Asm. Jay Obernolte

This measure would designate a specified portion of Interstate 680 in the City of San Ramon in the County of Contra Costa as the Detective Sergeant Thomas A. Smith, Jr. Memorial Highway. The measure would also request that the Department of Transportation determine the cost of appropriate signs showing this special designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate sources covering that cost, erect those signs.

The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of, an environmental impact report on a project that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment or to adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that effect. CEQA also requires a lead agency to prepare a mitigated negative declaration for a project that may have a significant effect on the environment if revisions in the project would avoid or mitigate that effect and there is no substantial evidence that the project, as revised, would have a significant effect on the environment. CEQA, until January 1, 2018, exempts from its requirements bicycle transportation plans for an urbanized area for restriping of streets and highways, bicycle parking and storage, signal timing to improve street and highway intersection operations, and related signage for bicycles, pedestrians, and vehicles under certain conditions. CEQA, until January 1, 2018, also exempts from its requirements projects consisting of restriping of streets and highways for bicycle lanes in an urbanized area that are consistent with a bicycle transportation plan under certain conditions. This bill would extend those 2 exemptions until January 1, 2021.

Existing law, the Cemetery and Funeral Act, defines an apprentice embalmer as a person engaged in the study of embalming under the instruction and supervision of a licensed embalmer who has had at least 2 years' of practical experience as a licensed embalmer. Existing law requires the apprenticeship to be served in a licensed funeral establishment that has been approved for apprenticeship training by the Cemetery and Funeral Bureau. Under existing law, in order to qualify for approval, the funeral director is required to submit to the bureau a specified application demonstrating, among other things, that the funeral establishment will continue to have a full-time employed embalmer with not less than 2 years' of practical experience as a licensed embalmer. This bill would instead require the funeral establishment to submit that application and would additionally authorize the funeral establishment to have a trade embalmer, as defined, who is hired by the establishment on a case-by-case basis, for purposes of satisfying the application requirements.

This measure would recognize August 15, 2017, as India's Independence Day and would urge all Californians to join in celebrating India's independence.

The County Transportation Commissions Act provides for the creation of county transportation commissions in specific counties, with various powers and duties relative to transportation planning and funding, as specified. The San Bernardino County Transportation Authority Consolidation Act of 2017, within the County Transportation Commissions Act, creates the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) . The SBCTA is subject to the contracting provisions of the County Transportation Commissions Act, including the requirement that the SBCTA purchase of all supplies, equipment, and materials, and the construction of all facilities and works, in excess of $25,000, be by contract let to the lowest responsible bidder. Existing law, until January 1, 2025, authorizes local agencies to use the design-build contracting process for public works projects. Existing law defines "local agency" as cities and counties, certain special districts relating to wastewater, solid waste, water recycling, and fire protection facilities, various governmental entities responsible for the construction of transit projects, and the San Diego Association of Governments. Existing law defines "project" specifically for each described category of local agency. This bill would authorize the SBCTA, upon approval of its board of directors, to use the design-build contracting process for local agencies to award a contract for the construction of the Mt. Vernon Avenue Viaduct project in the City of San Bernardino (the project) . Existing law requires specified information submitted by a design-build entity, as defined, in the design-build procurement process to be certified under penalty of perjury. By authorizing SBCTA to use design-build for the project, the bill would expand the scope of the crime of perjury and would thus impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the project. 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 that the ballots used when voting upon a proposed county, city, or district ordinance submitted to the voters as an initiative measure have printed on them a specified statement describing the nature of the proposed ordinance. This bill would extend these ballot requirements to any measure submitted to the voters that is proposed by a local governing body or submitted to the voters as an initiative or referendum measure. The bill would require the statement describing the measure to be a true and impartial synopsis of the proposed measure, as specified. By expanding the local measures to which the ballot requirements apply, 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, 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.

This measure would declare June 27, 2017, as the second annual Robotics Technology Day.

This measure would proclaim and acknowledge the month of June 2017 as Elder and Vulnerable Adult Abuse Awareness Month.