Asm. Steve Bennett

Maddy summaryThis bill officially designates the week of January 26 through February 2, 2024, as CalEITC Awareness Week to highlight the California Earned Income Tax Credit program. The measure aims to increase public knowledge about this refundable tax credit, which assists low-income working families in meeting basic needs like housing, food, and health care. By drawing attention to the program, the resolution seeks to inform residents that the credit is available to many households, including those led by non-citizens and families with young children. The text includes findings on poverty levels and the economic benefits of the credit but does not change any laws or funding.

Existing law prohibits a store, as defined, from providing a single-use carryout bag to a customer at the point of sale, with specified exceptions, including an exemption for bags used to contain unwrapped food. Existing law defines a "single-use carryout bag" as a bag made of plastic, paper, or other material that is provided by a store to a customer at the point of sale and that is not a recycled paper bag or a reusable grocery bag that meets specified requirements, including that the bag be made by a certified reusable grocery bag producer and meets specified requirements with regard to the bag's durability, material, labeling, heavy metal content, and, with regard to reusable grocery bags made from plastic film, recycled material content. Existing law prohibits a producer of reusable grocery bags made from plastic film from selling or distributing those bags unless the producer is certified by a third-party certification entity, and provides proof of that certification and a certification fee to the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, as specified. Existing law also prohibits a store from selling or distributing a recycled paper bag at the point of sale unless the store makes that bag available for purchase for not less than $0.10. Existing law defines "recycled paper bag," in part, as a paper carryout bag that contains a minimum of 40% postconsumer recycled materials, except as provided, and meets other requirements. Existing law allows a retail establishment to voluntarily comply with these requirements, if the retail establishment provides the department with irrevocable notice. This bill would, commencing January 1, 2026, revise and recast those provisions to, among other things, recast the definition of a "single-use carryout bag" to a "carryout bag," and would revise the definition to mean a bag made of plastic, paper, or other material that is provided by a store to a customer at the point of sale for the purpose of carrying purchased goods and that is not a recycled paper bag. The bill would create a carryout bag exception to include a bag provided to a customer before the customer reaches the point of sale, that is designed to protect a purchased item from damaging or contaminating other purchased items in a checkout bag, or to contain an unwrapped food item, as specified. The bill would revise the definition of "recycled paper bag" to require it be made from a minimum of 50% postconsumer recycled materials on and after January 1, 2028, without exception. The bill would also prohibit a store from providing, distributing, or selling a carryout bag to a customer at the point of sale, except as provided. The bill would also repeal the provisions relating to standards for and the certification of reusable grocery bags, and would repeal a provision relating to certain obsolete at-store recycling program requirements. The bill would make related legislative findings and declarations and would make related conforming changes.

This measure would urge the federal government to allow vehicles registered to disabled veterans to utilize high-occupancy vehicle lanes or carpool lanes pursuant to the federal government's Clean Air Act program authority.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates September 2024 as Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month in California. It serves as a symbolic gesture to highlight the importance of early detection and support for those affected by the disease. The resolution does not create new laws or funding but aims to encourage public awareness and education about ovarian cancer risks and symptoms. Copies of the proclamation will be distributed to the bill's author for sharing with the community.

This measure would designate the month of November 2024 to be California's Sikh American Awareness and Appreciation Month. The measure would recognize and acknowledge the significant contributions made by Californians of Sikh heritage to our state and would seek to afford all Californians the opportunity to better understand, recognize, and appreciate the rich history and shared principles of Sikh Americans. The measure would condemn all hate crimes and bias incidents against Sikh Americans and would encourage all Sikhs to practice their faith freely and fearlessly.

Maddy summaryThis bill proclaims September 2024 as California Emergency Preparedness Month to raise awareness about emergency planning. It encourages residents to create personal plans that include food, water, power, and evacuation strategies for various disasters like wildfires and heat waves. The measure is symbolic and does not create new laws, funding, or administrative requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates August 8, 2024, as Coastal Stewardship Day in California. It directly affects the state by officially recognizing the importance of its coastline to the economy, environment, and community identity. The measure includes a formal proclamation and directs the Chief Clerk of the Assembly to send copies of the resolution to the author for distribution. It does not create new laws or funding but serves as a commemorative acknowledgment of coastal resources and the need for their conservation.

This measure would designate the month of October 2024 as California Hindu American Awareness and Appreciation Month. The measure would also recognize and acknowledge the significant contributions made by Californians of Hindu heritage to the state and seek to increase awareness and understanding of the Hindu American community, and would condemn all hate crimes and bias incidents against Hindu Americans, Hindu temples and centers, and places of significance to the Hindu American community.

This measure would request the Congress of the United States to pass, and the President to sign, the Housing Crisis Response Act of 2023 (H.R. 4233) , the Ending Homelessness Act of 2023 (H.R. 4232) , and the Downpayment Toward Equity Act of 2023 (H.R. 4231) .

This measure would urge the Congress of the United States to prioritize fulfilling the federal government's legal and contractual obligation to provide a home for spent nuclear fuel within California and 33 other states across the nation, and would urge Congress and the United States Department of Energy to take action to permit the relocation of the spent nuclear fuel in California and elsewhere to consolidated interim storage and ultimately a permanent repository.