Existing law defines specified terms used in provisions of law related to instructional materials, including technology-based materials. Existing law defines technology-based materials as basic or supplemental instructional materials that are designed as learning resources and that require the availability of electronic equipment in order to be used. However, the technology-based materials do not include the electronic equipment required to make use of those materials. This bill would revise the definition of technology-based materials to specify that they may include the electronic equipment required in order to use them if that equipment is to be used by pupils and teachers as a learning resource. This bill would provide that its provisions not be construed to relieve a school district of the obligation to provide pupils with sufficient textbooks or instructional materials, as specified. The bill would prohibit a school district from procuring this electronic equipment pursuant to the bill if a county office of education determines that the district is out of compliance with this obligation.
Sponsored bills
Existing law, the Instructional Materials Funding Realignment Program, provides for funds to be apportioned to school districts based upon enrollment to ensure that each pupil is provided with a standards-aligned textbook or basic instructional materials, as adopted by the State Board of Education subsequent to the adoption of content standards, or as adopted by the local governing board, for grades 9 to 12, inclusive. This bill would provide that a local governing board may use funding received pursuant to these provisions to purchase state-adopted instructional materials for kindergarten and grades 1 to 8, inclusive, and state standards-aligned materials for grades 9 to 12, inclusive, in an electronic or hardbound format if it can ensure that each pupil will be provided with a copy of the instructional materials to use at school and at home. However, providing access to the materials at school and at home would not require the local educational agency to purchase 2 sets of materials.
Existing law designates the State Air Resources Board as the state agency charged with coordinating efforts to attain and maintain ambient air quality standards. Existing law also designates the state board as the state agency with the primary responsibility for the control of vehicular air pollution. Existing law requires the state board to identify toxic air contaminants that are emitted into the ambient air of the state, and requires the state board to establish toxic control measures for toxic air contaminants. Existing regulations adopted by the state board establish toxic control measures to limit schoolbus idling and idling at schools. Those existing regulations require drivers of schoolbuses, transit buses, school pupil activity buses, youth buses, general public paratransit vehicles, as those terms are defined in the regulations, and specified transit buses and commercial motor vehicles to, among other things, turn off the bus or vehicle engine upon stopping at or within 100 feet of a school, prohibits those drivers from turning the bus or vehicle engine on more than 30 seconds before beginning to depart from a school or within 100 feet of a school, and prohibits those drivers from causing the bus or vehicle to idle for more than 5 consecutive minutes or 5 aggregate minutes in any one hour at any location greater than 100 feet from a school. Those existing regulations provide that any violation of those requirements subjects the driver or the motor carrier to a minimum civil penalty of $100 and to criminal penalties. Those existing regulations authorize the state board, peace officers and the authorized representatives of their law enforcement agencies, and air quality management districts and air pollution control districts, to enforce those provisions. This bill would increase the minimum civil penalty for a violation to $300 and authorize additional civil penalties.
Existing law, the False Claims Act, provides that a person who commits any one of several enumerated acts relating to the submission to the state or a political subdivision of the state a false claim for money, property, or services, as specified, shall be liable to the state or political subdivision for certain damages and may be liable for a civil penalty. Existing law requires the Attorney General and a prosecuting authority of a political subdivision of the state to diligently investigate specific violations of the act. Existing law also authorizes the Attorney General or the prosecuting authority of a political subdivision of the state to intervene in an action filed by a qui tam plaintiff under these provisions. Existing law authorizes a court to award a defendant its reasonable attorney's fees and expenses under certain circumstances that include when the court finds the claim was brought solely for purposes of harassment. This bill would define terms for purposes of these provisions, expand the definition of a claim, and require the imposition of a civil penalty on a person found liable for a violation. This bill would exclude from these provisions specified claims to the Commissioner of Insurance. This bill would require the written consent of the Attorney General or prosecuting authority of a political subdivision, or both, as appropriate under the allegations of the civil action, to dismiss an action filed by a qui tam plaintiff, and would prohibit the waiver or release of specified claims except as part of a settlement of a civil action filed under these provisions. The bill would also modify the statute of limitations to commence on the date of discovery by the Attorney General or prosecuting authority of a political subdivision. This bill would modify when a court is authorized to award a defendant reasonable attorney's fees and expenses to when the court finds the claim was brought primarily, rather than solely, for purposes of harassment. This bill would state that the Attorney General or prosecuting authority of a political subdivision has a duty to investigate specific violations of the act.
