(1) In counties where the Secretary of State has determined that it is appropriate, existing law requires each precinct board to post, in a conspicuous location in the polling place, at least one facsimile copy of the ballot with the ballot measures and ballot instructions printed in Spanish. Existing law requires that facsimile ballots be printed in other languages and posted in the same manner if a significant and substantial need is found by the Secretary of State. This bill, the California Voting for All Act, would instead require the county elections official to post one facsimile copy of the ballot that is printed in Spanish or other applicable languages, as determined by the Secretary of State, and to provide at least one facsimile copy of the ballot for voters at the polling place to use as a reference when casting a private ballot. If the Secretary of State determines that the number of voting-age residents in a precinct who are members of a single language minority and who lack sufficient skills in English to vote without assistance exceeds 20% of the voting-age residents in that precinct, the bill would require the county elections official to post one facsimile copy of the ballot, as described above, and to provide at least 3 facsimile copies of the ballot for voters at the polling place to use as a reference when casting a private ballot. The bill would require, in polling places where facsimile copies of the ballot are necessary, precinct board members to be trained on the purpose and proper handling of facsimile copies of ballots. The bill would also provide that a county elections official is not required to provide facsimile copies of the ballot in a particular language if the county elections official is required to provide translated ballots in that language under other provisions of law, as specified. The bill would authorize a vote by mail voter to request that a facsimile copy of a ballot be sent by regular mail or electronic mail in the language of his or her preference, as specified. The bill would require a county elections official to prepare the requested facsimile copies no later than 10 days before election day and to process any requests for facsimile copies, as specified. By imposing new duties on county elections officials, the bill would create a state-mandated local program. (2) Existing law, the California Voter's Choice Act, authorizes 14 specified counties, on or after January 1, 2018, and on or after January 1, 2020, any county except for the County of Los Angeles, to conduct any election as an all-mailed ballot election if certain conditions are satisfied. On or after January 1, 2020, the act authorizes the County of Los Angeles to conduct any election as a vote center election if certain conditions are satisfied, including conditions related to ballot dropoff locations and vote centers. This bill would apply certain requirements relating to the availability and accessibility of non-English facsimile ballots and the public posting of voter information to the County of Los Angeles if it conducts a vote center election pursuant to the California Voter's Choice Act. For an all-mailed ballot election or vote center election conducted pursuant to the California Voter's Choice Act, the bill would require a county elections official to determine if a voter has previously identified a preferred language other than English, and would also require a county elections official to provide a facsimile copy of the ballot in the voter's language preference, as specified, if the county is providing facsimile copies of the ballot in that language. (3) Existing law states the intent of the Legislature that non-English-speaking citizens, like all other citizens, should be encouraged to vote and that appropriate efforts should be made to minimize obstacles to non-English-speaking citizens voting without assistance. Existing law requires an elections official to make reasonable efforts to recruit election officials who are fluent in a non-English language and in English, if the official finds that non-English-speaking citizens approximate 3% or more of the voting-age residents of a precinct, or if interested citizens or organizations provide information that the elections official believes indicates a need for voting assistance for qualified non-English-speaking citizens. This bill would require county elections officials to report to the Secretary of State within 150 days following each statewide general election the number of individuals recruited to serve as members of precinct boards, including the number of those individuals recruited who are fluent in each language required to be represented at polling places. The bill would require, at each polling place, a precinct board member to identify the non-English languages spoken by him or her, other than English, by wearing a mechanism identifying the non-English languages spoken by that member. The bill would also make conforming changes to other provisions of law. (4) This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 14200 of the Elections Code proposed by SB 286 to be operative only if this bill and SB 286 are enacted and this bill is enacted last. (5) 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.
Sponsored bills
Existing law prohibits a state agency from including a question regarding an applicant's race, sex, marital status, or religion in any application form for employment. This bill would prohibit a state or local agency or a public employee acting under color of law from providing or disclosing to the federal government personal information regarding a person's religious beliefs, practices, or affiliation, as specified, when the information is sought for compiling a database of individuals based on religious belief, practice, or affiliation, national origin, or ethnicity for law enforcement or immigration purposes. The bill would also prohibit a state agency from using agency resources to assist with any government program compiling such a database, or from making state databases available in connection with an investigation or enforcement under such a program. The bill would prohibit state and local law enforcement agencies and their employees from collecting personal information on the religious beliefs, practices, or affiliation of any individual, except as part of a targeted investigation, as provided, or where necessary to provide religious accommodations. The bill would also prohibit law enforcement agencies from using agency or department moneys, facilities, property, equipment, or personnel to investigate, enforce, or assist in the investigation or enforcement of any criminal, civil, or administrative violation, or warrant for a violation, of any requirement that individuals register with the federal government or any federal agency based on religion, national origin, or ethnicity. The bill would also terminate, to the extent of any conflict, any existing agreements that make any agency or department information or database available in conflict with these provisions. The bill would not prevent the collection, retention, or disclosure of personal information or documents as required by Federal law or a court order. The bill would provide that an agency or employee would only be deemed to be in violation of its provisions if the agency or employee acted with actual knowledge that the information shared would be used for purposes prohibited by these provisions. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.
