(1) Existing law requires the Department of Toxic Substances Control to adopt regulations to prohibit an electronic device from being sold or offered for sale in this state if the electronic device is prohibited from being sold or offered for sale in the European Union on and after its date of manufacture, due to the presence of certain heavy metals. Existing law requires these regulations to take effect January 1, 2007, or on or after the date that the Directive 2002/95/EC, adopted by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union on January 27, 2003 (Directive 2002/95/EC) , takes effect, whichever date is later. Existing law defines the term "electronic device," for purposes of those provisions, to have the same meaning, with reference to the Electronic Waste Recycling Act of 2003, as "covered electronic device" which is defined as a video display device that is identified by the department, pursuant to specified regulations, as a presumed hazardous waste when discarded. A violation of the hazardous waste control laws, including a regulation adopted pursuant to those laws, is a crime. This bill would require a manufacturer of an electronic device, at the request of the department, based on the department's reasonable cause, as the bill would define that term, to believe that a specific electronic device identified by the department is prohibited from sale, to prepare and submit to the department within 28 days of receipt of the request, documentation or other information typically maintained by the manufacturer's industry under Directive 2002/95/EC, showing that the electronic device specifically identified by the department and sold or offered for sale by that manufacturer is not prohibited from sale. The bill would authorize the department to extend the 28-day response time at the request of the manufacturer. The bill would require the department to treat as confidential any information that is a trade secret, as defined, that is provided to the department pursuant to the bill's requirements, and that is identified as a trade secret at the time of submission, in the same manner as the procedures adopted by the department with regard to hazardous waste handling and disposal. The department would be required to make available, pursuant to the California Public Records Act, any information that is not a trade secret or that is not identified as a trade secret. Because a violation of the bill's requirements would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program by creating a new crime. (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.
Sponsored bills
Existing law, the California Emergency Services Act, requires the California Emergency Management Agency to coordinate the emergency services of all state agencies in connection with emergencies, and to establish a standardized emergency management system for use by all emergency response agencies. This bill would require the Secretary of California Emergency Management to consider the multiple languages and needs of populations who have limited proficiency in the English language during emergency preparedness planning, response, and recovery. The bill would also require the secretary to work in collaboration with ethnic media and ethnic community-based organizations in developing communication strategies about alert and warning information, and to use a registry of qualified bilingual persons in public contact positions, as defined, to assist in emergency preparedness, response, and recovery, as the secretary deems necessary.
Existing law provides that upon the conviction of a person for a violation of a specified law regarding the failure to care for animals, the court is authorized to make an order prohibiting the defendant, as a condition of probation, from owning, possessing, caring for, or having any contact with animals of any kind and to order the convicted person to immediately deliver all animals in his or her possession to a designated public entity, as specified. Existing law requires the court, in the event of acquittal or final discharge of a person arrested pursuant to these provisions, to direct the release of the seized or impounded animals, on demand, upon a showing of proof of ownership. This bill would instead require the court to make the orders above regarding ownership and forfeiture, as specified. The bill would require the owner to make additional showings in order for the court to direct the release of seized or impounded animals. Existing law provides that the cost of seizing, caring for, and treating any animal seized pursuant to specified provisions regarding the failure to care for animals shall constitute a lien on the animal and that the animal shall not be returned to its owner until the charges are paid. Existing law provides that no animal properly seized pursuant to these provisions shall be returned to its owner until, in the determination of the seizing agency or hearing officer, the animal is physically fit, or the owner can demonstrate that the owner can and will provide the necessary care. This bill would additionally apply these provisions to animals seized pursuant to a search warrant. The bill would, in the event that the owner has satisfied the lien, provide a process for the seizing agency or prosecuting attorney to file a petition seeking forfeiture of any animal, as specified. Existing law establishes various other crimes regarding cruelty to animals and the failure to care for animals. This bill would require the court, upon conviction of a person for certain of these crimes, in addition to any other sentence or penalty, to enter an order enjoining the person from owning, possessing, maintaining, having custody of, residing with, or caring for any animal within a specified period after conviction, and would make related changes. The bill would make a violation of this order a misdemeanor, as specified. The bill would provide that the court may, in the interest of justice, reduce the duration of, or, in the case of livestock owners, exempt a defendant from, these restrictions under specified circumstances. By creating a new crime and by increasing the duties of local humane officers, 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 with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
The Real Estate Law provides for the regulation and licensure of real estate brokers and real estate salespersons by the Real Estate Commissioner. Existing law authorizes the commissioner to require that materials used in obtaining advance fee agreements be submitted to him or her at least 10 calendar days before the materials are used and makes it a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine not exceeding $1,000, or imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding 6 months, or both, to use any agreement that the commissioner has ordered not to be used. Existing law authorizes the commissioner to determine the form of the advance fee agreements. This bill would instead require the commissioner to determine the form of advance fee agreements and to mandate the submission of advance fee agreement materials prior to their use. The bill would also prohibit advertisements used in obtaining advance fee agreements from using words, letters, initials, symbols, or other devices that are similar to those used by a governmental agency or nonprofit entity, as specified. The bill would also