This measure would designate April 3, 2016, to April 9, 2016, inclusive, as Women and Girls in STEM Week and would encourage all citizens and community organizations to support the observance of California Women and Girls in STEM Week by encouraging and celebrating women in the STEM fields.
Sponsored bills
This measure would declare the week of March 7, 2016, through March 13, 2016, as Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week.
(1) Existing law makes every trust, subject to specified exemptions, unlawful, against public policy, and void. A "trust" is defined for these purposes as a combination of capital, skill, or acts by 2 or more persons for certain designated purposes. Under existing law, these purposes include, among others, creating or carrying out restrictions in trade or commerce or preventing competition in manufacturing, making, transportation, sale, or purchase of merchandise, produce, or any commodity. The act also makes it unlawful for any person to lease or make a sale or contract for the sale of products on the condition, agreement, or understanding that the lessee or purchaser not use or deal in the products or services of a competitor where the effect is to substantially lessen competition or tend to create a monopoly in any line of commerce. A violation of the act is punishable as a crime. This bill would expand the definition of "trust" by including as one of those purposes, and would also make it unlawful under the act to, include in any outlet center lease for a retail establishment between a lessor and lessee, a radius restriction prohibiting the lessee from opening or operating the same retail establishment in a separate outlet center located 10 miles or more in distance from the leased retail establishment. Because the bill would add to the activities prohibited by the act, the violation of which would be punishable as a crime, the 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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
This measure would proclaim the month of March 2016 as Grand Jury Awareness Month in California, recognize those who volunteer in a grand jury, and encourage all Californians to learn about its role in the judicial system.
Existing unemployment compensation disability law provides a formula for determining benefits available to qualifying disabled individuals. For an individual who has quarterly base wages of greater than $1,749.20, the weekly benefit is calculated by multiplying base wages by 55% and dividing the result by 13. For a benefit that is not a multiple of $1, existing law provides that the benefit shall be computed to the next higher multiple of $1. However, existing law provides that this amount may not exceed the maximum workers' compensation temporary disability indemnity weekly benefit amount. Under existing law, the family temporary disability insurance program provides up to 6 weeks of wage replacement benefits to workers who take time off work to care for specified persons, or to bond with a minor child within one year of the birth or placement of the child in connection with foster care or adoption. Existing law defines "weekly benefit amount" for purposes of this program to mean the amount of benefits available to qualifying disabled individuals pursuant to unemployment compensation disability law. This bill would revise the formula for determining benefits available pursuant to unemployment compensation disability law and for the family temporary disability insurance program, for periods of disability commencing after January 1, 2018, but before January 1, 2022, to provide a weekly benefit amount minimum of $50 and increase the wage replacement rate to specified percentages, but not to exceed the maximum workers' compensation temporary disability indemnity weekly benefit amount established by the Department of Industrial Relations pursuant to existing law. Existing law deems an individual to be eligible for family temporary disability benefits if, among other things, the individual is unable to perform his or her regular or customary work for a 7-day waiting period during each disability benefit period. and prohibits payments for benefits during this waiting period. This bill, on and after January 1, 2018, also would remove the 7-day waiting period for these benefits. This bill, by authorizing an increase in the expenditure of money from the Unemployment Compensation Disability Fund, would make an appropriation. This bill would require, by July 1, 2017, the Employment Development Department to report to the Assembly Committee on Insurance and Senate Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations specified information regarding the waiting period for disability benefits. The bill also would require, by March 1, 2021, the department to prepare a report to the Legislature and specified legislative committees on levels and trends regarding utilization, costs, and rates with respect to family leave and disability insurance.