Asm. Mark Stone

This measure would endorse activities in public schools that instruct pupils in upholding and sustaining American democracy, encourage, in the strongest terms, California schools to pursue certain recognized designations that reflect specified ethos and values, and encourage publicly elected officials to conduct themselves in ways that strengthen civic engagement and participation in civil society.

Existing law requires legal counsel to be appointed to represent low-income parties in civil matters involving critical issues affecting basic human needs in specified courts. Existing law requires the Judicial Council to develop one or more pilot projects in selected courts to receive grants to, among other things, provide legal counsel to low-income persons who require legal services in civil matters involving housing-related matters, domestic violence and civil harassment restraining orders, probate conservatorships, guardianships of the person, elder abuse, or actions by a parent to obtain sole legal or physical custody of a child. Existing law places the highest priority for funding on proposals to provide counsel in child custody cases, particularly when one side is represented and the other is not, and requires up to 20% of available funds to be directed to projects regarding civil matters involving actions by a parent to obtain sole legal or physical custody of a child. This bill would instead require the Judicial Council to develop and provide grants for programs in selected courts that provide legal counsel to low-income persons in matters involving child custody, when the parent is seeking to obtain any level of legal or physical custody, and would require that up to 20% of the available funds be directed at civil matters involving an action under the Family Code, as specified. The bill also would place the highest priority for funding on proposals to provide counsel in child custody cases, irrespective of whether one side is represented and the other is not. The bill would also authorize the Judicial Council to accept donations from public or private entities for the purposes of providing grants. Existing law requires the Judicial Council to conduct a study to demonstrate the effectiveness and continued need for the pilot program and to report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature on or before January 31, 2016. This bill would require the Judicial Council to conduct the study and report its findings and recommendations for the programs every 5 years, commencing June 1, 2020. Existing law provides for the assessment of fees for various court services, including, among others, issuing an abstract of judgment and issuing an order of sale. Existing law requires an amount equivalent to $10 of each fee collected to be used by the Judicial Council to implement and administer the civil representation pilot program described above. This bill would increase the amount assessed for the above services by $15, and would require those funds to be used by the Judicial Council to implement and administer the civil representation programs, thereby imposing a tax. This bill would include a change in state statute that would result in a taxpayer paying a higher tax within the meaning of Section 3 of Article XIIIA of the California Constitution, and thus would require for passage the approval of 23 of the membership of each house of the Legislature.

This measure would formally apologize for California's past complicity in enabling and furthering the practice of slavery and would urge the United States Congress and the President of the United States to enact House Resolution 40 to study the legacy of slavery and provide recommendations on redress for descendants of enslaved persons.

This measure would mark December 17, 2019, as the 76th anniversary of the repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act to honor the contributions of all immigrants and refugees in our communities. The measure would also declare the opposition of the Legislature to executive orders and a presidential proclamation signed by President Trump relating to immigration, call upon the President to revoke those orders and that proclamation, condemn the expansion of deportations being undertaken under the current presidential administration, stand in firm opposition to the President's proposal for construction of a wall along the southern border with Mexico, and reaffirm that the state is open and welcoming to immigrants and refugees who are integral to life in our state.

This measure would encourage the United States Congress to adopt climate policies, including those that might be adopted under the Green New Deal, that build upon California's programs that have reduced greenhouse gas emissions while improving air and water quality, create new green jobs, and improve disadvantaged communities and that just climate actions offer the nation an opportunity to achieve community-mindful policies that California has successfully adopted while growing its economy.

