Existing law authorizes the transfer of the ownership and operational responsibility for the provision of electric or gas service from an owner of a master-metered mobilehome park or manufactured housing community that provides electric or gas service to residents to the electric or gas corporation providing service in the area in which the mobilehome park or manufactured housing community is located. Existing law requires the Public Utilities Commission to adopt a standard form of agreement for transfer of gas and electric distribution facilities in these parks and communities that is required to be the basis for expedited approval of the transfers. The Manufactured Housing Act of 1980 requires the Department of Housing and Community Development to enforce various laws pertaining to manufactured housing, mobilehomes, park trailers, commercial coaches, special purpose commercial coaches, and recreational vehicles. The act makes it unlawful for a person to alter or convert, or cause to be altered or converted, the plumbing, heat-producing, or electrical systems and installations or equipment of a manufactured home, mobilehome, or multifamily manufactured home that bears a department insignia of approval or federal label when these structures are used, occupied, sold, or offered for sale within the state, unless its performance is altered or converted in compliance with specified provisions of the act and applicable regulations adopted by the department. Existing law authorizes the department to establish a schedule of fees to pay the costs related to the administration and enforcement of the act that are deposited in the Mobilehome-Manufactured Home Revolving Fund, which is continuously appropriated to the department for carrying out the provisions of the act. This bill would authorize a person, without filing an application for an alteration or conversion with the department, to alter or convert, or cause to be altered or converted, the structural, fire safety, plumbing, heat-producing, or electrical systems and installations or equipment of a manufactured home or mobilehome in order to extend a gas line or electrical feeder line, or both, from a utility-owned service line to the electrical subpanel or gas inlet of the manufactured home or mobilehome only for the purpose of a natural gas or electric service utility upgrade, or both, within a mobilehome park that is subject to or consistent with a specified decision of the Public Utilities Commission. The bill would also authorize a defect in the manufactured home or mobilehome relating to the heat-producing or electrical systems or installations or equipment to be repaired or replaced without filing an application for an alteration or conversion with the department if specified conditions are met. The bill would require the department to inspect such an alteration or conversion to ensure that specified health and safety standards that are consistent with the mission set out in a specified decision of the Public Utilities Commission are met. By increasing the duties of the department for which the department may charge fees that are deposited into a continuously appropriated fund and increasing the amounts deposited into that fund, this bill would make an appropriation. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.
Sponsored bills
(1) Existing law requires all children with disabilities residing in the state, regardless of the severity of their disabilities, and who are in need of special education and related services, to be identified, located, and assessed. Existing law provides that a pupil who is assessed as being dyslexic and meets certain eligibility criteria for the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act category of specific learning disabilities is entitled to special education and related services. Existing law defines a "specific learning disability" as a disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language, and includes in that definition dyslexia and other specified conditions. This bill would require the Superintendent of Public Instruction to develop, and to complete in time for use no later than the beginning of the 2017–18 academic year, program guidelines for dyslexia to be used to assist regular education teachers, special education teachers, and parents to identify and assess pupils with dyslexia, and to plan, provide, evaluate, and improve educational services, as defined, to pupils with dyslexia. The bill would require the Superintendent to disseminate the program guidelines through the State Department of Education's Internet Web site and to provide technical assistance regarding their use and implementation to specified persons. (2) Existing regulations adopted by the State Board of Education include specific basic psychological processes in the definition of "specific learning disability." This bill would require the state board to include "phonological processing" in that description of basic psychological processes.
(1) Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as one of the segments of public postsecondary education in this state. Existing law imposes numerous duties on the board of governors with respect to these administrative responsibilities, including a requirement to review the accreditation status of community colleges in certain circumstances. This bill would add to the duties of the board of governors by requiring it to conduct a survey of the community colleges, including consultation with representatives of both faculty and classified personnel, to develop a report to be transmitted to the United States Department of Education and the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity that reflects a systemwide evaluation of the regional accrediting agency based on the criteria used to determine an accreditor's status. (2) Existing law requires the accrediting agency for the community colleges to report to the appropriate policy and budget subcommittees of the Legislature upon the issuance of a decision that affects the accreditation status of a community college and, on a biannual basis, to report any accreditation policy changes that affect the accreditation process or status for a community college. This bill would require the regional accrediting agency for the community colleges to report to the board of governors as soon as practicable after the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity has notified the regional accrediting agency of the date by which the agency's application for continued recognition is due.
