This measure would declare February 19, 2012, as a Day of Remembrance in order to increase public awareness of the events surrounding the internment of Americans of Japanese ancestry during World War II.
This measure would proclaim May 1 through May 7, 2012, as Cinco de Mayo Week, and would urge all Californians to join in celebrating Cinco de Mayo.
This measure recognizes April 15 to April 21, 2012, inclusive, as "Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week."
This measure would recognize the Lunar New Year Celebration.
This measure would designate May 2012 as Lupus Awareness Month.
Existing law generally regulates mortgages and deeds of trust, including, among other things, recording mortgages and deeds of trust, disclosures in connection with mortgages and deeds of trust, and foreclosure procedures for mortgages and deeds of trust. This bill would prohibit a mortgage servicer, as defined, from obtaining a replacement policy of hazard, flood, or homeowner's insurance, collectively defined as "force-placed insurance," with respect to a residential property securing a mortgage loan, unless there is a reasonable basis to believe that the borrower has failed to comply with contract requirements to maintain hazard, flood, or homeowner's insurance. The bill would require, if a borrower's existing hazard, flood, or homeowner's insurance policy is paid through an escrow account, that the mortgage servicer advance payments to continue the borrower's existing policy, as specified. The bill would require a mortgage servicer to provide written notices, as specified, to a borrower prior to obtaining force-placed insurance. The bill would specify the circumstances, manner, and limitations under which a mortgage servicer may obtain force-placed insurance, and when a borrower is entitled to a refund from the mortgage servicer in connection with that insurance. The bill would authorize a borrower to bring a civil action in connection with the mortgage servicer's violation of the provisions of the bill. The bill would authorize the Attorney General, district attorney, or city attorney to bring an action for injunctive relief, and for restitution, disgorgement, or damages, as appropriate, for the affected borrowers. The bill would also authorize the Attorney General, district attorney, or city attorney to include a claim for costs, including reasonable attorney's fees and expenses. The bill would further authorize the Attorney General, district attorney, or city attorney to ask the court to levy a civil penalty not exceeding $10,000 against any mortgage servicer who violates the provisions of the bill.
This measure would recognize May 2012 as Asian and Pacific Islander American Heritage Month.
This measure would declare the Legislature's recognition of the importance of access to local parks, trails, open space, and facilities for the health and development of all Californians. This measure would also declare July 2012 as "Parks Make Life Better!®" Month.
Existing law, until January 1, 2013, requires a legal owner to maintain vacant residential property purchased or acquired through foreclosure. Existing law also authorizes a governmental entity to impose civil fines for failure to maintain that property of up to $1,000 per day for a violation, after notice and an opportunity to correct the violation is given. This bill would, until January 1, 2016, authorize a person whose property is in Los Angeles County and who is injuriously affected or whose enjoyment is lessened by a property owner's violation of those property maintenance provisions to bring an action for injunctive relief. The bill would require a person who seeks an injunction to provide the legal owner by mail a written description of the conditions that gave rise to the violation, and identify the person's intent to seek an injunction if action to correct the violation is not commenced and completed within a specified period of time. The bill would authorize an action to be brought either in a small claims court or the Superior Court of Los Angeles County. The bill would also authorize a prevailing plaintiff to recover court costs and reasonable attorney's fees if the action is brought in the superior court. Existing law provides for abatement of substandard conditions in buildings and authorizes an enforcement agency to issue an order or notice to repair or abate violations of specified building standards. Under existing law, if the owner of a property with substandard conditions fails to comply within a reasonable time period with the terms of the order or notice, the enforcement agency, tenant, or tenant association or organization may seek, and the court may order, the appointment of a receiver for the substandard building. This bill would also authorize any district attorney, county counsel, or city attorney with jurisdiction over the substandard building, acting in the name of the people, to seek a court order for the appointment of a receiver for the substandard building.
This measure would designate the month of April 2012 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month, would recognize April 25, 2012, as Denim Day California, and would encourage everyone to wear jeans on that day to help communicate the message that there is no excuse for, and never an invitation to commit, rape.