Existing law establishes the Homeless Coordinating and Financing Council and requires the council to set and measure progress toward goals to prevent and end homelessness among youth in California by setting specific, measurable goals aimed at preventing and ending homelessness among youth in the state and defining outcome measures and gathering data related to the goals. This bill would require the council to develop and administer a grant program to support young people experiencing homelessness and prevent and end homelessness. The program would be funded by a combination of funds provided to the council by the State Department of Health Care Services from the Youth Education, Prevention, Early Intervention and Treatment Account, funds appropriated by the Legislature, and gifts and donations made to the council for that purpose. The bill would specify the entities eligible to apply for grant funding and identify specific information to be included in the grant application. The bill would require preference for funding to be given to entities with certain characteristics, including those that participate in the development of a local, youth-centered, coordinated entry system. The bill would require grant funds to be used both to provide supportive services, as specified, and to establish or expand housing programs. The bill would require a grant recipient to submit data and annual progress reports to the council and agree to meet quality improvement goals, accept technical assistance, and submit to annual site monitoring visits by the council, as specified. The bill would require the council, by January 10, 2021, and each January 10 thereafter, to submit a report to the Legislature on the data received from grant recipients.

Existing law provides that it is the intent of the Legislature that the state should coordinate and integrate its watershed programs and implement those programs by working with diverse interests at the local level. Existing law provides that the state's watershed management goals should include maintaining and restoring healthy watersheds that support thriving communities, provide clean water, and sustain natural habitats for future generations. Existing law provides that there is in the Natural Resources Agency the Department of Conservation. Existing law provides that the work of the department be divided into various divisions, including the Division of Land Resource Protection. Existing law authorizes the department to expend the money in any appropriation or in any special fund in the State Treasury made available by law for the administration of the statutes, the administration of which is committed to the department. Existing law requires these expenditures to be made in accordance with law in carrying out the purposes for which the appropriations were made or the special funds created. This bill would require the department, to the extent funds are available, to establish and administer the Ecosystem Resilience Program to fund watershed coordinator positions, as provided, and other necessary costs, throughout the state for the purpose of achieving specified goals, including the goal to develop and implement watershed improvement plans, and other plans to enhance the natural functions of a watershed, aligned with multiple statewide and regional objectives across distinct bioregions. The bill would require the department to develop performance measures and accountability controls to track progress and outcomes of all watershed coordinator grants. The bill would require, on or before January 31, 2022, and every 3 years thereafter, the department to report those outcomes to the appropriate fiscal and policy committees of the Legislature.

(1) Existing law establishes a low-income housing tax credit program pursuant to which the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee (CTCAC) provides procedures and requirements for the allocation, in modified conformity with federal law, of state insurance, personal income, and corporation tax credit amounts to qualified low-income housing projects that have been allocated, or qualify for, a federal low-income housing tax credit, and farmworker housing. Existing law limits the total annual amount of the state low-income housing credit for which a federal low-income housing credit is required to the sum of $70,000,000, as increased by any percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for the preceding calendar year, any unused credit for the preceding calendar years, and the amount of housing credit ceiling returned in the calendar year, and authorizes CTCAC, for calendar years beginning in 2020, to allocate an additional $500,000,000 to specified low-income housing projects and, for calendar years beginning in 2021, requires this additional amount only to be available for allocation pursuant to an authorization in the annual Budget Act or related legislation, and specified regulatory action by CTCAC. This bill would remove the requirement that, beginning in the 2021 calendar year, the above-described additional $500,000,000 allocation only be available pursuant to an authorization in the annual Budget Act or related legislation, and specified regulatory action by CTCAC. (2) This bill would take effect immediately as a tax levy.