(1) The Lempert-Keene-Seastrand Oil Spill Prevention and Response Act generally requires the administrator for oil spill response, acting at the direction of the Governor, to implement activities relating to oil spill response, including emergency drills and preparedness, and oil spill containment and cleanup. The act authorizes the administrator to use volunteer workers in response, containment, restoration, wildlife rehabilitation, and cleanup efforts for oil spills in waters of the state. Existing law requires the administrator to evaluate the feasibility of using commercial fishermen and other mariners for oil spill containment and cleanup. This bill would require the administrator, in cooperation with the United States Coast Guard, to establish a schedule of drills and exercises that are required under the federal Salvage and Marine Firefighting regulations. The bill would require the administrator, on or before January 1, 2017, to submit to the Legislature a report assessing the best achievable technology of equipment for oil spill prevention, preparedness, and response and to update regulations governing the adequacy of oil spill contingency plans before July 1, 2018. The bill would require the administrator to direct the Harbor Safety Committees for various regions to assess, among other things, the presence and capability of tugs within their respective regions of responsibility to provide emergency towing of tank and nontank vessels to arrest their drift or guide emergency transit. (2) The act requires the administrator to study the use and effects of methods used to respond to oil spills and to periodically update the study to ensure the best achievable protection from the use of those methods. This bill would require the administrator, in conducting the study and updates, to consult current peer-reviewed published scientific literature. The bill would require the administrator, by May 1, 2016, to request that the federal California Dispersant Plan be updated, as provided, and to provide support and assistance in that regard. (3) The act requires the administrator to license oil spill cleanup agents for use in response to oil spills. This bill would require the administrator, if dispersants are used in response to an oil spill, to submit to the Legislature a written notification of, and a written justification for, the use of dispersants and a report on the effectiveness of the dispersants used, as provided. (4) Existing law establishes the Oil Spill Technical Advisory Committee and requires the committee to provide recommendations to, among other entities, the administrator on the implementation of the act. This bill would require the committee to convene a taskforce to evaluate the feasibility of using vessels of opportunity for oil spill response. The bill would require the taskforce to provide recommendations to the administrator and the Legislature on whether vessels of opportunity should be included in oil spill response planning. (5) The act makes a person who causes or permits a spill or inland spill strictly liable for specified penalties for the spill on a per-gallon-released basis. The act provides that the amount of penalty is reduced by the amount of released oil that is recovered and properly disposed of. This bill would eliminate that reduction in the penalty by the amount of oil recovered and properly disposed of.
Under the Elder California Pipeline Safety Act of 1981, the State Fire Marshal exercises safety regulatory jurisdiction over intrastate pipelines used for the transportation of hazardous or highly volatile liquid substances. The act authorizes the State Fire Marshal to exercise safety regulatory jurisdiction over portions of interstate pipelines located within the state and subject to an agreement between the United States Secretary of Transportation and the State Fire Marshal. The act authorizes the State Fire Marshal to enter, inspect, and examine, at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner, the records and properties of any pipeline operator that are required to be inspected and examined to determine whether the pipeline operator is in compliance with the act. This bill would require, commencing January 1, 2017, the State Fire Marshal, or an officer or employee authorized by the State Fire Marshal, to annually inspect all intrastate pipelines and operators of intrastate pipelines under the jurisdiction of the State Fire Marshal, and would require the State Fire Marshal to adopt regulations implementing this provision by that date. The bill would prohibit the State Fire Marshal from becoming an inspection agent for specified interstate pipelines unless all regulatory and enforcement authority over those pipelines is transferred to the State Fire Marshal from the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. The bill would require the State Fire Marshal to revise specified fees assessed to cover the costs associated with this measure.
The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 establishes the State Air Resources Board as the state agency responsible for monitoring and regulating sources emitting greenhouse gases. Existing law requires the state board to complete a comprehensive strategy to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants, as defined, in the state. This bill would require the state board to take specified actions and conduct specified analyses with respect to methane emissions.
Existing law establishes a state policy that no adoptable animal should be euthanized if it can be adopted into a suitable home. Existing law authorizes the State Department of Public Health to prescribe rules under which approval shall be granted to persons who wish to keep or use animals for diagnostic purposes, education, or research. Existing law authorizes the State Department of Public Health to make, promulgate, modify, amend, or rescind reasonable rules and regulations relating to the use of animals in diagnostic procedures and medical research. A person who violates these provisions is guilty of a misdemeanor. Under existing law, the segments of postsecondary education in this state include the University of California, the California State University, the California Community Colleges, and independent institutions of higher education, as defined. This bill would require a campus of the University of California, the California State University, or the California Community Colleges, or an independent institution of higher education, as defined, or an employee or student thereof, that confines dogs or cats for science or research purposes, if the institution assesses the health of an animal and determines, after the completion of any testing or research, that the animal is suitable for adoption, the animal's destruction is not required, and the animal is no longer needed, and if the institution's existing procedures for adopting the animal do not result in an adoption, to offer the dog or cat to an animal adoption organization or animal rescue organization, as defined, prior to euthanizing the animal. The bill would not apply to animals suffering from a serious illness or severe injury, or to newborn animals that need maternal care and have been impounded without their mothers.