increase the maximum fine for using any agreement that the commissioner has ordered not to be used from $1,000 to $2,500, and would increase the maximum imprisonment time for a violation to 12 months. By expanding the scope of a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The Real Estate Law makes it unlawful for any person to claim, demand, charge, receive, collect, or contract for an advance fee for soliciting lenders on behalf of borrowers or performing services for borrowers in connection with a mortgage loan before the borrower becomes obligated to complete the loan and for performing any other activity for which a license is required, unless the person is a licensed real estate broker and has complied with the provisions of the Real Estate Law. A violation of that provision constitutes a public offense punishable by a fine of up to $10,000 for an individual or $50,000 for a corporation. Existing law exempts from that prohibition state-chartered banks, savings associations, credit unions, industrial loan companies, and licensed finance lenders and brokers. This bill would increase those fines to $20,000 and $60,000, respectively, and would increase the maximum imprisonment time for a violation to 12 months. The bill would also make it unlawful, until January 1, 2013, for a real estate broker, or any other person who performs loan modification services, as specified, to claim, demand, charge, receive, or collect a fee paid for by a borrower for a loan modification agreement, as defined, until the terms of the loan have been modified, and would require provision of a specified notice prior to entering into a loan modification agreement with a borrower. By creating a new crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would make an attorney subject to disciplinary sanctions if he or she claims, demands, charges, receives, or collects a fee paid for by a borrower in connection with a loan modification agreement until the terms of the loan have been modified. The bill would further exempt from the fee prohibition licensed residential mortgage lenders and servicers. The bill would also exempt nonprofit community-based organizations, and employees of those organizations, that provide counseling services at no cost to borrowers in connection with loan modifications from certain provisions of the Real Estate Law regulating certain activities of real estate brokers and salespersons. 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, the Physical Therapy Practice Act, creates the Physical Therapy Board of California and makes it responsible for the licensure and regulation of physical therapists. The act defines the term "physical therapy" for its purposes and makes it a crime to violate any of its provisions. The act authorizes the board to suspend, revoke, or impose probationary conditions on a license, certificate, or approval issued under the act for unprofessional conduct, as specified. This bill would specify that patients may access physical therapy treatment directly, and would, in those circumstances, require a physical therapist to refer his or her patient to another specified healing arts practitioner if the physical therapist has reason to believe the patient has a condition requiring treatment or services beyond that scope of practice, to disclose to the patient any financial interest he or she has in treating the patient, and, with the patient's written authorization, to notify the patient's physician and surgeon, if any, that the physical therapist is treating the patient. The bill would provide that failure to comply with these provisions constitutes unprofessional conduct subject to disciplinary action by the board. Because the bill would specify additional requirements under the Physical Therapy Practice Act, the violation of which would be a crime, it 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.
Under existing law, unemployment compensation benefits are based on wages paid in a base period that is calculated according to the month within which the benefit year begins. This bill would, for new claims filed on or after January 1, 2010, for which a valid claim or benefit year cannot be established under the currently defined base periods, establish alternative base periods, as provided. This bill would also require a claimant to submit specified information regarding wages to the Employment Development Department via an affidavit, under specified conditions. Because this measure would increase the amount of unemployment compensation paid, it would make an additional amount payable from the Unemployment Fund, a continuously appropriated special fund, and thereby would make an appropriation. Because this measure would require specified information to be submitted to the Employment Development Department on an affidavit, the submission of which, if false, is a misdemeanor under existing law, it would impose a state-mandated 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. The California Constitution authorizes the Governor to declare a fiscal emergency and to call the Legislature into special session for that purpose. The Governor issued a proclamation declaring a fiscal emergency, and calling a special session for this purpose, on December 19, 2008. This bill would state that it addresses the fiscal emergency declared by the Governor by proclamation issued on December 19, 2008, pursuant to the California Constitution.
Existing law provides for the licensure of health facilities, including general acute care hospitals, acute psychiatric hospitals, and special hospitals, as defined, by the State Department of Public Health. Violation of these provisions is a misdemeanor. Existing law requires that, upon the issuance or renewal of a general acute care, acute psychiatric, or special hospital license, the department separately identify on the license each supplemental service, including the address of where each outpatient service is provided and the type of services provided at each outpatient location. Existing law authorizes licensed general acute care hospitals and acute psychiatric hospitals to provide in any alternative setting health care services and programs that may be provided by any other provider of health care outside of a hospital building or which are not otherwise specifically prohibited by provisions of existing law regulating these facilities. It also requires the state department and the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development to adopt and enforce standards which permit these health facilities to use its space for alternative purposes. This bill would, among other things, require the department to approve a completed application by a licensed general acute care hospital that meets specified requirements to add or modify an outpatient clinic service as a supplemental service, add the outpatient service to the hospital license, and issue a new license, within 100 days of receipt of the completed application, unless the applicant does not meet specified requirements. The bill would limit the outpatient clinic service that is the subject of the application to providing only nonemergency primary health care services in a clinical environment to patients who remain in the outpatient clinic for less than 24 hours. The bill would define "outpatient clinic services" for purposes of the bill. 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.
