Asm. Isaac Bryan

Existing law, beginning on June 26, 2023, establishes the Independent Consumer Fuels Advisory Committee within the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Energy Commission) to advise the Energy Commission and the Division of Petroleum Market Oversight, as provided. Existing law prescribes the composition of the 8-member committee, including 6 specified members appointed by the Governor, one member appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly, and one member appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules. Existing law requires one member appointed by the Governor to represent labor. Existing law prohibits a member of the committee from having been employed by, contracted with, or received direct compensation from, a company that produces, refines, distributes, trades in, markets, or sells any petroleum product in the preceding 12 months, except as provided. Existing law specifies that the schedule of meetings of the committee is to be prescribed by the Energy Commission. This bill would specify that the above prohibition does not exclude a representative of a labor organization whose membership consists of, in whole or in part, individuals employed by a company that produces, refines, distributes, trades in, markets, or sells any petroleum product. The bill would require the gubernatorial appointee who represents labor to instead represent a labor organization with experience in refinery operations. The bill would require the committee to meet no less than annually. Existing law requires the Energy Commission, in consultation with the Labor and Workforce Development Agency and labor and industry stakeholders, to consider ways to manage necessary refinery turnarounds and maintenance that would protect the health and safety of employees and the public, and minimize the impacts of maintenance-related production losses on fuel prices. Existing law authorizes the Energy Commission, by regulation, to impose requirements governing the timing of turnaround and maintenance. This bill would expressly require those regulations to protect the health and safety of employees, local communities, and the public, and to include criteria that are required to be met before a refinery commences a turnaround or maintenance event, as provided. This bill would require the Energy Commission, in consultation with the committee, to consider the effects of refiners' inventories of fuel and feedstocks and blending components on the price of transportation fuels in California. The bill would authorize the Energy Commission, by regulation, to develop and impose requirements for refiners operating in the state to maintain minimum levels of inventories of refined transportation fuels meeting California specifications, including any feedstocks and blending components, as specified. The bill would prohibit the Energy Commission from applying a minimum inventory requirement to a refiner in a manner that would be met only by the construction of additional storage infrastructure, as determined by the Energy Commission. The bill would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2033. This bill would impose an administrative civil penalty on a refiner or person who fails to comply with regulations adopted pursuant to the above-described authority and would authorize the Energy Commission to seek any form of injunctive or remedial relief to enforce compliance with those regulations, as provided. Existing law requires the Energy Commission, on or before January 1, 2024, and every 3 years thereafter, to submit an assessment to the Governor and the Legislature that, among other things, identifies methods to ensure a reliable supply of affordable and safe transportation fuels in California, as provided. This bill, beginning with the first assessment submitted after the effective date of the bill, would require that the assessment also include an evaluation of California's future petroleum product and crude oil import needs, identification of steps that can be taken to ensure that marine infrastructure and port facilities will be adequate to accommodate the efficient movement of petroleum products to meet those needs, an evaluation of ways to maximize use of existing infrastructure and minimize cumulative pollution burdens, and an evaluation of the effects on supplies of transportation fuels of state regulations that the Energy Commission identifies may be causing supply constraints, or for which the Energy Commission believes alternative compliance pathways should be considered by state agencies to mitigate potential impacts on supply.

The Planning and Zoning Law requires the legislative body of a city or county to adopt a comprehensive, long-term general plan that includes various elements, including, among others, a safety element for the protection of the community from unreasonable risks associated with the effects of various geologic and seismic hazards, flooding, and wildland and urban fires. This bill would require a city or county, upon the next update of one or more of the elements included in the general plan on or after January 1, 2028, to review and update its safety element as necessary to address the hazard of extreme heat, as specified. The bill would authorize a city or county that has adopted an extreme heat action plan or other document that fulfills commensurate goals and objectives to use that information in the safety element, as specified, and, upon doing so, would require the city or county to summarize and incorporate into the safety element the other plan or document. The bill would also authorize a city or county to use or reference information in the Extreme Heat Action Plan and the State Hazard Mitigation Plan, as described, to comply with the above-described updating requirement. Existing law requires the planning agency to review and, if necessary, revise the safety element upon each revision of its housing element or local hazard mitigation plan, but not fewer than once every 8 years, to identify new information relating to flood and fire hazards and climate adaptation and resiliency strategies applicable to the city or county that was not available during the previous revision of the safety element. This bill would require the planning agency to also identify new information relating to extreme heat hazards applicable to the city or county that was not available during the previous revision of the safety element. The bill would include findings that changes proposed by this bill address a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair and, therefore, apply to all cities, including charter cities. 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 bill would provide that the changes proposed in Section 1 of this bill, amending Section 65302 of the Government Code, would not become operative if AB 1889 is enacted, and amends Section 65302 of the Government Code, as specified, in which case Section 2 of this bill, adding Section 65302.01 to the Government Code, would become operative.

