Asm. Chris Holden

This measure would designate October 20, 2013, and each 20th day of October thereafter, as Leyte Landing Commemoration Day in recognition of the significance of the Leyte landing in liberating the Philippines from Japanese occupation, helping to establish the independence of the Philippines, and fostering closer ties between the Philippines and the United States.

This measure would designate the portion of Interstate 80 between Midway Road and the State Route 12 East interchange in the County of Solano as the Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway to honor the Tuskegee Airmen and the contributions they made during World War II. The measure would request the Department of Transportation to determine the cost for appropriate signs showing this special designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate sources covering that cost, to erect those signs.

Existing law provides for the licensure, registration, and regulation of clinical laboratories and various clinical laboratory personnel by the State Department of Public Health. Existing law prohibits the performance of a clinical laboratory test or examination classified as waived under the federal Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA) unless the test or examination is performed under the overall operation and administration of a laboratory director. Existing law defines "laboratory director," for purposes of a clinical laboratory test or examination classified as waived, as an individual who, among others, is a duly licensed naturopathic doctor. Existing law defines "laboratory scientist" and authorizes a person licensed as a clinical laboratory scientist and qualified under CLIA to perform the duties and responsibilities of a technical consultant, clinical consultant, technical supervisor, and general supervisor, as specified under CLIA, in certain specialties. This bill would expand the definition of "laboratory director" for purposes of a clinical laboratory test or examination classified as waived to include a duly licensed clinical laboratory scientist and a duly licensed limited clinical laboratory scientist. The bill would authorize a person licensed as a clinical laboratory scientist and qualified under CLIA to additionally perform the duties and responsibilities of a waived laboratory director, as specified under CLIA.

Existing law establishes the California State University and its various campuses under the administration of the Trustees of the California State University. Statutory provisions that were repealed on January 1, 2010, authorized the trustees to establish an African American Political and Economic Institute at California State University, Dominguez Hills. This bill would require California State University, Dominguez Hills, to rename the African American Political and Economic Institute as the Mervyn M. Dymally African American Political and Economic Institute.

Existing law imposes a fee of $500 on every person who is granted probation for a crime of domestic violence. Two-thirds of the fee is deposited in the county's domestic violence programs special fund to be expended in support of domestic violence shelter programs, as specified. Existing law authorizes fines to be reduced, as specified, for time served. This bill would clarify that the $500 payment is a fee, not a fine, and that the fee is not subject to reduction for time served. The bill would also authorize 8% of the moneys deposited in the county domestic violence programs special fund to be used for administrative costs and would authorize the collection of the fee by the collecting agency or the agency's designee after the termination of the period of probation, whether probation is terminated by revocation or by completion of the term. The bill would provide that a county board of supervisors may request, on not more than a quarterly basis, an accounting of the special fund, as specified. The bill would also make related findings and declarations.

This measure would proclaim July 25, 2013, as Swimmable California Day to recognize Californians' rights to clean and safe waters for swimming and other appropriate activities, and to encourage Californians to enjoy and use their waters.

This measure would proclaim July 27, 2013, as Korean War Armistice Day. It would urge Californians to observe the anniversary and call upon them to honor and give thanks to Korean War veterans. It would also urge Governor Jerry Brown to proclaim July 27, 2013, as Korean War Armistice Day and instruct all state departments, agencies, interest groups, organizations, and individuals to fly the United States flag at half-mast on July 27, 2013, in memory of veterans from this state who died as a result of their service in Korea.

This measure would urge the President and Congress of the United States to develop a comprehensive federal approach to reducing and preventing gun violence, promptly place assault weapons and high-capacity assault magazines under the scope of the National Firearms Act, and require a universal background check through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) for the transfer of all firearms. This measure would additionally urge the President to take steps to ensure that all states and applicable federal agencies are reporting all necessary records to the NICS.

This measure would urge the California State Legislature and the Governor to restore budget funding to early care and education programs and to support efforts to fund and implement the Quality Rating and Improvement System and other programs that support early care and education. The measure would also urge the California State Legislature to commit to improving the public's understanding of the role that early care and education plays in securing an educated, nimble, and stable workforce to help keep California's economy vibrant and strong for years to come.