Asm. Esmeralda Soria

Maddy summaryACR 10 designates January 13, 2025, as Korean American Day in California. The resolution commemorates the arrival of the first Korean immigrants to the U.S. on January 13, 1903, and recognizes Korean Americans' historical contributions to California and the nation. It does not create new laws or policies, but serves as a ceremonial acknowledgment of this community's heritage and impact.

The California Constitution prohibits the total annual appropriations subject to limitation of the State and of each local government from exceeding the appropriations limit of the entity of government for the prior year adjusted for the change in the cost of living and the change in population. The California Constitution defines "appropriations subject to limitation" of the State for these purposes. The California Constitution establishes the Budget Stabilization Account and requires, for every fiscal year and based on the Budget Act for that fiscal year, the Controller to transfer from the General Fund to the Budget Stabilization Account, no later than October 1, a sum equal to 1.5% of the estimated amount of General Fund revenues for that fiscal year. The California Constitution requires other transfers between the General Fund and the Budget Stabilization Account, as specified. The California Constitution prohibits the amount transferred pursuant to these provisions for any fiscal year from exceeding an amount that would result in a balance in the account that, when the transfer is made, exceeds 10% of the amount of the General Fund proceeds of taxes for the fiscal year estimate, as specified. This measure would change the 1.5% required transfer to an undetermined percentage of the estimated amount of General Fund revenues for that fiscal year. The measure would change the 10% limit on the balance in the Budget Stabilization Account to 20% of the amount of the General Fund proceeds of taxes for the fiscal year estimate, as specified. The measure would specify that funds transferred under these provisions to the Budget Stabilization Account do not constitute appropriations subject to the above-described annual appropriations limit.

Existing law requires the Governor to appoint every officer whose mode of appointment is not prescribed by law. Existing law also prescribes the manner of the Governor's appointment of those officers. This bill would require the office of the Governor, commencing January 1, 2026, to maintain on its internet website a list of every state board and commission that includes, for each state board or commission, the membership list, stated purpose, duties, meeting frequency, internet website, and vacancies in the membership. The bill would require the office of the Governor, on or before January 1, 2027, and annually thereafter, to create and publish on its internet website a report containing aggregate demographic information of appointments made by the office during the prior calendar year, as specified.

Existing law establishes various educational benefits for dependents of veterans who were killed during military service or are totally disabled, as specified. Existing law defines "dependent of a veteran" to include the spouse of a totally disabled veteran. Existing law prohibits a dependent of a veteran from receiving these educational benefits during the time the dependent is entitled to receive specified federal educational benefits or duplicate assistance from any other government source. This bill would repeal that prohibition.

Existing law, the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, establishes in the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency the Civil Rights Department (department) , headed by the Director of Civil Rights, to protect and safeguard the right and opportunity of all persons to seek, obtain, and hold employment without discrimination or abridgment on account of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, reproductive health decisionmaking, or military and veteran status. Existing law requires the department, among other things, to render annually to the Governor and to the Legislature a written report of its activities and recommendations. This bill would establish within the department the Labor Trafficking Task Force, as specified. The bill would require the task force, among other things, to take steps to prevent labor trafficking, coordinate with the Labor Enforcement Task Force, the Department of Justice, and the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement within the Department of Industrial Relations to combat labor trafficking, and receive and refer complaints alleging labor trafficking to the department or other agencies, as appropriate, for potential investigation, civil action, or criminal prosecution. The bill would authorize the task force to coordinate with other relevant agencies to combat labor trafficking, support law enforcement agencies that investigate criminal actions relating to labor trafficking in coordination with specified entities, and coordinate with state or local agencies to connect survivors with available services. The bill would require the Division of Occupational Safety and Health within the Department of Industrial Relations to notify the task force when, upon investigating businesses under their purview, there is evidence of labor trafficking. The bill would require the department to include specified information in the annual report described above, including the activities of the task force, the number of complaints referred to the department, and the status or outcome of those complaints. The bill would provide that its provisions become operative only upon appropriation by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act or another measure for the purposes of the bill's provisions. Existing constitutional provisions require that a statute that limits the right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for protecting that interest. This bill would make legislative findings to that effect.

Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges. Existing law establishes community college districts throughout the state, under the administration of community college district governing boards, and authorizes these districts to provide instruction at the community college campuses they operate. Existing law establishes a statewide baccalaureate degree program that authorizes up to a total of 30 baccalaureate degree programs at community college districts to be approved per academic year, as provided. This bill would require the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges to develop a Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing Pilot Program that authorizes select community college districts to offer a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. The bill would limit the pilot program to 10 community college districts statewide and would require the chancellor to identify eligible community college districts based on specified criteria. The bill would require the Legislative Analyst's Office to conduct an evaluation of the pilot program on or before January 1, 2030, to determine the effectiveness of the program and the need to continue or expand the program. The bill would repeal these provisions as of January 1, 2031.

