Asm. Cameron Smyth

This measure would recognize March 2, 2010, as "Read Across America Day."

Existing law establishes a property tax exemption for disabled veterans. Existing law provides that for property for which the disabled veterans' exemption would have been available but for the taxpayer's failure to receive a timely disability rating from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (USDVA) , there shall be canceled or refunded any taxes, including any interest and penalties thereon, levied on that portion of the assessed value of the property that would have been exempt under a timely and appropriate claim, provided that the claimant meets specified conditions. These conditions are that (1) the claimant had an application pending with the USDVA and subsequently received a rating that qualifies the claimant for the disabled veterans' exemption, and (2) the claimant subsequently files an appropriate claim for the exemption the later of 30 days of receipt of the disability rating from the USDVA or on or before the next following lien date. This bill would make these provisions applicable to property for which the disabled veterans' exemption would have been available but the taxpayer had not yet received a disability rating from the USDVA that qualifies the claimant for the exemption. The bill would delete the first condition described above requiring the claimant to have had an application pending with the USDVA and subsequently have received a qualifying rating. The bill would also change the timeframe for which a claimant may file an appropriate claim for the exemption to 90 days of receipt of the disability rating or on or before the next following lien date.

This measure would establish, until January 1, 2014, the California Task Force on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education for the purpose of promoting the improvement of mathematics, science, engineering, and technology education across the state. The task force would consist of Members of the Legislature and experts appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly and the Senate Committee on Rules. The task force would conduct its business on a volunteer basis, be able to accept private funds, and would submit an annual report on its work to the Legislature.

This measure would designate the 2nd week of October 2010, and annually thereafter, as Disability History Week, and would encourage public and private institutions of higher education, state and local agencies, nonprofit and community-based organizations, and private businesses and corporations to observe Disability History Week by dedicating appropriate classroom instructional time or by coordinating all-inclusive activities to be conducted during that week to afford opportunities for students and the general public to learn more about the disability community and to celebrate and honor its role in contemporary American society.

This measure would declare the Legislature's support for the observance of "Spirit of '45 Day" on the second Sunday in August to commemorate the anniversary of the end of World War II on August 14, 1945.

This measure would recognize each 2nd week of February hereafter as African American Mental Health Awareness Week.

(1) Existing law requires, if a person is convicted of a specified driving-under-the-influence (DUI) offense and the offense occurred within 10 years of 2, or 3 or more prior specified DUI offenses that resulted in a conviction, that the person be punished by enhanced penalties, and that the person's privilege to operate a motor vehicle be revoked by the Department of Motor Vehicles for a period of 2, 3, 4, or 5 years, as applicable. This bill would require the department to permanently revoke the driver's license of a person who was previously convicted of 3 or more specified DUI offenses. The bill would prohibit a person whose driver's license is permanently revoked by the department under these provisions from registering a vehicle in this state. Because a person who violates this prohibition is guilty of a crime, this bill would create a new crime, thereby imposing a state-mandated local program. The bill would also authorize a person who had only 3 convictions of a DUI offense, and whose driver's license was permanently revoked by the department to petition the court for the reinstatement of his or her privilege to drive after a period of 5 years from the date of his or her last conviction if the person successfully passes a written test and driving test for the license classification and successfully completes a specified alcohol treatment program. The bill would require the court to consider 5 specified factors in determinating whether to order the department to reinstate the person's license. (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 designates specified days as having special significance, and specifies how the days of special significance should be observed in public elementary and secondary schools and educational institutions. This bill would repeal and recast these provisions. This bill would express findings and declarations of the Legislature relating to Ronald Reagan. This bill would designate February 6 of each year as Ronald Reagan Day, and would encourage public schools and educational institutions to engage in exercises remembering the life of Ronald Reagan, as specified. Existing law requires the Governor to proclaim various days in honor of a person, status, or an event. This bill would require the Governor to annually proclaim February 6 as Ronald Reagan Day.

Existing law provides for the establishment of various commissions within state government. This bill would, until January 1, 2012, establish the Ronald Reagan Centennial Commission in state government to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Ronald Reagan's birth. The bill would require the commission to recommend appropriate means to allow Californians to celebrate Ronald Reagan's life by honoring, promoting, and remembering his achievements for this state and country. The bill would prohibit the commission from using public funds and would require the commission to be solely supported by private funds. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

Existing law provides that a peace officer or firefighter assigned to a canine unit, who is assigned to duty away from his or her home jurisdiction because of a declared federal, state, or local emergency, and in the course and scope of his or her official duties, may not be discriminated against in hotels, lodging establishments, eating establishments, or public transportation by being required to pay an extra charge or security deposit for the peace officer's or firefighter's dog. Existing law provides a civil fine for the violation of those rights. This bill would also prohibit that discrimination against the handler of a search and rescue dog, as defined. The bill would also prohibit those entities from denying service to the peace officer, firefighter, or handler based on the presence of the dog. The bill would also expand the circumstances to include when the peace officer, firefighter, or handler is away from his or her home jurisdiction because of an official mutual aid request or training. Existing law provides that the peace officer's law enforcement agency or the firefighter's fire agency is liable for any damages to the premises or facilities caused by the peace officer's or firefighter's dog. The bill would require the handler to be liable for any damages to the premises or facilities caused by the search and rescue dog. The bill would state that nothing in the above-described provisions is intended to prevent the removal of the search and rescue dog in the event the search and rescue dog creates an excessive disturbance to the quiet enjoyment of the property, provided that the peace officer, firefighter, or handler of the search and rescue dog is given at least one warning notice of the excessive disturbance and an opportunity to correct the disturbance.