Asm. Pilar Schiavo

Existing law, the Veterans Housing and Homeless Prevention Act of 2014 (the act) , requires the California Housing Finance Agency, the Department of Housing and Community Development, and the Department of Veterans Affairs (referred to collectively as "the departments") to establish and implement programs that focus on veterans at risk for homelessness or experiencing temporary or chronic homelessness, as specified. In this regard, existing law requires the departments to establish and implement programs that, among other things, prioritize projects that combine housing and supportive services. Existing law requires the departments to ensure at least 50% of funds awarded for capital development provide housing to veteran households with extremely low incomes. Existing law requires a determination of whether a potential tenant is eligible under those provisions to consider all of a household's income sources upon initial tenancy, as specified. Existing law, for purposes of supportive housing units that are restricted to extremely low income veterans pursuant to a regulatory agreement with the committee, authorizes an entity tasked with making referrals of those units targeted to extremely low income households that is unable to place a qualified tenant in a qualified unit, as specified, to match prospective secondary tenants to qualified units. For purposes of the act, existing law defines a "secondary tenant" as (1) a veteran who is homeless, has an income of up to 50% of the median income, and is receiving income as a result of service-connected disability benefits or (2) a veteran who is homeless and has an income of up to 60% of the area median income, but would otherwise have an income below 50% of the area median income if not for their income as a result of their service-connected disability. For purposes of supportive housing for veterans funded by tax credits and private activity bonds, existing law defines a "secondary tenant" as a veteran who is homeless, who has an income of up to 60% of the area median income, and who is receiving income as a result of service-connected disability benefits. This bill would instead, for both purposes described above, define a "secondary tenant" to mean a veteran who is homeless and has an income of up to 60% of the area median income. The bill would prohibit a determination of whether a potential tenant is eligible for supportive, affordable, or transitional housing under the act from considering a potential tenant's service-connected disability benefits. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

(1) Existing law prohibits juvenile products, textile articles, and food packaging that contain specified levels of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from being distributed, sold, or offered for sale in the state, as provided. This bill would require the Department of Toxic Substances Control, on or before January 1, 2029, to adopt regulations for the enforcement of those prohibitions on the use of PFAS, and, on and after July 1, 2030, to enforce and ensure compliance with those provisions and regulations, as provided. The bill would require manufacturers of these products, on or before July 1, 2029, to register with the department, to pay a registration fee to the department, and to provide a statement of compliance certifying compliance with the applicable prohibitions on the use of PFAS to the department, as specified. The bill would authorize the department to test products and to rely on third-party testing to determine compliance with prohibitions on the use of PFAS, as specified. The bill would require the department to issue a notice of violation for a product in violation of the prohibitions on the use of PFAS, as provided. The bill would authorize the department to assess an administrative penalty for a violation of these prohibitions and would authorize the department to seek an injunction to restrain a person or entity from violating these prohibitions, as specified. The bill would require the department, on or before July 1, 2033, to submit a report to the Legislature regarding its compliance and enforcement activities performed pursuant to these provisions, as specified. The bill would require the department to deposit the registration fees and administrative penalties into the PFAS Enforcement Fund, which the bill would create in the State Treasury, to be used to implement these provisions, upon appropriation by the Legislature. (2) For purposes of restricting the use of PFAS, existing law defines "juvenile product" to mean a product designed for use by infants and children under 12 years of age, including, but not limited to, specified products. This bill would limit the definition of this term to the list of specified products.