(1) Existing law requires the principal of a school or the principal's designee to notify the appropriate law enforcement agencies of the county or city in which the school is situated of certain unlawful acts committed by a pupil that may result in suspension, expulsion, or criminal liability of the pupil, as specified. This bill would require a school principal or the principal's designee to report any act involving either the possession, sale, or furnishment of a firearm, as specified, or the possession of an explosive, as specified, committed by a pupil or nonpupil on a schoolsite to the city police or county sheriff with jurisdiction over the school and the school security department or the school police department, as applicable. By requiring school principals or their designees to perform additional duties, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (2) 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.
Existing law, the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act, grants persons with developmental disabilities the right to receive services and supports to meet their needs. Existing law requires that the State Department of Developmental Services contract with private nonprofit corporations for the operation of regional centers to obtain services and supports for an individual with a developmental disability in accordance with his or her individual program plan (IPP) . Existing law establishes an independent State Council on Developmental Disabilities to, among other things, develop and implement the state plan required by the federal government. This bill would encourage the individual program planning team to discuss school-to-work opportunities for consumers commencing at 14 years of age. This bill would require the State Council on Developmental Disabilities to form a standing Employment First Committee, as specified, to implement an Employment First Policy by July 1, 2011, and annually thereafter, report to the Legislature and the Governor describing the committee's work and recommendations.
Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations, as defined. Existing law authorizes a local government, as defined, to receive a bill credit, as defined, to be applied to a designated benefiting account for electricity exported to the electrical grid by an eligible renewable generating facility, as defined, and requires the commission to adopt a rate tariff for the benefiting account. The existing definition of a local government excludes a joint powers authority, the state, and any agency or department of the state. This bill would authorize a "campus," defined as an individual community college campus, University of California campus, or California State University campus, to receive a bill credit to be applied to a designated benefiting account for electricity exported to the electrical grid by an eligible renewable generating facility.
Existing law creates the California Border Environmental and Public Health Protection Fund. The money in that fund is available, upon appropriation, to the Secretary for Environmental Protection to assist local governments in implementation of projects to identify and resolve environmental and public health problems that directly threaten the health or environmental quality of California residents or sensitive natural resources of the California border region, to provide technical assistance, to provide funds for equipment and labor costs associated with emergency abatement of environmental and public health problems imposed on residents of California due to cross-border impacts of pollutants originating from Baja California, and to provide analytical and scientific equipment and services needed by border area public agencies to identify and monitor the sources of environmental and public health threats posed by the cross-border transmission of environmental pollutants and toxics. This bill would, contingent upon the execution of an agreement with the City of Calexico for the purpose of providing the necessary funding, require the California-Mexico Border Relations Council to develop a strategic plan containing specific elements to guide the implementation of the New River Improvement Project. The bill would authorize the council to appoint, convene, and oversee a technical advisory committee that would advise the council regarding the necessary studies and activities to carry out the project. The bill would create the New River Improvement Project Account in the fund and moneys in the account, upon appropriation by the Legislature, would be expended for activities related to the New River.
This measure would recognize the pioneering work of promotores and community health workers in delivering vital and cost-effective health care services in communities throughout California and declare October 2009 as California Promotores Month.
This measure would designate the month of October 2009 as Extended Opportunity Programs and Services Month to honor the mission and purposes of the Extended Opportunity Programs and Services.