Asm. Cristina Garcia

This measure would proclaim support for the mission of the California World War One Centennial Task Force, by designating the time period between August 5, 2017, and November 11, 2018, inclusive, to be observed as the commemoration period of the 100th anniversary of the United States' involvement in World War I.

This measure would recognize the month of June 2017 as Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month, would recognize Wednesday, June 21, 2017, as The Longest Day in California, and would urge all Californians to wear purple on this day to help spread global awareness of the Alzheimer's Association's vision of a world without Alzheimer's disease.

This measure would declare that the Legislature strongly supports, and would respectfully urge the President of the United States and Members of the United States Congress to continue to protect, net neutrality, open Internet access, the federal Lifeline program's discounted telephone service for qualifying low-income consumers, and the E-rate program's discounted telecommunication and Internet access services for schools and libraries. The measure would declare that the Legislature views these as high priorities for California and the country, and opposes any federal efforts to rescind or block them.

Existing law establishes the State Department of Public Health under the direction of the State Public Health Officer. Existing law sets forth the powers and duties of the State Public Health Officer, including, but not limited to, designation as the State Registrar of Vital Statistics, having supervisory powers over local registrars and responsibility for the uniform and thorough enforcement of provisions relating to the registration of certain vital statistics. Existing law requires that each death be registered with the local registrar of births and deaths in the district in which the death was officially pronounced or the body was found. Existing law sets forth the persons responsible for completing the certificate of death and the required contents of the certificate, including, but not limited to, the decedent's name, sex, and birthplace. Certain violations of these requirements are a crime. This bill would require a person completing the certificate of death to record whether the decedent was ever in the Armed Forces of the United States. The bill would also require the State Department of Public Health to access data within the electronic death registration system to compile a report on veteran suicide in California and require the department to annually provide that report to the Legislature and the Department of Veterans Affairs, beginning January 1, 2019. By changing the definition of existing crimes, 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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

The State Civil Service Act prescribes a comprehensive civil service personnel system for the state and specifically provides certain preferences for veterans. The act grants to a person retired from the United States military, honorably discharged from active military duty with a service-connected disability, or honorably discharged from active duty eligibility for civil service examinations for which they meet the minimum qualifications for the classification. The act requires that, in evaluating minimum qualifications, related military experience be considered state civil service experience in a comparable class, based on the duties and responsibilities assigned. The act also requires that request for and proof of eligibility for the veterans' preference be submitted by the veteran to the Department of Human Resources or the designated appointing authority conducting the employment examination, subject to rules promulgated by the Department of Human Resources in consultation with the Department of Veterans Affairs. This bill would authorize the Department of Human Resources or the designated appointing authority, in order to facilitate a request for veterans' preference from a currently serving active duty member of the United States Armed Forces, to use a signed document by the applicant's commanding officer of the military to verify that applicant's military service. The bill would require the department or designated authority, before the applicant enters state service with the benefit of veterans' preference, to otherwise require the same proof of eligibility for veterans' preference generally used.

Existing law, the Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act, provides for the licensure and regulation of commercial cannabis activity, which responsibility is generally divided between the Bureau of Cannabis Control within the Department of Consumer Affairs, the Department of Food and Agriculture, and the State Department of Public Health. Existing law requires the State Department of Public Health to establish and maintain a voluntary program for the issuance of identification cards to qualified patients who have a physician's recommendation for medical cannabis. Existing law requires the counties to process applications and maintain records for the identification card program. This bill would prohibit a state or local agency, as defined, from taking certain actions without a federal agent obtaining a court order signed by a judge and presenting that order to the state or local agency, including using agency money, facilities, property, equipment, or personnel to assist a federal agency to investigate, detain, detect, report, obtain information, or arrest a person for commercial or noncommercial cannabis activity that is authorized or allowed under state and local law in the State of California and from transferring an individual to federal law enforcement or detaining an individual at the request of federal law enforcement or federal authorities for cannabis-related activity that is legal under state and applicable local law.

This measure would state the intent of the Legislature to take the opportunity preceding July 4, 2017, to recognize and celebrate July 4, 2017, and the 241st anniversary of the birth of our great nation and the signing of the Declaration of Independence that this day represents.

This measure would proclaim June 21, 2017, as Asking Saves Kids Day.