Asm. Joaquin Arambula

(1) Existing law requires state agencies, boards, and commissions, in the course of collecting demographic data as to the ancestry or ethnic origin of Californians, to use separate collection categories and tabulations for certain groups, as specified. Existing federal law imposes various requirements on the collection of demographic data, as provided. Existing law establishes the State Department of Public Health, which is responsible for various programs relating to the health and safety of people in the state. Existing law requires the State Department of Public Health to collect and report specified information, including data on violent deaths. This bill would require the department, on or after January 1, 2028, in the course of collecting demographic data as to the ancestry or ethnic origin of California residents for any report that includes rates for major diseases and leading causes of death, as specified, to use separate collection categories and tabulations for Hispanic or Latino groups using standardized federal race and ethnicity categories from the federal Office of Management and Budget's "Standards for Maintaining, Collecting, and Presenting Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity," as specified. The bill would require the department to use separate collection categories and tabulations for each major Latino group and Mesoamerican Indigenous nation, if that group or nation is not included in the standardized federal race and ethnicity categories, as specified. The bill would require the department, when collecting the preferred language of program participants, to include specified languages. Existing law requires state agencies, boards, and commissions to report, as specified, data on collection categories and tabulations for certain groups. Existing law requires the collected data to be made available to the public, except as specified, including, among other things, personal identifying information, which existing law deems confidential. Existing law requires state agencies to update their data collection to reflect additional certain groups as they are reported by the United States Census Bureau, as specified. This bill would require the department to include the collected data in every demographic report on ancestry, ethnic origins, or language of California residents that the department publishes or releases on or after July 1, 2029. The bill would require the department to make available to the public the collected data, except as specified, including, among other things, personal identifying information, which the bill would deem confidential. On or before July 1, 2029, and annually thereafter, the bill would require the department to report to the Legislature on the collected data and the methods used to collect that data. The bill would require the department to update its data collection to reflect additional Latino groups, Mesoamerican Indigenous nations, and Mesoamerican Indigenous language groups as they are reported by the United States Census Bureau, as specified. This bill would authorize the State Department of Public Health to continue to collect and report demographic data in the form that the data was submitted if the data was collected pursuant to federal programs or surveys, by other state entities, or by third-party entities, as specified. (2) 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 University of California, under the administration of the Regents of the University of California, as one of the segments of postsecondary education in the state. This bill would request the University of California to post, on or before December 1, 2026, and each December 1 thereafter, in a report on a publicly accessible internet website of the University of California, data on students enrolled in a University of California school of medicine. The bill would request the report to include, among other categories of data, the total number of first-generation students and the total number of federal Pell Grant recipients enrolled in a University of California school of medicine. The bill would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2035.

Existing law requires the governing board of any school district to give diligent care to the health and physical development of pupils. Existing law authorizes a school district, county office of education, and charter school to provide emergency naloxone hydrochloride or another opioid antagonist to school nurses or trained personnel who have volunteered, and authorizes school nurses or trained personnel to use naloxone hydrochloride or another opioid antagonist to provide emergency medical aid to persons suffering, or reasonably believed to be suffering, from an opioid overdose, as provided. This bill would prohibit school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools from prohibiting pupils in middle schools, junior high schools, high schools, or adult schools, while on a schoolsite or participating in school activities, from carrying fentanyl test strips or a federally approved opioid antagonist, as provided, for the emergency treatment of persons suffering, or reasonably believed to be suffering, from an opioid overdose.