Existing federal law provides for allocation of federal funds to eligible states through the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant program. Existing state law provides for the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program under which, through a combination of state and county funds and federal funds received through the TANF program, each county provides cash assistance and other benefits to qualified low-income families. Under existing law, certain types of payments received by recipients of aid under the CalWORKs program, including, among others, an award or scholarship provided by a public or private entity to, or on behalf of, a dependent child are exempt from consideration as income for purposes of determining eligibility and aid amount. Existing federal law provides for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) , known in California as CalFresh, under which supplemental nutrition assistance benefits allocated to the state by the federal government are distributed to eligible individuals by each county. Existing law requires the eligibility of households to be determined to the extent permitted by federal law. Existing federal regulation provides states with the option to exclude, for purposes of calculating a household's income under SNAP, any type of income that the state excludes when determining eligibility or benefits for TANF cash assistance. This bill would exempt any fellowship benefit that is not received monthly, and any grant, award, scholarship, or loan, that is provided to any assistance unit member from consideration as income or resources for purposes of determining CalWORKs eligibility or grant amounts, as specified. The bill would also require, to the extent permitted by federal law, regulation, or guidance, or a waiver thereof, the State Department of Social Services to exercise a federal option to exclude, for purposes of calculating a household's income under CalFresh, any type of income that the department excludes when determining eligibility or benefits for CalWORKs. This bill would require the department to implement these provisions through an all-county letter or similar instruction until regulations are adopted. By expanding the scope of eligibility for CalWORKs and CalFresh, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing law continuously appropriates moneys from the General Fund to defray a portion of county costs under the CalWORKs program. This bill would provide that the continuous appropriation would not be made for purposes of implementing the bill. This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 11157 of the Welfare and Institutions Code proposed by SB 242 to be operative only if this bill and SB 242 are enacted and this bill is enacted last. 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 the statutory provisions noted above.

Existing law, until January 1, 2027, authorizes a party to appear remotely and a court to conduct conferences, hearings, proceedings, and trials in civil cases, in whole or in part, through the use of remote technology. Existing law, until January 1, 2027, allows any juvenile dependency proceeding to be conducted in whole or in part through the use of remote technology subject to certain conditions, including that a witness may appear through remote technology only with the consent of all parties and if the witness has access to appropriate technology. This bill would exempt parents, children, nonminor dependents, and Indian tribes in juvenile dependency proceedings from obtaining the consent of all parties in order to utilize remote technology for the appearance of an expert witness.

Existing law, the California Refinery and Chemical Plant Worker Safety Act of 1990, requires the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board to adopt process safety management standards for refineries, chemical plants, and other manufacturing facilities, as prescribed. Existing law requires a petroleum refinery employer to submit an annual schedule of planned turnarounds, as defined, for all affected units for the following calendar year and to provide prescribed access onsite and to related documentation. Existing law also establishes requirements for Division of Occupational Safety and Health access to, and disclosure of, trade secrets, as defined, including information relating to planned turnarounds of petroleum refinery employers. This bill would remove references in existing law to petroleum refineries and petroleum refinery employers and, instead, refer to refineries and refinery employers. The bill would define "refinery" to mean an establishment that produces gasoline, diesel fuel, aviation fuel, or biofuel, as defined, through the processing of crude oil or alternative feedstock. The bill would, by January 1, 2026, require the division to propose, and the board to consider for adoption, regulations that implement this part for refineries.

Under existing law, when a person who is in custody dies, the agency with jurisdiction over the state or local correctional facility with custodial responsibility for the person at the time of their death is required to post specified information, including the date on which the death occurred and the decedent's age, race, and gender, on its internet website within 10 days of the death. Existing law requires the agency to update the posting within 30 days if any information regarding the death changes. The bill would require the agency to post this specified information on its internet website when a juvenile who is in custody dies. The bill would require the agency to also update the posting if the date on which the death occurred changes, once determined by a medical examiner or similar entity. The bill would define in-custody death for these purposes. By expanding the duties of local agencies, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. 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 the statutory provisions noted above.