Existing law requires, as a condition of receipt of funds to reimburse a school for free and reduced-price meals sold or served to pupils, a school or school district to comply with specified requirements and prohibitions, including not selling or serving a food item that contains artificial trans fat. Existing law provides that the only competitive snack foods that may be sold to pupils are fruit, vegetable, dairy, protein, or whole grain-rich food items, in an elementary, middle, or high school, as provided, and imposes other nutritional standards on competitive foods, snacks, and beverages that may be sold to pupils in an elementary, middle, or high school. This bill would prohibit, except as provided, a school, school district, or charter school from advertising food or beverages during the schoolday, as provided, and from participating in a corporate incentive program that rewards pupils with free or discounted foods or beverages that do not comply with those nutritional standards when the pupils reach certain academic goals. The bill would provide that it is the intent of the Legislature that the governing board or body of a school district and a charter school annually review their compliance with these provisions.
Existing law, the California Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, establishes the California Workforce Development Board as the body responsible for assisting the Governor in the development, oversight, and continuous improvement of California's workforce investment system and the alignment of the education and workforce investment systems to the needs of the 21st century economy and workforce. That act requires the establishment of a local workforce development board in each local workforce development area of the state to, among other things, carry out analyses of the economic conditions in the local region. This bill would enact the Removing Barriers to Employment Act, which would establish the Breaking Barriers to Employment Initiative administered by the California Workforce Development Board. The bill would specify that the purpose of the initiative is to create a grant program to provide individuals with barriers to employment the services they need to enter, participate in, and complete broader workforce preparation, training, and education programs aligned with regional labor market needs. The bill would specify that people completing these programs should have the skills and competencies to successfully enter the labor market, retain employment, and earn wages that lead to self-sufficiency and economic security. The bill would require the board to develop criteria for the selection of grant recipients, as specified. The bill also would specify the criteria by which grants are required to be evaluated, the populations that are eligible to be served by grants, and the activities eligible for grant funding. The bill would make the funding of the initiative subject to an appropriation by the Legislature for that purpose and would make implementation of the initiative contingent on the board notifying the Department of Finance that sufficient moneys have been appropriated. The bill would create the Breaking Barriers to Employment Initiative Fund, as specified, in the State Treasury for the purpose of carrying out its provisions.
Existing law allows a person to apply for a change of name or gender, as specified. Existing law prohibits a person imprisoned in the state prison from filing a petition for a change of name unless permitted by the Secretary of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Existing law requires a court to deny a petition for a name change made by a person under the jurisdiction of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, unless that person's parole agent or probation officer determines that the name change will not pose a security risk to the community and grants prior written approval. This bill, commencing September 1, 2018, would remove those limitations on a petition for a change of name filed by a person imprisoned in a state prison. The bill would instead establish the right of a person under the jurisdiction of the department or sentenced to county jail to petition the court to obtain a name or gender change. The bill would require the department or county jail to use the new name of a person who obtains a name change, and to list the prior name only as an alias. This bill would also require that the person petitioning for a name change provide a copy of the petition to the department or sheriff's department at the time of filing. By increasing the duties of county jails, this bill would create 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 provides specified requirements in awarding certain public contracts. This bill would authorize the Governor to execute games support contracts, not to exceed a specified amount, in connection with the site selection process for the City of Los Angeles to become the host for the 2028 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, that accept financial liability to provide the state security for amounts owed by the Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (OCOG) , as specified, and for any financial deficit accruing to the OCOG as a result of the hosting of the games by the endorsing municipality, as defined. The bill would establish the Olympic Games Trust Fund in the State Treasury and would, upon appropriation by the Legislature, make the money in the fund available for these purposes, as specified. This bill would make legislative findings and declarations that, among other things, the endorsing municipality has developed a self-sufficient bid for financing the games.