Existing federal law, the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and the regulations adopted pursuant to that act, authorizes folic acid to be used in food as a nutrient in accordance with specified prescribed conditions, including that folic acid may be added to corn masa flour at a level not to exceed 0.7 milligrams of folic acid per pound of corn masa flour. Existing federal law also requires any state requirement for nutrition labeling of food to conform with federal law, and requires the declaration of folic acid to be included when added as a nutrient supplement, as specified. Existing state law, the Sherman Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Law, provides for the regulation of various subjects relating to the processing, labeling, advertising, and sale of food, drugs, and cosmetics, including enriched food, under the administration and enforcement of the State Department of Public Health. Existing law provides that all food additive and food labeling regulations and any amendments to those regulations adopted pursuant to the federal law are the regulations of this state, and authorizes the department to prescribe conditions under which a food additive may be used in this state whether or not these conditions are in accordance with the regulations adopted pursuant to the federal act and to adopt additional food labeling regulations. A violation of these provisions is a crime. This bill would, commencing January 1, 2026, require corn masa flour, as defined, that is manufactured, sold, delivered, distributed, held, offered for sale, or used as an ingredient in the manufacture of a food product to contain folic acid at a level of 0.7 milligrams of folic acid per pound of corn masa flour, as specified, and would authorize wet corn masa product that is manufactured, sold, delivered, distributed, held, offered for sale, or used as an ingredient in the manufacture of a food product to contain folic acid at a level of 0.4 milligrams of folic acid per pound of end product, as specified. The bill would require corn masa flour or a wet corn masa product to include specified information, including a declaration of folic acid on the nutrition label in accordance with applicable federal law. The bill would exempt snack foods and corn masa flour made by, or supplied to, specified types of businesses, including cottage food operations or a grocery store that also offers conforming products. The bill would make these provisions severable. By creating a new 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 the adopted course of study for grades 1 to 6, inclusive, and the adopted course of study for grades 7 to 12, inclusive, to include certain areas of study, including, among others, English, mathematics, social sciences, science, and visual and performing arts, as specified. Existing law requires the Instructional Quality Commission, when the history-social science curriculum framework is next revised, on or after January 1, 2024, to consider providing for inclusion, in that curriculum framework, related evaluation criteria, and accompanying instructional materials, of instruction, among other things, the historical, social, economic, and political contributions of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders in the United States. This bill, with respect to the adopted course of study for grades 1 to 6, inclusive, for social sciences, would additionally require instruction that provides a foundation for understanding the Spanish colonization of California and the Gold Rush Era, including the treatment and perspectives of Native Americans during those periods. The bill, with respect to the adopted course of study for grades 7 to 12, inclusive, for social sciences, would require, to the extent instruction is provided on the Spanish colonization of California or the Gold Rush Era, instruction that provides a foundation for understanding the treatment and perspectives of Native Americans during those periods. The bill would require the commission, when the State Board of Education next revises the history-social science curriculum framework or adopts new instructional materials, on or after January 1, 2025, to consider including content on the treatment and perspectives of Native Americans during those periods in that curriculum framework or evaluation criteria for instructional materials. To the extent that this bill would create new duties for local educational agencies or local officials, it would constitute a state-mandated local program. This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 51210 of the Education Code proposed by AB 2073 to be operative only if this bill and AB 2073 are enacted and this bill is enacted last. This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 51220 of the Education Code proposed by AB 1871 to be operative only if this bill and AB 1871 are enacted and this bill is enacted last. This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 51226.3 of the Education Code proposed by AB 1805 to be operative only if this bill and AB 1805 are enacted and this bill is enacted last. 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, 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 also provides for the regulation of health insurers by the Department of Insurance. Existing law authorizes health care service plans and health insurers that cover prescription drugs to utilize reasonable medical management practices, including prior authorization and step therapy, consistent with applicable law. This bill would require a group or individual health care service plan or health insurer offering an outpatient prescription drug benefit to provide coverage without prior authorization, step therapy, or utilization review for at least one medication approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration in each of 4 designated categories, including medication for the reversal of opioid overdose, including a naloxone product or another opioid antagonist. Because a willful violation of these provisions by a health care service plan would be 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 regulates the use of pesticides and authorizes the Director of Pesticide Regulation to adopt regulations to govern the possession, sale, or use of specified pesticides, as prescribed. Existing law requires the director to endeavor to eliminate from use in the state any pesticide that, among other things, endangers the agricultural or nonagriculutral environment. Existing law requires the director to develop an orderly program for the continuous evaluation of all pesticides actually registered. Existing law authorizes the director, after a hearing, to cancel the registration of any pesticide that, among other things, is detrimental to vegetation, except weeds, to domestic animals, or to the public health and safety when properly used. This bill would require the Department of Pesticide Regulation, on or before January 1, 2029, to complete a reevaluation of paraquat dichloride, as provided, and make the determination to retain, cancel, or suspend its registration or to place new appropriate restrictions on the use of pesticide products containing the active ingredient paraquat dichloride.

Existing federal law provides for allocation of federal funds to eligible states and tribes through the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant program. Existing state law provides for the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program under which, through a combination of state and county funds and federal funds received through the TANF program, each county provides cash assistance and other benefits to qualified low-income families. Existing law requires the State Department of Social Services to annually allocate appropriated funds to each federally recognized American Indian tribe with reservation lands or rancherias in the state that administers a federal tribal TANF grant program. Existing law authorizes the Director of Social Services to provide funding to Indian health clinics to provide substance abuse and mental health services, and other related services authorized under the CalWORKs program to CalWORKs applicants and recipients and tribal TANF applicants and recipients living in California. This bill would identify those funding provisions as the Indian Health Clinic Program, and would revise the definition of "applicants and recipients" for purposes of the program to include individuals who self-attest to as either having applied for, or currently receiving, CalWORKs or tribal TANF assistance. The bill also would authorize an Indian health clinic to provide services to an individual the clinic verifies is enrolled in the Medi-Cal program, or who self-attests to their enrollment. The bill would authorize an Indian health clinic, at the beginning of each state fiscal year, to request an advance payment of up to 50% of the total allocated amount, contingent upon a written request and the clinic's timely and accurate submission, and the department's approval within 90 days of the completed submission, of specified reports from the prior year. The bill would require the department to remit this advance payment if funds have been appropriated through the annual Budget Act, and to remit the remainder of the total allocated amount as a reimbursement when in receipt of a written request and supporting documents from the Indian health clinic.