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 the act a crime. Existing law provides for the regulation of health insurers by the Department of Insurance. Existing law requires a health insurer or health care service plan, including a specialized health care service plan, to reimburse a claim or portion of a claim no later than 30 working days after receipt of the claim, unless the plan contests or denies the claim, in which case the plan is required to notify the claimant within 30 working days that the claim is contested or denied. Under existing law, if a claim or portion thereof is contested on the basis that a health insurer or health care service plan has not received all information necessary to determine payer liability for the claim or portion thereof and notice has been provided, the health insurer or health care service plan has 30 working days after receipt of the additional information to complete reconsideration of the claim. Existing law extends these timelines to 45 working days for a health care service plan that is a health maintenance organization. Under existing law, if a claim is not reimbursed, contested, or denied pursuant to these timelines, as specified, interest accrues at a rate of 15% per annum for a health care service plan and 10% per annum for a health insurer. Commencing January 1, 2026, this bill instead would require a health care service plan, including a Medi-Cal managed care plan, or health insurer to reimburse a complete claim or a portion thereof within 30 calendar days after receipt of the claim, or, if a claim or portion thereof does not meet the criteria for a complete claim or portion thereof, to notify the claimant as soon as practicable, but no later than 30 calendar days that the claim or portion thereof is contested or denied. The bill would authorize the departments to issue guidance and regulations related to these provisions. The bill would exempt the guidance and amendments from the Administrative Procedure Act until December 31, 2027. Existing law requires health care service plans to establish a grievance process, as specified. This bill would require a complaint made by an enrollee to a health care service plan about a delay or denial of a payment of a claim to be treated as a grievance subject to that grievance process. Because a willful violation of these provisions 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 establishes the Department of Food and Agriculture, under the control of the Secretary of Food and Agriculture, to promote and protect the agricultural industry of the state. Under existing law, the policy of the state is that every human being has the right to access sufficient, affordable, and healthy food. Existing law establishes various food assistance programs, including, among others, the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) , known in California as CalFresh, under which supplemental nutrition assistance benefits allocated to the state by the federal government are distributed to eligible individuals by each county. This bill would require the Department of Food and Agriculture, in consultation with specified entities, to appoint and convene the End Hunger in California Master Plan Task Force to make recommendations for future comprehensive strategies aimed at addressing access to healthy and culturally relevant food for all Californians. The bill would require the task force to meet at least twice per year and to be composed of 25 members, from specified agencies and with specified knowledge and expertise in various food-related subject matters. The bill would authorize the department to use privately donated funds to provide non-state-employed members with a reasonable per diem allowance for each day of attendance and reimbursement for actual and necessary travel expenses incurred in connection with their official duties involving the task force. The bill would also authorize the task force to form ad hoc advisory committees to learn more about specific issues regarding recommending future comprehensive strategies aimed at addressing access to healthy and culturally relevant food. The bill would require the Department of Food and Agriculture to serve as the lead agency for developing the End Hunger in California Master Plan and to assist the task force in carrying out its duties. The bill would require the plan to be distributed to the Legislature no later than January 1, 2027, or 2 years after an appropriation of funds is made to implement these provisions, whichever is later, and to include specified actions, among others, identification of barriers to bringing retailers to specific locations, inclusion of a strategy to maximize eligible individuals' participation in specified federal and state nutritional programs, and identification of goals and implementation mechanisms to ensure California achieves an end to hunger. The bill would make related findings and declarations. The bill would also require the task force to report to the Legislature, on an annual basis, the demographic information of its members, as defined, to the extent that the information is available and the member has agreed to disclose their demographic information in the report.

Existing law imposes various limitations on emissions of air contaminants for the control of air pollution from vehicular sources. Existing law generally designates the State Air Resources Board as the state agency with the primary responsibility for the control of vehicular air pollution. Existing law requires the board, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to allocate funds on a competitive basis for projects that are shown to achieve the greatest emission reduction from sources associated with the movement of freight along California's trade corridors. This bill would require the state board, in order to minimize the impact of the energy transition on the supply chains in the critical agricultural sector and ensure that disadvantaged communities equitably share in the benefits of and investments in emission reductions, to establish the Small Agricultural Truck Fleet Assistance Program, or use an existing program, to provide dedicated technical assistance to owner-operators or owners of small fleets to support the transition to cleaner emission-compliant trucks, as provided.

Existing law, the California Emergency Services Act, authorizes use of the Emergency Alert System to inform the public of local, state, and national emergencies. Existing law authorizes a law enforcement agency to request the Department of the California Highway Patrol to activate a "Feather Alert," as defined, if the law enforcement agency determines that specified criteria are satisfied with respect to an endangered indigenous person who has been reported missing under unexplained or suspicious circumstances. Existing law requires the department, if it concurs that those specified requirements are met, to activate a Feather Alert within the appropriate geographical area requested by the investigating law enforcement agency and to assist the agency by disseminating specified alert messages and signs. Existing law requires the department to create and submit a report to the Governor's office and the Legislature that includes an evaluation of the Feather Alert, as specified. This bill would require the department, in consultation with specified groups including tribal nations, to develop policies and procedures providing instruction specifying how a law enforcement agency and certain entities involved in emergency warnings are required to proceed after a missing person has been reported to a law enforcement agency, as defined, and prescribed conditions are met. The bill would require those policies and procedures to include, among other things, procedures for the transfer of information regarding the missing person and the circumstances surrounding the missing person's disappearance, as specified. This bill would require the department to respond to a law enforcement agency's or tribe's request to activate a Feather Alert within 48 hours of receiving the request. The bill would require the department to take reasonable steps to confirm that a report from a missing person's family members is not an attempt to locate an indigenous person who is intentionally avoiding or evading abuse, as specified. If the department declines to activate a Feather Alert, the bill would require it to provide written notice to the requesting law enforcement agency or tribe, as specified. This bill would revise the conditions under which a law enforcement agency may request the department to activate a Feather Alert. In this regard, the bill would authorize the agency to make that request if it determines a Feather Alert would be an effective tool in the investigation of missing and murdered indigenous persons. To make that determination, the bill would require a law enforcement agency to consider prescribed factors, including, among other things, that the agency or tribe believes that the person is in danger and is missing under specified circumstances. This bill would revise the reporting requirement described above to require the department to work with law enforcement agencies and tribal nations to create the report and to submit the report no later than January 1, 2027. The bill would require the report to include information on the efficacy and advantages of the Feather Alert, including, but not limited to, statistical data on the number of cases closed and the number of cases that remain open, and the impact of the Feather Alert on other alert programs.