(1) Existing law, the Fort Ord Reuse Authority Act, establishes the Fort Ord Reuse Authority (the authority) to prepare, adopt, finance, and implement a plan for the use and development of the territory previously occupied by the Fort Ord military base in the County of Monterey. The act provides that the authority is governed by a board comprised of 13 members representing the County of Monterey and specified cities within the county, which the act designates as "member agencies." The act provides that any local agency that does not adopt a resolution favoring establishment of the authority is not required to appoint a voting member to the board. This bill would reduce the size of the board from 13 members to 5 members and eliminate representation for certain cities. The bill would delete the provision regarding a local agency not being required to appoint a voting member to the board. The bill would require the vote of a majority of the total membership of the board to pass or act upon any matter properly before the board. The bill would make these provisions operative on July 1, 2020. (2) Existing law requires the board to prepare, adopt, review, revise, and maintain a plan for the future use and development of the territory occupied by Fort Ord. Existing law requires the plan to include certain elements, including, among others, a 5-year capital improvement program, as provided. This bill, on and after July 1, 2020, would prohibit any additions to the plan, including the capital improvement program. (3) Existing law authorizes representatives of certain entities to serve as ex officio, nonvoting members of the board. This bill, on July 1, 2020, would reduce the number of representatives authorized to serve as ex officio, nonvoting members, as provided, and would additionally authorize a representative designated by the Marina Coast Water District to serve as an ex officio, nonvoting member. (4) Existing law authorizes the board to appoint or remove additional ex officio members at its pleasure. Existing law authorizes the board to appoint advisory committees to provide it with options, critique, analysis, and other information as it finds useful. After adoption of a reuse plan by the board, existing law requires each county or city with territory occupied by Fort Ord to submit its general plan or amended general plan that meets certain requirements, or subsequent amendments to a certified plan, to the board and requires the board, after a noticed public hearing, to certify or refuse to certify the portion of the general plan that applies the territory of Fort Ord, as provided. Existing law similarly provides for the submission and review by the board of the county's or city's zoning ordinances, zoning district maps, and, where necessary, other implementing actions applicable to the territory of Fort Ord. Existing law provides that development review authority, with certain exceptions, is exercised by the applicable county or city, but prohibits a local agency from permitting, approving, or otherwise allowing a development or other change of use within the area of Fort Ord that is not consistent with the reuse plan adopted by the board. Existing law authorizes the board to review actions of each member agency regarding planning, zoning, and the issuance or denial of building permits within the area of Fort Ord, subject to specified limitations. Existing law provides specific procedures regarding the preparation of an environmental impact report on the Fort Ord Reuse Plan that apply in the event that an environmental impact statement on the closure and reuse of Fort Ord has been filed pursuant to the federal National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. Existing law authorizes the board to receive contributions from member agencies represented on the board. Existing law requires each member agency and each public agency represented by an ex officio member to contribute specified amounts to the authority. This bill would repeal all of these provisions on July 1, 2020. (5) Existing law authorizes the board to identify basewide public capital facilities described in the Fort Ord Reuse Plan, as provided, and requires the board to plan for and arrange for the provision of those facilities. Existing law requires the board to also identify significant local public capital facilities, but requires these facilities to be the responsibility of the city or county or redevelopment agency, as provided. Existing law prohibits the board from constructing or otherwise acting to improve a local public capital facility without the consent of the city or county with land use authority over the area where the facility is or will be located. Existing law also prohibits, if all or any portion of the Fritzsche Army Air Field is transferred to the City of Marina, or if all or any portion of the 2 Army golf courses within the territory of Seaside are transferred to the City of Seaside, the board from considering those portions of the air field that continue to be used as an airport or those portions of the golf courses that continue in use as a golf course, from being basewide capital facilities. Existing law authorizes the board, among other things, to issue bonds to finance basewide public facilities. This bill, on July 1, 2020, would delete the prohibitions described above, and would eliminate the board's authority to issue bonds to finance basewide public facilities. (6) Under existing law, the Fort Ord Reuse Authority Act becomes inoperative when the board makes a specified determination regarding the development or reuse of the territory of Fort Ord or on June 30, 2020, whichever occurs first. Existing law repeals the act on January 1, 2021. Existing law requires the Monterey County Local Agency Formation Commission to provide for the orderly dissolution of the authority, as provided. This bill would, instead, make the Fort Ord Reuse Authority Act inoperative on June 30, 2022, and repeal the act on January 1, 2023. The bill would require the authority to negotiate and secure successor agencies for all obligations under the transition plan no later than June 30, 2022. The bill would require the Monterey County Local Agency Formation Commission to provide for the orderly dissolution of the authority once an agreement with a successor agency has been finalized. The bill would require the transfer of specified revenues of the authority to the County of Monterey for disbursement to each underlying land use jurisdiction on a pro rata basis. The bill would specify that any financial obligation of the authority to which the County of Monterey succeeds as a result of the disbursement of remaining revenues or the retirement of debt does not constitute a debt or liability of the county, or any other member agency. The bill would make these provisions operative on July 1, 2020. This bill would authorize the authority to take specified actions regarding its dissolution, including implementing the transition plan and collecting and disbursing specified revenues. The bill would authorize an underlying land use jurisdiction to adopt a substitute funding mechanism in lieu of the community facilities district established for the Fort Ord area if the jurisdiction commits to continue funding specified regional needs. The bill would also deem the transition plan to be within the scope of a specified categorical exemption from the California Environmental Quality Act. The bill would make these provisions operative on July 1, 2020. (7) Existing law establishes procedures for the establishment and operation of all redevelopment project areas created within the area previously known as Fort Ord. Existing law, upon dissolution of the authority, requires that amounts allocated under a redevelopment plan that contains a provision for the division of taxes, if any levied upon taxable property within a redevelopment project, continue to be paid to the accounts of the authority insofar as needed to pay principal and interest or other amounts of debt incurred by the authority. This bill, upon dissolution of the authority or retirement of its debt, whichever occurs later, would require that any remaining property tax revenues allocated to the authority be transferred to the auditor-controller of the County of Monterey for appropriate distribution. (8) This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the County of Monterey. (9) By adding to the duties of various local agencies with respect to the dissolution of the Fort Ord Reuse Authority, 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.

