Existing law proscribes various forms of animal abuse and neglect and imposes criminal penalties, including fines and imprisonment, for a violation of those laws. Existing law defines an animal for purposes of those laws. This bill would authorize a court, upon its own motion or upon request of a party or counsel for a party, to appoint an advocate to represent the interests of an animal that is the subject of criminal proceedings relating to animal abuse or neglect, as specified. The bill would delineate the duties and authority of the advocate and prescribe the procedures for appointing an advocate. The bill would require the court clerk to maintain a list of attorneys and certified law students who have indicated a willingness to serve as advocates and specify the eligibility criteria. These provisions would apply to cases arising from arrests made on or after January 1, 2021.
Sponsored bills
This measure would proclaim January 23, 2020, as Maternal Health Awareness Day, to draw attention to the efforts that have improved maternal health in California and to highlight the need for continued improvement of maternal health for all women.
Existing law, the Mental Health Services Act, an initiative measure enacted by the voters as Proposition 63 at the November 2, 2004, statewide general election, funds a system of county mental health plans for the provision of mental health services, as specified. The act establishes the Mental Health Services Fund, which is continuously appropriated to, and administered by, the State Department of Health Care Services to fund specified county mental health programs. This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to those provisions.
Existing law declares that the fostering, continuance, and development of public transportation systems are a matter of state concern. Existing law authorizes the Department of Transportation to administer various programs and allocates moneys for various public transportation purposes. This bill would require transit agencies to offer free senior transit passes to persons over 65 years of age in order to be eligible for state funding under the Mills-Deddeh Transit Development Act, the State Transit Assistance Program, and the Low Carbon Transit Operations Program. The bill would require those free senior transit passes to count as full price fares for purposes of calculating the ratio of fare revenues to operating costs.
This measure would designate the month of January 2020 as Positive Parenting Awareness Month in California.
This measure, among other things, would declare that California is a Reproductive Freedom State for All and provide that the Legislature is committed to guaranteeing the constitutionally protected right to an abortion and supporting efforts to increase access to the best available reproductive and pregnancy-related care for women and pregnant individuals.
This measure would proclaim January 13, 2020, as Korean American Day.
This measure would honor the late Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.