The California Constitution generally limits ad valorem taxes on real property to 1% of the full cash value of that property. For purposes of this limitation, "full cash value" is defined as the assessor's valuation of real property as shown on the 1975–76 tax bill under "full cash value" or, thereafter, the appraised value of that real property when purchased, newly constructed, or a change in ownership has occurred. The California Constitution authorizes the Legislature to provide that "newly constructed" does not include, among other things, the construction or addition of an active solar energy system. Existing property tax law excludes from the definition of "newly constructed," through the 2015–16 fiscal year, the construction or addition of an active solar energy system, as provided. This bill would extend the active solar energy system exclusion from the definition of "newly constructed" through the 2032–33 fiscal year. Section 2229 of the Revenue and Taxation Code requires the Legislature to reimburse local agencies annually for certain property tax revenues lost as a result of any exemption or classification of property for purposes of ad valorem property taxation. This bill would provide that, notwithstanding Section 2229 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, no appropriation is made and the state shall not reimburse local agencies for property tax revenues lost by them pursuant to the bill. This bill would take effect immediately as a tax levy.
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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 that a parent or caretaker relative shall not be eligible for CalWORKs aid when he or she has received aid for a cumulative total of 48 months. This bill would, instead, provide that an assistance unit shall not be eligible for aid under CalWORKs when any member of the assistance unit has received aid for a cumulative total of 48 months. This bill would provide for continued aid after the 48-month time limit for a child who is a member of an assistance unit that no longer qualifies for aid, if the child's parent or caretaker relative complies with applicable work requirements, as specified. This bill would also make various conforming changes. Because counties determine eligibility for the CalWORKs program, by increasing county duties, 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, 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.
The Vehicle License Fee Law, in lieu of any ad valorem property tax upon vehicles, imposes an annual license fee for any vehicle subject to registration in this state in the amount of 1% of the market value of that vehicle, as provided, for a specified amount of time. Existing law, operative until June 30, 2011, also imposes an additional tax to the vehicle license fee equal to 0.15% of the market value of specified vehicles, as determined by the Department of Motor Vehicles, to be deposited in the General Fund and transferred to the Local Safety and Protection Account, a continuously appropriated fund. This bill would appropriate $506,400,000 from the General Fund to be deposited in the Local Safety and Protection Account, as specified. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as a bill providing for appropriations related to the Budget Bill.
Existing law, the Donahoe Higher Education Act, sets forth, among other things, the missions and functions of California's public and independent segments of higher education, and their respective institutions of higher education. Existing law establishes the University of California, under the administration of the Regents of the University of California, and the California State University, under the administration of the Trustees of the California State University, and the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as the 3 public segments of postsecondary education. Provisions of the act express legislative intent with respect to the determination of standards and criteria for admission to the University of California and the California State University. Existing provisions of the California Constitution require that a minimum amount of funding be applied for the support of the public school system and community college districts based on a calculation made each fiscal year pursuant one of the 3 specified tests that is applicable to that fiscal year. This bill would specify that only General Fund moneys meeting that minimum funding requirement may be appropriated for purposes of supporting remedial instruction in coursework required prior to enrollment in coursework offered for college credit by the California State University and the University of California. The bill would authorize the appropriation of specified funds meeting the minimum funding requirement to community college districts for the support of remedial instruction for community college students who are provisionally accepted for admission to the California State University or the University of California. The bill would make related legislative findings and declarations.
(1) Existing law establishes the State Air Resources Board, which is responsible for the control of greenhouse gas emissions and emissions from motor vehicles, and is designated the air pollution control agency for all purposes set forth in federal law. Existing law vests air pollution control districts and air quality management districts with the primary responsibility for control of air pollution from all sources other than vehicular sources. This bill would require an inspector, as defined, acting on behalf of the state board or a district to meet certain requirements. (2) Existing law requires a written communication from the State Air Resources Board alleging that an administrative or civil penalty will be, or could be, imposed either by the state board or another party, including the Attorney General, for a violation of air pollution law, to contain specified information, and requires this information and final mutual settlement agreements reached between the state board and a person alleged to have violated air pollution laws to be made available to the public. This bill would apply these requirements to an air pollution control or air quality management district. Because these requirements and the requirements discussed in (1) above would impose new duties on local districts, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (3) 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.
