Asm. Eduardo Garcia

Existing law generally prohibits an employer from paying an employee at wage rates less than the rates paid to employees of the opposite sex in the same establishment for equal work on jobs the performance of which requires equal skill, effort, and responsibility, and which are performed under similar working conditions. Existing law establishes exceptions to that prohibition, including, among others, where the payment is made based on any bona fide factor other than sex, such as education, training, or experience. Existing law makes it a misdemeanor for an employer or other person acting either individually or as an officer, agent, or employee of another person to pay or cause to be paid to any employee a wage less than the rate paid to an employee of the opposite sex as required by these provisions, or who reduces the wages of any employee in order to comply with these provisions. Existing law also makes it a misdemeanor for an employer to refuse or neglect to comply with the above provisions of law. This bill would specify that prior salary cannot, by itself, justify any disparity in compensation under the bona fide factor exception to the above prohibition. By changing the definition of an existing crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would incorporate additional changes in Section 1197.5 of the Labor Code proposed by SB 1063 that would become operative only if SB 1063 and this bill are both chaptered and become effective on or before January 1, 2017, and this bill is chaptered 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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Existing law requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to immediately suspend a person's privilege to operate a motor vehicle for a specified period of time if the person has been convicted of driving a motor vehicle when the person had a certain blood-alcohol concentration. Existing law authorizes certain individuals, whose privilege is suspended pursuant to that provision to receive a restricted driver's license if specified requirements are met, including the elapse of specified periods of license suspension or revocation. Existing law also requires the department to immediately suspend or revoke a person's privilege to operate a motor vehicle if the person has been convicted of violating specified provisions prohibiting driving a motor vehicle 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 authorizes certain individuals whose privilege is suspended or revoked pursuant to that provision to receive a restricted driver's license if specified requirements are met, including the elapse of specified periods of license suspension or revocation and, in some instances, the installation of an ignition interlock device on the person's vehicle. Existing law does not permit a person who has been convicted of a first offense of driving a motor vehicle under the influence, with injury, to receive a restricted driver's license. Existing law also requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to establish a pilot program from July 1, 2010, to July 1, 2017, inclusive, 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 any 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. Under existing law, the amount of time the ignition interlock device is required to be installed is based upon the number of prior convictions suffered by the individual, as prescribed. This bill would extend the pilot program in those counties until January 1, 2019. Effective January 1, 2019, and until January 1, 2026, the bill would make an individual whose license has been suspended for driving a motor vehicle when he or she has a certain blood-alcohol concentration and who is eligible for a restricted driver's license eligible for a restricted driver's license without serving any period of the suspension if the person meets all other eligibility requirements and the person installs an ignition interlock device. The bill would authorize that individual to install an ignition interlock device prior to the effective date of the suspension and would require the individual to receive credit towards the mandatory term to install an ignition interlock device, as specified. The bill would require the department to immediately reinstate the suspension of the privilege to operate a motor vehicle upon receipt of notification that a person has engaged in certain activities, including, among others, attempted to remove, bypass, or tamper with the ignition interlock device. The bill would also require, commencing January 1, 2019, and until January 1, 2026, a person who has been convicted of driving a motor vehicle under the influence of an alcoholic beverage, as specified, to install for a specified period of time an ignition interlock device on the vehicle, as ordered by the court, that is the vehicle that he or she operates. The bill would, commencing January 1, 2019, and until January 1, 2026, also authorize a person convicted of driving a motor vehicle under the influence, including a person who was convicted of a first offense of driving a motor vehicle under the influence, with injury, if all other requirements are satisfied, including the installation of an ignition interlock device, to apply for a restricted driver's license without completing a period of license suspension or revocation. The bill would require the department to, if a person maintains an ignition interlock device for the specified required time, reinstate the person's privilege to operate a motor vehicle at the time the other reinstatement requirements are satisfied. The bill would, commencing January 1, 2019, and until January 1, 2026, authorize a court to require a person convicted of a specified type of reckless driving to install a certified ignition interlock device on any vehicle that the person operates and prohibit that person from operating a motor vehicle unless that vehicle is equipped with a functioning, certified ignition interlock device for a specified period of time. The bill would require the Transportation Agency to issue a report to the Legislature by January 1, 2025, regarding the implementation and efficacy of these provisions. The bill would reinstate current law as described above as of January 1, 2026. The bill would also make conforming and clarifying changes. By specifying that certain crimes relating to ignition interlock devices apply when an ignition interlock device is installed pursuant to the provisions of this bill, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing law establishes the Bureau of Electronic and Appliance Repair, Home Furnishings, and Thermal Insulation under the supervision and control of the Director of Consumer Affairs and requires the director to administer and enforce provisions relating to the registration of electronic and appliance repair service dealers. Existing law authorizes the director to deny, suspend, revoke, or place on probation the registration of a service dealer for any of certain acts, as specified. Existing law authorizes a service dealer licensed under these provisions to install, calibrate, service, maintain, and monitor ignition interlock devices. A violation of these provisions is punishable as a misdemeanor. Existing law, the Automotive Repair Act, establishes the Bureau of Automotive Repair under the supervision and control of the Director of Consumer Affairs and provides for the registration and regulation of automotive repair dealers. Existing law requires the bureau to adopt standards for installation, maintenance, and servicing of ignition interlock devices by automotive repair dealers, and existing regulations authorizes automotive repair dealers to install, maintain, and service an ignition interlock device. Existing law authorizes the director to deny, suspend, revoke, or place on probation the registration of an automotive repair dealer for certain acts, as specified. A violation of the act is a crime. This bill would authorize the director to issue a citation to, or suspend, revoke, or place on probation the registration of an automotive repair dealer or service dealer who installs, calibrates, services, maintains, or monitors ignition interlock devices if the automotive repair dealer or service dealer is not in compliance with specified provisions relating to payment for the costs of an ignition interlock device and would require an automotive repair dealer or service dealer to provide that information to an individual receiving ignition interlock device services. By expanding the definition of a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would require, commencing January 1, 2019, until January 1, 2026, an ignition interlock device manufacturer to be in compliance with specified provisions relating to payment for the costs of an ignition interlock device and would require those manufacturers to provide information to an individual who is required to install an ignition interlock device pursuant to a restricted driver's license. The bill would make a violation of those requirements subject to a civil assessment not exceeding $1,000, as specified. 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 federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 provides for workforce investment activities, including activities in which states may participate. The California Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 (state act) establishes the California Workforce Development Board, which is responsible for assisting the Governor in the development and continuous improvement of California's workforce investment system. The state act also contains various programs for job training and employment investment, as specified. The state act requires the board to assist the Governor in helping individuals with barriers to employment achieve economic security and upward mobility by implementing policies that encourage the attainment of marketable skills relevant to current labor market trends. The state act defines an individual with employment barriers to include youths who are individuals with disabilities, homeless youths, and youths who are in, or who have aged out of, the foster care system. This bill would define out-of-school youth for purposes of the state act, would revise the duties of the board regarding, among other things, out-of-school youth, as specified, and would define a school operating in partnership with United States Department of Labor programs, as specified. Existing law requires the local chief elected officials in a local workforce development area to form, pursuant to specified guidelines, a local workforce development board to, among other things, plan and oversee the workforce development system and develop a comprehensive 4-year local plan. Existing law requires the Governor to establish, through the California Workforce Development Board, standards for certification of high-performance local workforce investment boards, in accordance with specified criteria. Existing law requires the local workforce development boards to, with representatives of secondary and postsecondary education programs, lead efforts in the local area to develop and implement career pathways within the local area. Existing law provides that school districts and county offices of education are eligible to apply to local workforce development boards to provide basic skills training and skills necessary for attaining a secondary school diploma. This bill would revise the criteria to include references to out-of-school youth and schools operating in partnership with United States Department of Labor programs, as specified, and, for the purposes of that requirement on local workforce development boards to lead efforts to develop and implement career pathways, provide that secondary and postsecondary education programs include specified entities. The bill would instead provide that school districts, county offices of education, and schools operating in partnership with United States Department of Labor programs are eligible to apply to local workforce development boards to provide basic skills training and skills necessary for attaining a secondary school diploma, as specified.

The Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, administered by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, regulates the granting of licenses for the manufacture, distribution, and sale of alcoholic beverages within the state. Under existing law, any on-sale license authorizes the sale of the alcoholic beverage specified in the license for consumption on the premises where sold. Currently, the Licensee Education on Alcohol and Drugs (LEAD) program is a voluntary prevention and education program for retail licensees, their employees, and applicants, regarding alcohol responsibility and the law. This bill would, in addition to the LEAD program, establish the Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) Training Program Act of 2016, beginning July 1, 2020, that would require an alcohol server, as defined, to successfully complete an RBS training course offered by an accredited training provider within 3 months of employment and every 3 years thereafter. The bill would require a nonprofit organization that obtained a temporary daily on-sale or off-sale license to designate a person or persons to receive RBS training before the event and would require that person or those persons to remain on site for the duration of the event. The bill would provide that an RBS training course include information on, among other things, state laws and regulations relating to alcoholic beverage control and the impact of alcohol on the body. The bill would require the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, on or before January 1, 2020, to establish a list published on the department's Internet Web site of RBS training courses and would authorize the department to collect fees to cover the reasonable costs of review and approval of accreditation agencies. The bill, beginning January 1, 2019, would require the department to provide information on RBS training requirements on applications for, and renewals of, authorized licenses. The bill, beginning July 1, 2020, would require all authorized licensees to maintain, and provide upon request by the department, all records necessary to establish compliance with these provisions. The bill, beginning July 1, 2020, would provide that an authorized licensee, the licensee's agent or employee, or an alcohol server who knowingly and intentionally violates any of these provisions is subject only to civil and administrative penalties, as specified.

