Asm. Tim Donnelly

This measure would designate that January 20, 2014, be observed as the official memorial of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birth and commemorate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement in changing public policy in California and in the United States of America. This measure would also recognize the anniversaries of the Emancipation Proclamation and the March on Washington in connection with the advancement of civil rights.

This measure would urge Congress to pass and the President to sign into law the Limiting Internet and Blanket Electronic Review of Telecommunications and Email Act (LIBERT-E Act) , and ensure that the American people are protected from massive invasions of their privacy.

Existing law imposes renewal fee penalties for late payment of vehicle registration except in limited specified cases. Existing law authorizes the Department of Motor Vehicles to waive the registration penalties accrued prior to the purchase of a vehicle upon payment for the fees for registration due, if the transferee or purchaser was not aware that the fees were unpaid. Existing law also authorizes the department to waive the registration fees that became due prior to the purchase of the vehicle if the transferee or purchaser was not aware that the fees were unpaid and the license plate assigned to the vehicle displays a validating device issued by the department that contains the year number of the registration year for which the transferee or purchaser is requesting a waiver of fees. Existing law further provides that these unpaid fees and penalties are the personal debt of the transferor of the vehicle and may be collected by the department in an appropriate civil action if the department has waived the fees and penalties. This bill would instead require the department to waive delinquent registration fees and penalties when a transferee or purchaser of a vehicle applies for a transfer of registration if the department determines that the fees became due or the penalties accrued prior to the purchase of the vehicle.

Existing law creates the High-Speed Rail Authority with specified powers and duties relative to the development and implementation of a high-speed train system. Existing law, pursuant to the Safe, Reliable High-Speed Passenger Train Bond Act for the 21st Century, approved by the voters as Proposition 1A at the November 4, 2008, general election, provides for the issuance of $9.95 billion for high-speed train capital projects and other associated purposes. Existing law appropriates certain amounts of federal funds and state bond funds to the authority for purposes of funding the construction of the initial segment of the high-speed rail project. This bill, notwithstanding any other law, would prohibit federal or state funds, including state bond funds, from being expended by the authority or any other state agency on the construction of the high-speed rail project, except as necessary to meet contractual commitments entered into before January 1, 2014. The bill would also make a statement of legislative intent.

Existing law authorizes the board of supervisors of any county to grant financial assistance, relief, and support to indigent veterans, as provided. Existing law requires that the assistance, relief, and support be administered through and by any military, naval, or marine organization created for the purpose of aiding, relieving, and supporting such veterans, as specified. This bill would authorize the governing board of a county to grant financial assistance, relief, and support to a disabled veteran, as defined.

(1) Existing law prohibits a vehicle from exceeding 40 feet in length. Existing law exempts from this prohibition specified types of vehicles, including, but not limited to, an articulated bus or articulated trolley coach that does not exceed a length of 60 feet, and a motortruck used solely as a cotton module mover that does not exceed 48 feet in length. A violation of the Vehicle Code is a crime. This bill would additionally exempt from this prohibition a 5th-wheel travel trailer that does not exceed 48 feet in length from the foremost point of the trailer to the rear extremity of the trailer, and that does not exceed 40 feet in length for a trailer with 2 or more axles, and 38 feet in length for a trailer with a single axle, from the kingpin to the rearmost axle. The bill would require a manufacturer of a 5th-wheel travel trailer that meets this exemption to include in the delivery documents specified length information necessary to register that trailer. The bill would permit a dealer to reject acceptance of the 5th-wheel travel trailer if this documentation is not provided. By creating a new crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (2) 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 Instructional Quality Commission to ensure that certain historical documents are incorporated, as appropriate, into the history-social science framework. This bill would require the commission, when revising the history-social science framework, to do so based on the subject matter of the course in addition to appropriateness, to consider incorporating the Magna Carta, the Articles of Confederation, and the California Constitution into the history-social science framework, and to encourage instruction that promotes an understanding of the governments of California and the United States of America, as specified. The bill would require that it not be construed as requiring the Instructional Quality Commission to meet specifically for purposes of implementing the changes made by the bill and would require any recommended revisions made by the bill to be implemented in accordance with the regular adoption schedule and to not increase the costs of developing any subsequent history-social science framework.

The United States Constitution and the California Constitution provide for various civil liberties and other individual rights for a citizen of the United States and the State of California, including the right of habeas corpus, the right to due process, the right to a speedy and public trial, and the right to be informed of criminal charges brought against him or her. Certain provisions of federal law affirm the authority of the President of the United States to use all necessary and appropriate force to detain specified persons who engaged in terrorist activities. This bill would prohibit an agency in the State of California, a political subdivision of this state, an employee of an agency or a political subdivision of this state, as specified, or a member of the California National Guard, on official state duty, from knowingly aiding an agency of the Armed Forces of the United States in any investigation, prosecution, or detention of a person within California pursuant to (1) Sections 1021 and 1022 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 (NDAA) , (2) the federal law known as the Authorization for Use of Military Force, enacted in 2001, or (3) any other federal law, except as specified, if the state agency, political subdivision, employee, or member of the California National Guard would violate the United States Constitution, the California Constitution, or any law of this state by providing that aid. The bill would also prohibit local entities from knowingly using state funds and funds allocated by the state to those local entities on and after January 1, 2013, to engage in any activity that aids an agency of the Armed Forces of the United States in the detention of any person within California for purposes of implementing Sections 1021 and 1022 of the NDAA or the federal law known as the Authorization for Use of Military Force , if that activity would violate the United States Constitution, the California Constitution, or any law of this state, as specified.

This measure would honor the California Council on Science and Technology for 25 years of service and unbiased advice to the State of California.