Asm. Cristina Garcia

This measure would request the Congress of the United States to pass legislation and the President of the United States to sign into law a statute providing for, and the United States Department of Transportation and all federal agencies implementing any federal statute or regulation providing federal funding for ports or multimodal freight transportation to provide, a fair allocation of federal transportation funding for freight projects in California, specifically, and on the Pacific Coast of the United States, generally, based on the volume of containerized freight moved.

This measure would recognize the importance of California Native American Day, celebrated this year on September 23, 2022, and the annual California Indian Cultural Awareness Conference, to the enhancement of awareness of California Indian culture.

Existing law authorizes the State Water Resources Control Board, on behalf of itself or a regional board, to accept donations of moneys from a permittee for the purpose of updating a water quality control plan. This bill would also authorize the state board, on behalf of itself or a regional board, to accept moneys from donations, grants, or contributions, or through contractual agreements, given for the purpose of planning, permitting, or providing technical support for projects of public benefit within the state board or regional board's jurisdiction. The bill would require these moneys and the above-described donations from a permittee to be deposited, and separately accounted for, in the State Water Pollution Cleanup and Abatement Account, for expenditure in accordance with the terms of the donation, grant, contribution, or contractual agreement, to be available for expenditure upon appropriation by the Legislature. The bill would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2028.

Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions. Existing law establishes a schedule of benefits under the Medi-Cal program, including various mental health services. Existing federal law authorizes, at the option of the state, preventive services, as defined, that are recommended by a physician or other licensed practitioner of the healing arts. This bill would add violence prevention services, as defined, as a covered benefit under Medi-Cal, subject to medical necessity and utilization controls. The bill would authorize the department to implement, interpret, or make specific that provision by means of all-county letters, plan letters, or plan or provider bulletins, or similar instructions until regulations are adopted. The bill would limit its implementation only to the extent that any necessary federal approvals are obtained and federal financial participation is not otherwise jeopardized. The bill would require the department to post on its internet website the date upon which violence prevention services may be provided and billed.

This measure would urge the federal government to provide school lunches free of charge to all elementary, middle school, and high school students in the United States.