Existing law, subject to specified requirements for the employee, prohibits an employer from discharging or in any manner discriminating against an employee because of the employee's status as a victim of crime or abuse or for taking time off for specified purposes. Those purposes include serving on a jury, and, if the employee is a victim of a crime, appearing in court as a witness in any judicial proceeding, and obtaining or attempting to obtain prescribed relief. Existing law requires an employer to provide reasonable accommodations for a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, who requests an accommodation for the safety of the victim while at work. Existing law requires reinstatement and reimbursement for discrimination or retaliation, as prescribed. Existing law makes an employer who willfully refuses to rehire, promote, or otherwise restore an employee or former employee who has been determined to be eligible for rehiring or promotion by a grievance procedure or hearing authorized by law guilty of a misdemeanor. Existing law authorizes an employee who is discriminated or retaliated against because the employee has exercised these rights to file a complaint with the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement of the Department of Industrial Relations. Existing law defines terms for these purposes. Existing law, subject to specified requirements for the employee, also prohibits an employer with 25 or more employees from discharging, or in any manner discriminating or retaliating against, an employee who is a victim, for taking time off from work to seek medical attention for injuries caused by crime or abuse, to obtain certain services as a result of the crime or abuse or related to an experience of crime or abuse, or to participate in safety planning and take other actions to increase safety from future crime or abuse. Existing law requires reinstatement and reimbursement for discrimination or retaliation, as prescribed. Existing law makes an employer who willfully refuses to rehire, promote, or otherwise restore an employee or former employee who has been determined to be eligible for rehiring or promotion by a grievance procedure or hearing authorized by law guilty of a misdemeanor. Existing law authorizes an employee who is discriminated or retaliated against because the employee has exercised these rights to file a complaint with the division. Existing law defines terms for these purposes. Existing law requires an employer to inform each employee of the victim rights above in writing, to be provided upon hire and to other employees upon request. Existing law requires the Labor Commissioner to develop and post a form that an employer may use to comply, as prescribed. This bill would revise and recast the jury, court, and victim time off provisions for employees as unlawful employment practices within the California Fair Employment and Housing Act and, thus, within the enforcement authority of the Civil Rights Department. The bill would refer to a "qualifying act of violence," as defined, instead of crime, or crime or abuse. The bill would substantially revise existing definitions for its purposes, including defining "victim" as an individual against whom a qualifying act of violence is committed. The bill would prohibit an employer with 25 or more employees from discharging or in any manner discriminating or retaliating against an employee who is a victim or who has a family member who is a victim for taking time off work for any of a number of additional prescribed purposes relating to a qualifying act of violence. The bill would permit an employer to limit the total leave taken pursuant to these provisions, as specified, and require that the leave taken by an employee pursuant to these provisions run concurrently with leave taken pursuant to the federal Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 and the California Family Rights Act if the employee would have been eligible for that leave. The bill would expand the eligibility for reasonable accommodations to include an employee who is a victim or whose family member is a victim of a qualifying act of violence for the safety of the employee while at work. The bill would omit the reinstatement and reimbursement provisions included in existing law. The bill would require an employer to inform each employee of their rights under the bill, to be provided to new employees upon hire, to all employees annually, at any time upon request, and any time an employee informs an employer that the employee or the employee's family member is a victim. The bill would require the department to develop and post, on or before July 1, 2025, a form, as prescribed, that an employer may use to comply with that requirement. The bill would make a number of conforming changes to implement these provisions. Existing law, the Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act of 2014, requires an employer to provide a specified employee who is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking with paid sick days for the above-described purposes for which existing law prohibits an employer from discharging, or in any manner discriminating or retaliating against, the employee, as specified. This bill would expand this paid sick leave requirement to include the additional purposes for which the bill would prohibit an employer from discharging, or in any manner discriminating or retaliating against, the employee, as specified. This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 48205 of the Education Code proposed by AB 1884 and SB 1138 to be operative only if this bill and either or both of those bills are enacted and this bill is enacted last. This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 246.5 of the Labor Code proposed by SB 1105 to be operative only if this bill and SB 1105 are enacted and this bill is enacted last.