Existing law, the Small Business Financial Assistance Act of 2013, establishes the California Small Business Expansion Fund, a continuously appropriated fund that includes General Fund moneys. The act requires guarantees made by small business financial development corporations to be backed by funds on deposit in the corporation's trust fund account or by receivables due from funds loaned from the corporation's trust fund account to another fund in state government, as specified, and requires these loan guarantees to be secured by a reserve of at least 20%, until January 1, 2018, and 25% thereafter, as specified. This bill would reduce the required reserve to 10% indefinitely and would make conforming changes with respect to related statements of legislative intent. Existing law prohibits the amount of guarantee liability outstanding at any one time from exceeding 5 times the amount of funds on deposit in the expansion fund plus any receivables due from funds loaned from the expansion fund to another fund in state government, as specified, until January 1, 2018, and 4 times thereafter. This bill would increase that maximum amount to 10 times the amount of funds on deposit in the expansion fund plus any receivables due from funds loaned from the expansion fund to another fund in state government, as specified, would apply that increased amount indefinitely, and would make conforming changes. Existing law requires the program manager under the guidance of the executive director of the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank, to, among other things, authorize the distribution, transfer, and withholding of moneys in the expansion fund and trust funds. This bill would also require the program manager to leverage moneys in the expansion fund and trust funds.

Existing law proscribes the crime of human trafficking, as defined. A person who causes, induces, or persuades, or attempts to cause, induce, or persuade, a person who is a minor at the time of commission of the offense to engage in a commercial sex act, with the intent to effect or maintain a violation of any of specified sex offenses, is guilty of human trafficking. Existing law also proscribes the crime of prostitution. Existing law authorizes or requires, as specified, the probation officer of a county to exercise various duties with respect to a minor who has been found to be within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court on the ground that he or she has violated a law or statute, or that he or she has suffered, or there is a substantial risk that he or she will suffer, abuse or neglect. Existing law establishes the Board of State and Community Corrections to provide statewide leadership, coordination, and technical assistance to promote effective state and local efforts and partnerships in California's adult and juvenile criminal justice system. This bill would, only until January 1, 2022, require the Board of State and Community Corrections to establish a pilot project in up to 4 counties that elect to participate in the pilot project and would authorize the Counties of Sacramento, San Diego, San Joaquin, and Santa Clara to elect to participate in the pilot project. The bill would authorize each participating county to determine whether that county's probation department or child welfare agency, or both, would create and operate a program funded by the pilot project. The bill would require a program funded by the pilot project to provide services to youth within that county's jurisdiction that address the need for services relating to the commercial sexual exploitation of youth. The bill would state that the purpose of the pilot project is to test a service model that would produce improved outcomes for youth victims of human trafficking. The bill would also require a county that elects to participate in the pilot project and establishes a program pursuant to these provisions to conduct at least one evaluation of the program's impact and effectiveness and to submit that evaluation to the board. The bill would provide that the pilot project established pursuant to these provisions would be funded contingent upon an appropriation in the annual Budget Act. The bill would provide that funds appropriated for these purposes shall be administered by the Board of State and Community Corrections.