(1) Existing law authorizes a person who was born in this state and who has undergone clinically appropriate treatment for the purpose of gender transition to obtain a new birth certificate from the State Registrar. This bill would enact the Gender Recognition Act. For purposes of obtaining a new birth certificate under the provisions above, the bill would delete the requirement that an applicant have undergone any treatment, and instead would authorize a person to submit to the State Registrar an application to change gender on the birth certificate and an affidavit attesting, under penalty of perjury, that the request for a change of gender is to conform the person's legal gender to the person's gender identity and not for any fraudulent purpose. By requiring the affidavit to be attested to under penalty of perjury, the bill would create a crime, thereby imposing a state-mandated local program. The bill would authorize the change of gender on a new birth certificate to be female, male, or nonbinary. (2) Existing law authorizes a person who has undergone clinically appropriate treatment for the purpose of gender transition to petition for a court judgment recognizing the change of gender, and to petition for a court order conforming the person's name to the person's gender identity. Existing law provides specific procedures to seek these orders and judgments, either separately or in combination. This bill, commencing on September 1, 2018, would delete the requirement that a person have undergone any treatment to seek a court judgment to recognize a change of gender and instead would authorize the petitioner to attest, under penalty of perjury, that the request is to conform the person's legal gender to the person's gender identity and not for any fraudulent purpose. By requiring the affidavit to be attested to under penalty of perjury, the bill would create a crime, thereby imposing a state-mandated local program. The bill would authorize a change of gender in the court judgment to female, male, or nonbinary. The bill would provide modified procedures to obtain a court order for a change of name to conform to the petitioner's gender identity and a court judgment to recognize a change in the petitioner's gender. The bill would provide a separate procedure for a person under 18 years of age to petition for a court judgment to recognize a change of gender to female, male, or nonbinary. (3) Existing law requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to issue a driver's license to an applicant when the department determines that the applicant is lawfully entitled to a license, and requires the license to contain, among other things, a brief description and engraved picture or photograph of the licensee for the purpose of identification. Existing law requires the application for an original driver's license or renewal of a driver's license to contain specified information, as provided by the applicant. Existing law also authorizes the department to issue identification cards and requires an identification card to adequately describe the applicant. Existing law requires the department, upon issuance of a new identification card or renewal of an identification card, to provide information regarding organ and tissue donation, including an enrollment form for the California Organ and Tissue Donor Registry that requires an applicant to mark his or her sex. This bill, on January 1, 2019, would require an applicant for an original driver's license or renewal of a driver's license to choose a gender category of female, male, or nonbinary, as specified, and would require the department to adopt regulations to provide a process for an amendment to a gender category under these provisions. The bill would also require the enrollment form for the California Organ and Tissue Donor Registry to instead require an applicant to mark his or her gender. This bill would make legislative findings and declarations in support of its provisions. (4) 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.
Under existing law, programs have been established pursuant to bond acts for, among other things, the development and enhancement of state and local parks and recreational facilities. Existing law, the Water Quality, Supply, and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014, approved by the voters as Proposition 1 at the November 4, 2014, statewide general election, authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds in the amount of $7,545,000,000 to finance a water quality, supply, and infrastructure improvement program. Existing law, the Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2006, an initiative measure approved by the voters as Proposition 84 at the November 7, 2006, statewide general election, authorizes the issuance of bonds in the amount of $5,388,000,000 for the purposes of financing safe drinking water, water quality and supply, flood control, natural resource protection, and park improvements. Existing law, the California Clean Water, Clean Air, Safe Neighborhood Parks, and Coastal Protection Act of 2002, approved by the voters as Proposition 40 at the March 5, 2002, statewide primary election, authorizes the issuance of bonds in the amount of $2,600,000,000, for the purpose of financing a program for the acquisition, development, restoration, protection, rehabilitation, stabilization, reconstruction, preservation, and interpretation of park, coastal, agricultural land, air, and historical resources. This bill would enact the California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection, and Outdoor Access For All Act of 2018, which, if approved by the voters, would authorize the issuance of bonds in an amount of $4,000,000,000 pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law to finance a drought, water, parks, climate, coastal protection, and outdoor access for all program. The bill, upon voter approval, would reallocate $100,000,000 of the unissued bonds authorized for the purposes of Propositions 1, 40, and 84 to finance the purposes of a drought, water, parks, climate, coastal protection, and outdoor access for all program. The bill would provide for the submission of these provisions to the voters at the June 5, 2018, statewide primary direct election. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.
Existing law creates the California Transportation Commission, with various powers and duties relative to the programming of transportation capital projects and allocation of funds to those projects pursuant to the state transportation improvement program and various other transportation funding programs. Under existing law, the commission consists of 13 members, 9 of whom are to be appointed by the Governor in consultation with the Senate. Existing law requires the Governor, in appointing members, to use every effort to ensure geographic balance of representation. This bill would additionally require the Governor, in appointing members, to use every effort to ensure that the commission has a diverse membership with expertise in transportation issues, taking into consideration factors including, but not limited to, socioeconomic background and professional experience, which may include experience working in, or representing, disadvantaged communities. This bill would require the commission and the State Air Resources Board to hold at least 2 joint meetings per calendar year to coordinate their implementation of transportation policies.
Existing law generally regulates formation and enforcement of contracts, including what constitutes an unlawful contract. Under existing law, a contract is unlawful if it is contrary to an express provision of law, contrary to the policy of express law, though not expressly prohibited, or otherwise contrary to good morals. Existing law, the Unruh Act, provides for the regulation of retail installment contracts, as defined. Existing law, the Karnette Rental-Purchase Act, provides for the regulation of rental-purchase agreements, as defined. Existing law regulates the sale of dogs and cats in this state, including provisions governing the retail sale of dogs and cats. This bill would declare a contract entered into on or after January 1, 2018, to transfer ownership of a dog or cat in which ownership is contingent upon the making of payments over a period of time subsequent to the transfer of possession of the dog or cat void as against public policy unless those payments are on an unsecured loan for the purchase of that animal. This bill would also declare a contract entered into on or after January 1, 2018, for the lease of a dog or cat that provides for or offers the option of transferring ownership of the dog or cat at the end of the lease term void as against public policy. The bill would require that the consumer taking possession of a dog or cat transferred under one of these contracts be deemed the owner of the dog or cat and be entitled to the return of all amounts paid under the contract.