Asm. Richard Bloom

This measure would provide that the pending Pacific Gas and Electric Company and Pacific Gas and Electric Corporation Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, and any resolution thereof, must protect the citizens of California from the imminent and ongoing threats posed by climate change, the buildup of fuels, and inadequate electrical infrastructure. The measure would provide that it is the will of the Legislature that the Public Utilities Commission, in filings with the bankruptcy court overseeing the proceedings, promote certain policy goals relating to Pacific Gas and Electric Company, the electrical and gas systems, and victims of wildfires, and communicate the proceedings' profound and direct impacts on the people of California. The measure would provide that it is the will of the Legislature that all Pacific Gas and Electric Company executive compensation be restricted based upon strict compliance with safety and reliability laws and that the company reconstitute its board as specified.

This measure would recognize August 15, 2019, as India's Independence Day, and urge all Californians to join in celebrating India's independence.

This measure would call for continued support and recognition of the many benefits provided by Special Olympics.

This measure would state the Legislature's support for federal funding of at least $600 million per year to support the construction and operation of affordable housing through the Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program and would call on the President of the United States and the United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to support significantly increased funding for that program.

Existing law authorizes the Director of General Services, with the approval of the Adjutant General, to lease and sell real property held for armory purposes, subject to legislative approval. Existing law establishes the Armory Fund and requires that all proceeds from the sale or lease of armories be deposited into the fund for use, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for specified purposes related to armories. This bill would authorize the Director of General Services, with the approval of the Adjutant General, to lease a portion of the West Los Angeles Armory to the County of Los Angeles. The bill would require the lease to be for a period of 5 years, and to include options for 4 extensions of 5 additional years each, as specified.

This measure would declare August 2019 as Valley Fever Awareness Month.

This measure would endorse activities in public schools that instruct pupils in upholding and sustaining American democracy, encourage, in the strongest terms, California schools to pursue certain recognized designations that reflect specified ethos and values, and encourage publicly elected officials to conduct themselves in ways that strengthen civic engagement and participation in civil society.

Existing law requires legal counsel to be appointed to represent low-income parties in civil matters involving critical issues affecting basic human needs in specified courts. Existing law requires the Judicial Council to develop one or more pilot projects in selected courts to receive grants to, among other things, provide legal counsel to low-income persons who require legal services in civil matters involving housing-related matters, domestic violence and civil harassment restraining orders, probate conservatorships, guardianships of the person, elder abuse, or actions by a parent to obtain sole legal or physical custody of a child. Existing law places the highest priority for funding on proposals to provide counsel in child custody cases, particularly when one side is represented and the other is not, and requires up to 20% of available funds to be directed to projects regarding civil matters involving actions by a parent to obtain sole legal or physical custody of a child. This bill would instead require the Judicial Council to develop and provide grants for programs in selected courts that provide legal counsel to low-income persons in matters involving child custody, when the parent is seeking to obtain any level of legal or physical custody, and would require that up to 20% of the available funds be directed at civil matters involving an action under the Family Code, as specified. The bill also would place the highest priority for funding on proposals to provide counsel in child custody cases, irrespective of whether one side is represented and the other is not. The bill would also authorize the Judicial Council to accept donations from public or private entities for the purposes of providing grants. Existing law requires the Judicial Council to conduct a study to demonstrate the effectiveness and continued need for the pilot program and to report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature on or before January 31, 2016. This bill would require the Judicial Council to conduct the study and report its findings and recommendations for the programs every 5 years, commencing June 1, 2020. Existing law provides for the assessment of fees for various court services, including, among others, issuing an abstract of judgment and issuing an order of sale. Existing law requires an amount equivalent to $10 of each fee collected to be used by the Judicial Council to implement and administer the civil representation pilot program described above. This bill would increase the amount assessed for the above services by $15, and would require those funds to be used by the Judicial Council to implement and administer the civil representation programs, thereby imposing a tax. This bill would include a change in state statute that would result in a taxpayer paying a higher tax within the meaning of Section 3 of Article XIIIA of the California Constitution, and thus would require for passage the approval of 23 of the membership of each house of the Legislature.

This measure would formally apologize for California's past complicity in enabling and furthering the practice of slavery and would urge the United States Congress and the President of the United States to enact House Resolution 40 to study the legacy of slavery and provide recommendations on redress for descendants of enslaved persons.