federal Social Security Act. (4) 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 authorizes the Commission on Teacher Credentialing, among other things, to establish professional standards, assessments, and examinations for entry and advancement in the education process. The commission is authorized to issue an eminence credential to any person who has achieved eminence in a field of endeavor taught, or service practiced, in the public schools of California. This bill would require the commission, upon recommendation by a tribal government of a federally recognized Indian tribe in California, to issue an American Indian languages credential to a candidate who has demonstrated fluency in that tribal language, and met other requirements. The bill would authorize the holder of an American Indian languages credential to teach the American Indian language for which the credential was issued in California public schools in preschool, kindergarten, grades 1 to 12, inclusive, and in adult education courses, and would make the holder of that credential eligible for a professional clear teaching credential upon completion of a specified period of time and application and consultation as specified. The bill would encourage each federally recognized American Indian tribe to develop a written and oral assessment that should be successfully completed before an applicant is recommended for an American Indian languages credential.