Existing law requires the department to establish the California Child and Family Service Review System, in order to review all county child welfare systems, including child protective services, foster care, adoption, family preservation, family support, and independent living. Existing law requires the California Health and Human Services Agency to convene a workgroup, as prescribed, to establish a work plan by which child and family service reviews shall be conducted. Existing law requires the workgroup to consider, among other things, measurable outcome indicators, which shall be consistent with specified federal measures and standards. This bill, subject to an appropriation by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act or another statute for these purposes, would require the California Child and Family Service Review System to include data from the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) assessment tool, and would also authorize it to include other behavioral health data that is readily available to the department and determined by the department to be relevant. The bill would authorize the department to consider feedback from specified stakeholders in determining which additional relevant data to include.

Existing law requires the State Department of Social Services (department) and county welfare departments to establish and support a public system of statewide child welfare services available in each county, as specified. Existing law declares the intent of the Legislature to encourage the continuity of the family unit by providing family preservation services, which may include counseling, mental health treatment, and transportation, among other things. Existing law requires an authorized participating county to provide specific programs of direct services based on individual family needs, as specified. Existing law authorizes a county to establish family preservation programs that serve one or more geographic areas of the county, subject to the approval of the department. Existing law requires that the services selected by a participating county be reasonable and meritorious, as specified. Existing law prescribes standards for services provided by each county to be deemed successful. This bill, the Foster Care Justice through Meaningful Help for Parents Act, would also require that those services have a track record of helping families, have their outcomes tracked and reported, and be designed to eradicate the situation that necessitated intervention. The bill would require, as of January 1, 2026, and to be implemented by each county on the next grant cycle or service provider selection cycle after January 1, 2026, that each service provider, at the time the provider is selected by a participating county, provide services that are reasonable, meritorious, and that demonstrate cost-effectiveness and success at avoiding out-of-home placement, or reduce the length of stay in out-of-home placement. The bill would require, commencing January 1, 2026, service providers to be reviewed for reasonableness, merit, and whether they demonstrated cost-effectiveness and success at avoiding out-of-home placement, or reduce the length of stay in out-of-home placement no less than every 3 years after selection. The bill would include, as of January 1, 2026, additional standards for services provided by each county to be deemed successful. The bill would make related findings and declarations. Under existing law, the program in each county is deemed successful if certain standards are met, including that at least 60% of the children receiving services remain at home one year, and 2 years, after services are terminated. This bill would add as a standard that, during the first year after services are terminated, no more than 25% of children whose parents or guardian received services are children who meet any of specified circumstances, including removal from the physical custody of their parents or guardians. The bill would also add, among other standards, 2 years after termination of the services, that no more than 10% of the children meet any of those circumstances. Existing law requires the Office of Child Abuse Prevention within the department to require counties to submit annual reports on program services and children and families served. This bill would require, commencing January 1, 2026, that the annual reports include certain information to demonstrate whether the services meet the standards for being deemed successful. The bill would require the department to post the annual report to its internet website within 30 business days of receipt of an annual report from a county.

Existing law requires a person who is incarcerated in state prison or confined in a local detention facility, or a state or local juvenile facility, and who menstruates or experiences uterine or vaginal bleeding to, upon request, have access to, be allowed to use, and continue to use materials necessary for personal hygiene with regard to their menstrual cycle and reproductive system, including, but not limited to, sanitary pads and tampons. This bill would require the person to have ready access to these menstrual products without having to request them. By imposing additional duties on local detention facilities, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. 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 the statutory provisions noted above.

Existing law requires that a person arrested without a warrant be taken before a magistrate without unnecessary delay. Existing law also provides certain circumstances under which a person arrested without a warrant may be released from custody before being taken before a magistrate, including, among others, when the arresting officer believes that insufficient grounds exist to make a criminal complaint against the person arrested or when the person is arrested for intoxication only and no further proceedings are desirable. Existing law requires the record of arrest of a person released pursuant to specified circumstances to include a record of release and that the arrest be deemed a detention. This bill would authorize an arresting officer to release an arrested person from custody without bringing the person before a magistrate if the person is, subsequent to being arrested, delivered or referred to a public health or social service organization that provides services including, but not limited to, housing, medical care, treatment for alcohol or substance use disorders, psychological counseling, or employment training and education, the organization agrees to accept the delivery or referral, and no further proceedings are desirable. The bill would require that the arrest under this provision be deemed a detention.