Existing federal law provides for allocation of federal funds through the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant program to eligible states. Existing law provides for the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program, under which, through a combination of state and county funds and federal funds received through the TANF program, each county provides cash assistance and other benefits to qualified low-income families. Existing law provides for state-subsidized childcare programs and childcare for recipients of benefits under the CalWORKs program and establishes 3 stages of childcare services managed by county welfare departments and agencies contracting with the State Department of Social Services. Existing law, the Child Care and Development Services Act, establishes a system of childcare and development services for children up to 13 years of age. Existing law requires the State Department of Social Services to contract with local contracting agencies for alternative payment programs for childcare services to be provided throughout the state. This bill would specify that nothing prohibits an administrator of an alternative payment program or agency administering CalWORKs Stage One or Stage Two programs, serving children, as specified, from utilizing funds for administrative and support services to provide families at risk of homelessness or escaping domestic abuse a referral pathway to secure stable childcare placement. The bill would also authorize the administrator to provide the services in coordination with, and not supplant, services provided by county human services agencies. The bill would also authorize the administrator to partner with specified agencies to provide those services.

Existing law prohibits the production, development, duplication, distribution, or possession, as specified, of matter, in specified formats, that depicts a person under 18 years of age engaging in or simulating sexual conduct, as defined. Existing law separately prohibits this conduct where it is done for consideration or where such matter is shared with a minor. Existing law also prohibits the employment or use of a minor, or the permitting by a parent or guardian of the employment or use of a minor for the production of such matter. Existing law authorizes the forfeiture and destruction of such matter regardless of whether a conviction is sought or obtained. This bill would expand the scope of certain of these provisions to include matter that is digitally altered or generated by the use of artificial intelligence, as such matter is defined. By expanding the scope of an existing 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. This bill would become operative only if AB 1831 of the 2023–24 Regular Session is enacted and takes effect on or before January 1, 2025.

Existing law prohibits the production, development, duplication, distribution, or possession, as specified, of matter, in specified formats, that depicts a person under 18 years of age engaging in or simulating sexual conduct, as defined. Existing law separately prohibits this conduct where it is done for consideration or where such matter is shared with a minor. Existing law provides an enhanced punishment when these offenses are committed using government property. This bill would expand the scope of certain of these provisions to include matter that is digitally altered or generated by the use of artificial intelligence, as such matter is defined. By expanding the scope of an existing 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. This bill would become operative only if SB 1381 of the 2023–24 Regular Session is enacted and takes effect on or before January 1, 2025.

Existing law requires, in conformance with federal law, that the Secretary of State and the Department of Motor Vehicles establish and implement the California New Motor Voter Program for the purpose of increasing opportunities for voter registration for qualified voters. Existing law requires the department to transmit to the Secretary of State specified information related to a person's eligibility to vote, which the person provides when applying for a driver's license or identification card or when the person notifies the department of an address change. Existing law requires that if this information transmitted to the Secretary of State constitutes a completed affidavit of registration, the Secretary of State must register or preregister the person to vote, as applicable, unless the person affirmatively declines to register or is ineligible to vote, as specified. This bill would require the Secretary of State and the department to develop a process for the department to use information from the statewide voter registration database to determine whether a person who submits a driver's license application is already registered or preregistered to vote in the state. The bill would require the department, based upon this determination, to transmit specified information provided by the person during their transaction with the department to the Secretary of State for the purpose of registering or preregistering that person to vote or to update their registration information. The bill would prohibit the department from providing a person the opportunity to attest to meeting voter eligibility requirements when they submit a driver's license application, if the person provides a document to the department during the transaction demonstrating that the person is not a United States citizen. The bill would permit the Secretary of State, upon a determination that sufficient technology infrastructure exists, to promulgate regulations concerning the establishment of a list of individuals who are eligible to be preapproved for voter registration, as specified. This bill would make these provisions operative on the earlier of January 1, 2030, or 5 days after the Secretary of State and the department certify that the information technology infrastructure necessary to substantially implement the bill is functional. The bill would permit the Secretary of State and the department, beginning on January 1, 2025, to perform administrative actions necessary to implement these provisions.