The Community Services District Law authorizes the establishment of community services districts and specifies the powers of those districts including, among others, the power to acquire, construct, improve, maintain, and operate community facilities, as specified. Existing law authorizes the formation of the Isla Vista College Community Services District within the unincorporated area of Santa Barbara County known as Isla Vista for the performance of various services, including, but not limited, to public parks, police protection, and transportation facilities. This bill would authorize the establishment of the Isla Vista Community Services District by requiring the Board of Supervisors of the County of Santa Barbara to submit a resolution of application to the Santa Barbara County Local Agency Formation Commission, and, upon direction by the commission, place the questions of whether the district should be established and whether a utility user tax should be imposed on the ballot at the next countywide election following the completion of the review by the commission. By imposing new duties on the County of Santa Barbara, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would provide that if a utility user tax is not passed by the voters of the district on or before January 1, 2023, the district would be dissolved. The bill would set forth the board of directors of the district and would specify the services that district would be authorized to provide, including, among others, the power to create a tenant mediation program and to exercise the powers of a parking district. This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the Isla Vista Community Services District. 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 these statutory provisions.
Existing law allows an individual taxpayer to contribute amounts in excess of his or her personal income tax liability for the support of specified funds. This bill would allow an individual to designate on his or her tax return that a specified amount in excess of his or her tax liability be transferred to the Prevention of Animal Homelessness and Cruelty Fund, which would be created by this bill. The bill would require the Franchise Tax Board to revise the tax return form to include a space for the designation of contributions to the fund when another voluntary designation is removed from the form or there is space, whichever occurs first. This bill would require money contributed to the fund, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to be allocated to the Franchise Tax Board and the Controller for reimbursement of costs, as provided, and to the Department of Food and Agriculture for the development of a mechanism to provide ongoing public awareness through activities that will promote the charitable tax deduction for the fund and seek continued contributions and the distribution of grants on a competitive basis to, among others, a city, county, or city and county animal control agency or shelter, as specified, for the purpose of supporting spay and neuter activities by that entity to prevent and eliminate cat and dog homelessness. The bill would provide that these provisions would remain in effect only until January 1 of the 5th taxable year following the first appearance of the Prevention of Animal Homelessness and Cruelty Fund on the tax return, or January 1, 2022, whichever occurs first, but would further provide for an earlier repeal if the Franchise Tax Board determines that the amount of contributions estimated to be received during a calendar year will not at least equal the minimum contribution amount, as defined, for that calendar year, in which case these provisions would be repealed on December 1 of that year.
(1) Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has regulatory jurisdiction over public utilities, including electrical corporations, community choice aggregators, and electric service providers, while local publicly owned electric utilities are under the direction of their governing boards. Existing law imposes various regulations on public utilities and local publicly owned electric utilities. Existing law establishes the California Renewables Portfolio Standards (RPS) Program, which is codified in the Public Utilities Act, with the target to increase the amount of electricity generated per year from eligible renewable energy resources to an amount that equals at least 33% of the total electricity sold to retail customers per year by December 31, 2020. Under existing law, a violation of the Public Utilities Act is a crime. This bill would require that the amount of electricity generated and sold to retail customers per year from eligible renewable energy resources be increased to 50% by December 31, 2030, as provided. The bill would make other revisions to the RPS Program and to certain other requirements on public utilities and publicly owned electric utilities. Because certain of the above provisions are codified in the Public Utilities Act, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program by expanding the definition of a crime or establishing a new crime. (2) Existing law requires the PUC to identify cost-effective electricity efficiency savings and establish efficiency targets for an electrical corporation to achieve, and to identify cost-effective natural gas efficiency savings and establish efficiency targets for a gas corporation to achieve. Existing law requires a local publicly owned electric utility to identify all potential achievable cost-effective electricity efficiency savings and to establish annual targets for energy efficiency savings and demand reduction for the next 10-year period. This bill would require the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission to establish annual targets for statewide energy efficiency savings and demand reduction that will achieve a cumulative doubling of statewide energy efficiency savings in electricity and natural gas final end uses of retail customers by January 1, 2030. The bill would require the PUC to establish efficiency targets for electrical and gas corporations consistent with this goal. The bill would require local publicly owned electric utilities to establish annual targets for energy efficiency savings and demand reduction consistent with this goal. (3) The existing restructuring of the electrical industry within the Public Utilities Act provides for the establishment of the Independent System Operator (ISO) and requires the ISO to ensure efficient and reliable operation of the electrical transmission grid. Existing law prohibits the ISO from entering into a multistate entity or regional organization unless the ISO receives approval from the Electricity Oversight Board. Existing law states the intent of the Legislature to provide for the evolution of the ISO into a regional organization to promote the development of regional electricity transmission markets in the western states. This bill would provide for the transformation of the ISO into a regional organization, with the approval of the Legislature, pursuant to a specified process. (4) 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.