Existing law establishes the Attorney General as the head of the Department of Justice, with charge of all legal matters in which the state is interested, except as specified. Existing law requires the Attorney General, whenever they deem it advisable or necessary in the public interest, or when directed to do so by the Governor, to assist any district attorney in the discharge of the district attorney's duties, and authorizes them to take full charge of any investigation or prosecution of violations of law, as specified. Existing law establishes the Department of Industrial Relations in the Labor and Workforce Development Agency and vests it with various powers and duties to foster, promote, and develop the welfare of the wage earners of California, to improve their working conditions, and to advance their opportunities for profitable employment. Existing law establishes the Civil Rights Department within the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency and sets forth its powers and duties relating to enforcement of civil rights laws. This bill would establish within the Department of Justice the Labor Trafficking Unit. The bill would require the unit to receive labor trafficking reports and complaints from law enforcement agencies and other governmental entities and refer the reports or complaints to appropriate agencies for investigation, prosecution, or other remedies. The bill would require the unit to coordinate with certain state agencies, including, among others, the Department of Industrial Relations and the Civil Rights Department. The bill would authorize the unit to coordinate with other relevant state agencies, as specified, state and local law enforcement agencies, tribal law enforcement agencies, and district attorneys' offices. The bill would require the unit to make efforts to ensure that local, state, and tribal entities use a victim-centered approach when receiving and processing victim reports or complaints of labor trafficking and when reporting suspected labor trafficking to the unit. The bill would require the unit to follow a victim-centered approach when processing labor trafficking reports or complaints and ensure that victims are informed of the services and options available to them, as specified. The bill would require the Department of Industrial Relations and the Civil Rights Department to collaborate with the unit to develop policies, procedures, and protocols to track, record, and report potential labor trafficking to the unit. The bill would require the unit to develop a tracking and reporting system to collect labor trafficking reports and complaints and would require the reports to be aggregated and analyzed to identify potential labor trafficking reports and complaints to be further investigated by the Department of Justice or referred for civil action, criminal prosecution, or other remedy, as specified. The bill would require the unit, from April 1, 2027, to January 1, 2036, inclusive, to annually submit a specified report to the Legislature relating to labor trafficking complaints or reports, including the number and type of reports, complaints, or referrals. The bill would require the Department of Industrial Relations and the Civil Rights Department to report this information to the unit on a quarterly basis and report suspected labor trafficking immediately to the unit, as specified. The bill would specify that the bill's operation is contingent upon adequate appropriation by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act or another statute for the bill's purposes. If the Legislature does not appropriate adequate funding by January 1, 2030, the bill would repeal its provisions and require the Department of Justice to file with the Secretary of State by January 1, 2030, the department's determination that the Legislature has not appropriated adequate funding.

Existing law requires the Department of Water Resources to update every 5 years the plan for the orderly and coordinated control, protection, conservation, development, and use of the water resources of the state, which is known as "The California Water Plan." Existing law requires the department to include a discussion of various strategies in the plan update, including, but not limited to, strategies relating to the development of new water storage facilities, water conservation, water recycling, desalination, conjunctive use, and water transfers, that may be pursued in order to meet the future needs of the state. Existing law requires the department to establish an advisory committee to assist the department in updating the plan. This bill would revise and recast certain provisions regarding The California Water Plan to, among other things, require the department to expand the membership of the advisory committee to include tribes, labor, and environmental justice interests. The bill would require the department, as part of the 2033 update to the plan, to update the interim planning target for 2050, as provided. The bill would require the target to consider the identified and future water needs for all beneficial uses and ensure safe drinking water for all Californians, among other things. The bill would require the plan to include specified components, including discussions of environmental needs, urban sector water needs, and agricultural water needs, and a discussion of the estimated costs and benefits of any project type or action that is recommended by the department within the plan that could help achieve the water supply targets. The bill would require the department to report to the Legislature the amendments, supplements, and additions included in the updates of the plan, together with a summary of the department's conclusions and recommendations, in the session in which the updated plan is issued. The bill would also require the department to conduct public workshops to give interested parties an opportunity to comment on the plan. Under existing law, the State Water Resources Control Board and the 9 California regional water quality control boards regulate water quality. Existing law requires each regional board to formulate and adopt water quality control plans for all areas within the region, as provided. This bill would require the department to offer the regional water quality control boards opportunities to provide input to assist the department in updating the plan.