Existing law authorizes a public or private elementary or secondary school to determine whether or not to make emergency naloxone hydrochloride or another opioid antagonist and trained personnel available at its school, and to designate one or more volunteers to receive related training to address an opioid overdose, as specified. Existing law prohibits a person who has completed that training and who administers, in good faith and not for compensation, naloxone hydrochloride or another opioid antagonist to a person who appears to be experiencing an opioid overdose from being subject to professional review, liable in a civil action, or subject to criminal prosecution for the person's acts or omissions in administering the naloxone hydrochloride or another opioid antagonist, unless the person's acts or omissions constituted gross negligence or willful and wanton misconduct, as provided. This bill would prohibit a school district, county office of education, or charter school from prohibiting a pupil 12 years of age or older, while on a schoolsite or participating in school activities, from carrying or administering, for the purposes of providing emergency treatment to persons who are suffering, or reasonably believed to be suffering, from an opioid overdose, a naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray or any other opioid overdose reversal medication that is federally approved for over-the-counter, nonprescription use, as provided. The bill would prohibit a pupil 12 years of age or older of those local educational agencies who administers those opioid antagonists on a schoolsite or while participating in school activities to a person who appears to be experiencing an opioid overdose, from being held liable in a civil action or being subject to criminal prosecution for their acts or omissions, unless the pupil's acts or omissions constitute gross negligence or willful and wanton misconduct, as provided. The bill would also prohibit those local educational agencies, or an employee of those local educational agencies, from being subject to professional review, liable in a civil action, or subject to criminal prosecution for a pupil's acts or omissions in administering those opioid antagonists, unless an act or omission of the local educational agency, or the employee of the local educational agency, constitutes gross negligence or willful and wanton misconduct connected to the administration of those opioid antagonists.

Existing law requires the governing board of any school district to give diligent care to the health and physical development of pupils. Existing law authorizes a school district, county office of education, and charter school to provide emergency naloxone hydrochloride or another opioid antagonist to school nurses or trained personnel who have volunteered, and authorizes school nurses or trained personnel to use naloxone hydrochloride or another opioid antagonist to provide emergency medical aid to persons suffering, or reasonably believed to be suffering, from an opioid overdose, as provided. This bill would prohibit school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools from prohibiting pupils in middle schools, junior high schools, high schools, or adult schools, while on a schoolsite or participating in school activities, from carrying fentanyl test strips or a federally approved opioid antagonist, as provided, for the emergency treatment of persons suffering, or reasonably believed to be suffering, from an opioid overdose.

Existing law requires the State Department of Public Health to license, regulate, and inspect health facilities, as specified, including general acute care hospitals. A violation of these provisions is a crime. Under existing law, a general acute care hospital is required to provide certain basic services, including medical, nursing, surgical, anesthesia, laboratory, radiology, pharmacy, and dietary services. Existing law authorizes a general acute care hospital to provide various special or supplemental services if certain conditions are met. Existing regulations define a supplemental service as an organized inpatient or outpatient service that is not required to be provided by law or regulation. Existing law requires a health facility to provide 90 days of public notice of the proposed closure or elimination of a supplemental service, and 120 days of public notice of the proposed closure or elimination of an acute psychiatric hospital. This bill would change the notice period required before proposed closure or elimination of the supplemental service of inpatient psychiatric unit or a perinatal unit from 90 days to 120 days. By changing the definition of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would require the health facility to provide public notice of the proposed elimination of the supplemental service of either inpatient psychiatric unit or perinatal unit, as specified. The bill would require the health facility to conduct at least one noticed public hearing within 60 days of providing public notice of the proposed elimination of the inpatient psychiatric unit or perinatal unit and would require the health facility to accept public comment. The bill would require the health facility to post the public hearing notice and the agenda along with the public notice. The bill would require the health facility holding the public hearing to meet prescribed requirements, including notifying the board of supervisors of the county in which the health facility is located when a public hearing is scheduled and inviting the board of supervisors to provide testimony on the impacts of the elimination of the services to the county and community health systems. 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.