(1) Existing law vests with the State Lands Commission jurisdiction over specified public lands in the state, including tidelands and submerged lands. The California Coastal Act of 1976 also establishes the California Coastal Commission and requires the commission to regulate development in the coastal zone, as defined. Existing law creates the Integrated Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Program to be administered by the Office of Planning and Research, and requires the Director of State Planning and Research, no later than January 1, 2017, to establish the program to coordinate regional and local efforts with state climate adaptation strategies to adapt to the impacts of climate change, as specified. This bill would establish the Program for Coastal Resilience, Adaptation, and Access for the purpose of funding specified activities intended to help the state prepare, plan, and implement actions to address and adapt to sea level rise and coastal climate change. The bill would create the Coastal Resilience, Adaptation, and Access Fund in the State Treasury, and would authorize the California Coastal Commission and specified state agencies to expend moneys in the fund, upon appropriation in the annual Budget Act, to take actions, based upon the best scientific information, that are designed to address and adapt to sea level rise and coastal climate change, as prescribed. The bill would require the Natural Resources Agency to annually make available information regarding any activity funded under the program on a publicly accessible internet website. The bill would also require the Natural Resources Agency, and any other state agency to which funding is allocated, to consider the guidance and resources developed by the Integrated Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Program to help inform decisions relating to activities funded with moneys from the Coastal Resilience, Adaptation, and Access Fund. (2) Existing law requires the State Lands Commission, with specified exceptions, to deposit all revenue, money, and remittances received by the commission from certain state lands in the General Fund, and requires that sufficient moneys from those deposits be made available each fiscal year for payments for expenditures of the commission, specified payments to cities and counties pursuant to agreements covering transferred lands, mineral rights, and oil and gas well removal and remediation, as prescribed. This bill would require, for the 2020–21 fiscal year and for each fiscal year thereafter, an amount equal to 30% of those funds received by the commission and required to be deposited into the General Fund by the commission pursuant to those provisions, except as provided, but not to exceed $50,000,000, to be transferred to the Coastal Resilience, Adaptation, and Access Fund and made available, upon appropriation in the annual Budget Act, for expenditure for purposes of the Program for Coastal Resilience, Adaptation, and Access.