Existing law provides for the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services, under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid Program provisions. Existing law provides for a schedule of benefits under the Medi-Cal program, which includes medical transportation services, subject to utilization controls. This bill, commencing July 1, 2017, would add to the schedule of benefits nonmedical transportation, as defined, subject to utilization controls and permissible time and distance standards, for a beneficiary to obtain covered Medi-Cal services. The bill would require these provisions to be implemented only to the extent that federal financial participation is available, and not otherwise jeopardized, and any necessary federal approvals are obtained. The bill would specify that these provisions shall not be interpreted to add a new benefit to the Medi-Cal program, except as provided. The bill would require the department to adopt regulations by July 1, 2018. Commencing January 1, 2018, the bill would require the department to provide a status report to the Legislature on a semiannual basis until regulations have been adopted.

Existing law, the Small Business Procurement and Contract Act, grants a specified preference for small businesses and microbusinesses in the award of a contract for goods, services, or information technology to the state and in the construction of state facilities. Existing law defines small business and microbusiness for these and other purposes. Existing law permits a state agency and the California State University to award specified types of contracts with a value of between $5,000 and $250,000 to a certified small business, including a microbusiness and a disabled veteran business enterprise, without complying with certain competitive bidding requirements, provided the agency obtains price quotations from 2 or more small businesses, including microbusinesses, or 2 or more disabled veteran business enterprises. Existing law establishes the Office of Small Business and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Services and prescribes duties for the office, which include maintaining a bidders list of small businesses and disabled veteran businesses and noting which small businesses also qualify as microbusinesses. Existing law prescribes penalties for a small business or microbusiness that provides incorrect information or withholds information that leads to its incorrect classification as such an entity and is awarded a contract because of that classification. Existing law requires the Department of General Services to make available a report on contracting activity. This bill would, on and after October 1, 2018, grant an employment social enterprise a preference and status similar to a small business or microbusiness as described above. The bill would define an employment social enterprise as a California-based social purpose corporation, a benefit corporation, or a nonprofit corporation that earns 51% or more of its enterprise revenue from the production or assembly of goods or the provision of services and that demonstrates evidence in its articles of incorporation or bylaws of its mission to provide employment with on-the-job and life skills training to a direct labor force that is comprised of 80% or more of enterprise participants who face multiple barriers to employment. The bill would define an "enterprise participant who faces multiple barriers to employment" as an individual that meets certain criteria, including that he or she has employment barriers, is or was homeless, or is an out-of-school youth, as specified. The bill would require the above-described report by the department to include information relating to the level of participation of employment social enterprises in state contracting. The bill would require specified documents and facts to be certified under penalty of perjury. By expanding the crime of perjury, 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. This bill would incorporate additional changes to Sections 14837 and 14838 of the Government Code proposed by SB 1176 that would become operative if this bill and SB 1176 are enacted and this bill is enacted last. This bill also would incorporate additional changes to Section 10111 of the Public Contract Code proposed by SB 159 that would become operative if this bill and SB 159 are enacted and this bill is enacted last.

Existing law authorizes a peace officer, humane officer, or animal control officer to take all steps reasonably necessary to remove an animal from a motor vehicle because the animal's safety appears to be in immediate danger of specified harm. Existing law requires those persons who remove an animal from a vehicle to take the animal to an animal shelter or other place of safekeeping or, if deemed necessary, to a veterinary hospital for treatment, and to leave a notice in the vehicle that notifies the owner of, among other things, the location where the animal may be claimed. Existing law authorizes the owner to claim the animal only after paying all charges that have accrued for the maintenance, care, medical treatment, or impoundment of the animal. This bill would expand the authorization and requirements applicable to a peace officer, humane officer, or animal control officer described above to include a firefighter or other emergency responder. The bill would additionally provide that a person may be required to pay for charges that have accrued for the maintenance, care, medical treatment, or impoundment of the animal removed from the vehicle. The bill would exempt a person from criminal liability for actions taken reasonably and in good faith to remove an animal from a vehicle under the circumstances described above if the person satisfies specified conditions, including immediately turning the animal over to a representative from law enforcement, animal control, or other emergency responder who responds to the scene. The bill would exempt a person from civil liability for property damage or trespass to a motor vehicle if the property damage or trespass occurred while the person was rescuing an animal pursuant to these provisions.