The Sales and Use Tax Law imposes a tax on retailers measured by the gross receipts from the sale of tangible personal property sold at retail in this state, or on the storage, use, or other consumption in this state of tangible personal property purchased from a retailer for storage, use, or other consumption in this state. This bill would exempt from those taxes the sale of, or the storage, use, or other consumption of, tangible personal property purchased by a qualified person for use primarily for the production of electrical energy from renewable sources, as specified, and qualified tangible personal property purchased for use by a contractor for specified purposes, as provided. The Bradley-Burns Uniform Local Sales and Use Tax Law authorizes counties and cities to impose local sales and use taxes in conformity with the Sales and Use Tax Law, and existing law authorizes districts, as specified, to impose transactions and use taxes in accordance with the Transactions and Use Tax Law, which conforms to the Sales and Use Tax Law. Exemptions from state sales and use taxes are incorporated into these laws. This bill would specify that this exemption does not apply to local sales and use taxes or to transactions and use taxes. This bill would take effect immediately as a tax levy.
Existing law authorizes the Department of Parks and Recreation to enter into an agreement with an agency of the United States, a city, county, district, or other public agency, or any combination thereof, for the care, maintenance, administration, and control of lands of the state park system. This bill would make a statement of legislative findings and declarations, including the intent of the Legislature to encourage the department to actively seek to negotiate operating agreements with local governments, who have the interest and capacity to assist the state in operating a state park, to minimize the number of state parks that could otherwise be subject to closure due to the budget challenges facing the state.
Existing law, the Administrative Procedure Act, governs the procedure for the adoption, amendment, or repeal of regulations by state agencies. This bill would require each agency to review each regulation adopted prior to January 1, 2011, and to develop a report with prescribed information that shall be submitted to the Legislature on or before January 1, 2013. The bill would also require each agency, on or before January 1, 2018, and at least every 5 years thereafter, to conduct additional reviews of regulations that have been in effect for at least 20 years, as specified, and to submit an annual report to the Legislature that identifies the regulations reviewed during that year and the associated findings.
Existing law provides that any elected public officer who takes public office, or is reelected to public office, on or after January 1, 2006, who is convicted of any specified felony arising directly out of his or her official duties, forfeits all rights and benefits under, and membership in, any public retirement system in which he or she is a member, effective on the date of final conviction, as specified. This bill would additionally include tampering with a witness, money laundering, and the preparation of false documents among the specified felonies that would result in that forfeiture for any elected public officer who takes public office, or is reelected to public office, on or after January 1, 2013. This bill would also make clarifying changes to that provision. This bill would additionally require a public officer, as defined, or public employee who is convicted of any felony involving accepting or giving, or offering to give, any bribe, the embezzlement of public money, extortion or theft of public money, perjury, tampering with a witness, money laundering, the preparation of false documents, or conspiracy to commit any of those crimes arising directly out of his or her official duties on or after January 1, 2013, to forfeit all rights and benefits under any public retirement system in which he or she is a member, effective on the date of conviction. That public officer or employee would forfeit only that portion of his or her rights and benefits that accrued on or after January 1, 2013. The bill would require any contributions made by that public officer or public employee to the public retirement system that arose directly from or accrued solely as a result of his or her forfeited service would be returned to the public officer or public employee without interest. The bill would additionally specify that the pension forfeiture provisions for elected public officers, other public officers, and public employees shall not be construed to abrogate the rights of an innocent spouse who was not involved in the commission of the felony and would require the public retirement system to establish a separate account to maintain the innocent spouse's community property interests in any benefits accrued.
This bill would urge the United States Patent and Trademark Office to place a satellite office in California.