(1) Existing law generally provides for programming and allocation of transportation capital improvement funds pursuant to the state transportation improvement program process administered by the California Transportation Commission. Existing law authorizes the development of toll road projects under certain conditions. Existing law authorizes the commission and the Department of Transportation to operate and manage the Transportation Finance Bank to make loans for transportation projects. Existing law creates the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank to assist in the financing of various public infrastructure projects. Existing law authorizes the state to issue tax-exempt revenue anticipation notes backed by federal transportation appropriations. This bill would create the California Transportation Financing Authority with specified powers and duties relative to issuance of bonds to fund transportation projects to be backed, in whole or in part, by various revenue streams of transportation funds, and toll revenues under certain conditions, in order to increase the construction of new capacity or improvements for the state transportation system consistent with specified goals. The bill would set forth the requirements for a project sponsor to obtain bond funding from the authority, would allow the authority to approve the imposition and collection of tolls on a proposed project under certain conditions, and would require the authority to report to the California Transportation Commission annually beginning June 30, 2011. The bill would create the California Transportation Financing Authority Fund, which would be continuously appropriated for these purposes. The bill would enact other related provisions. (2) Existing law, until January 1, 2012, authorizes a regional transportation agency, in cooperation with the department, to apply to the commission to develop and operate high-occupancy toll lanes, with not more than 4 facilities to be approved under these provisions. Following public hearings by the commission, the commission is required to forward an eligible application and public comments to the Legislature for approval or rejection of the project, with approval to be achieved by the enactment of a statute. This bill, with respect to these 4 projects, would delete the requirement for the commission to forward the applications to the Legislature for approval or rejection.
(1) Existing law requires all manufacturers of ignition interlock devices that meet specified requirements and are certified in a manner approved by the Department of Motor Vehicles, that intend to market the devices in this state, to first apply to the department on forms provided by the department and to pay an accompanying fee in an amount not to exceed the amount necessary to cover the costs incurred by the department in carrying out those provisions. This bill would require a manufacturer and a manufacturer's agent, certified by the department to provide ignition interlock devices, to provide each year to the department information on the number of false positives and the time to reset the device. The bill would also require the department to use this information in evaluating the continued certification of an ignition interlock device. (2) Existing law requires a person's privilege to operate a motor vehicle to be suspended or revoked for a specified period of time if the person has been convicted of violating specified provisions prohibiting driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of an alcoholic beverage or drug or the combined influence of an alcoholic beverage and drug, or with 0.08% or more, by weight, of alcohol in his or her blood or while addicted to the use of any drug, with or without bodily injury to another. Existing law also authorizes a person whose privilege is suspended or revoked in that manner to receive a restricted driver's license if specified requirements are met, including, in some instances, the installation of an ignition interlock device on the person's vehicle. This bill would require the department to establish a pilot program from July 1, 2010, to January 1, 2016, in the Counties of Alameda, Los Angeles, Sacramento, and Tulare that requires, as a condition of being issued a restricted driver's license, being reissued a driver's license, or having the privilege to operate a motor vehicle reinstated subsequent to a conviction for a violation of the above offenses, a person to install for a specified period of time an ignition interlock device on all vehicles he or she owns or operates, except as provided. The amount of time the ignition interlock device would be required to be installed would be based upon the number of convictions, as prescribed. The bill would prohibit the implementation of the pilot program if the department fails to obtain, by January 31, 2010, nonstate funds for the programming costs of the pilot program. The bill would set up a statutory scheme under which the department would, with regard to the installation of an ignition interlock device described above, notify the person of the ignition interlock device installation requirements established under the bill, accept notification from the installer of the ignition interlock device of attempts to remove, bypass, or tamper with the ignition interlock device or if the person fails 3 or more times to comply with the maintenance requirements, monitor the installation and maintenance of the ignition interlock device, and keep specified records. The bill would also require that manufacturers and manufacturer's agents, certified by the department to provide ignition interlock devices, adopt a fee schedule for payment of the costs of the ignition interlock device based on the offender's ability to pay, and would require the court to adopt a similar fee schedule with regard to the fees for the county alcohol and drug problem assessment program. On or before January 1, 2015, the department would be required to report to the Legislature regarding the effectiveness of the pilot program in reducing the number of first-time driving under the influence violations and repeat offenses in those counties. (3) This bill would require that it become operative only if SB 598 of the 2009–10 Regular Session becomes operative on or before January 1, 2010. (4) Because it is a crime to operate a vehicle that is not equipped with a functioning, certified ignition interlock device by a person whose driving privilege is so restricted, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program by expanding the scope of that crime. (5) 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 provides for the Medi-Cal program, administered by the State Department of Health Care Services, under which qualified low-income persons are provided with health care services, including breast and cervical cancer services. Under existing law, the State Department of Public Health participates in a grant program through the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to provide breast and cervical cancer early detection screening. Providers participating in the grant program may only provide screening services to individuals whose family income does not exceed 200% of the federal poverty level, and provider rates are required to be identical to the rates under the Medi-Cal program. This bill would, until January 1, 2014, authorize, to the extent permitted by federal law, digital mammography screening to be covered when film or analog mammography services are not available from the provider, to be reimbursed at the Medi-Cal film or analog rate.