This measure would recognize May 2018 as National Mental Health Awareness Month in California to enhance public awareness of mental illness.
Existing law establishes the University of California, established under the California Constitution as a public trust under the administration of the Regents of the University of California, the California State University, under the administration of the Trustees of the California State University, the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, independent institutions of higher education, and private postsecondary educational institutions as the segments of postsecondary education in this state. This bill would require a campus of the California Community Colleges or the California State University, and would request a campus of the University of California, to make and disseminate a free speech statement that affirms the importance of, and the campus's commitment to promoting, freedom of expression. The bill would require those campuses to supplement that statement with educational programming, including, but not limited to, online resources. Because the bill would impose new duties on a campus of the California Community Colleges, the 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 authorizes the Director of Fish and Wildlife to establish 2 free hunting days per year: one in the fall, and one in the winter. Existing law authorizes a California unlicensed resident to hunt during a free hunting day if accompanied by a licensed hunter, subject to certain conditions. Existing law prohibits these provisions from being implemented until the Department of Fish and Wildlife's Automated License Data System is fully operational for at least one year. This bill would require, rather than authorize, the director to establish 2 free hunting days per year one in the fall and one in the spring, no later than July 1, 2019. The bill would delete the prohibition requiring a delay in implementation of the above-described provisions.
Existing law, as amended by Proposition 21, approved March 7, 2000, and by Proposition 83, approved November 7, 2006, classifies certain felonies as violent felonies for purposes of sentencing. Existing law imposes an additional one-year term for a felony and a 3-year term for a violent felony for each prior separate prison term served for a violent felony. Existing law, as added by Proposition 184, approved November 8, 1994, and amended by Proposition 36, approved November 6, 2012, commonly known as the Three Strikes Law, also imposes additional years of imprisonment in state prison on a person who commits a violent felony and has been convicted of, or who has a prior conviction for, a violent felony. The Legislature may amend the above-specified initiative statutes by a statute passed in each house by a 23 vote. This bill would amend those initiative statutes by clarifying human trafficking to effect or maintain a violation of specified sex crimes a violent felony. Because this bill would increase penalties for a crime, it 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 California Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1973 provides the Division of Occupational Safety and Health within the Department of Industrial Relations with the power, jurisdiction, and supervision over all employment and places of employment necessary to enforce and administer all occupational health and safety laws,and standards and to protect employees. The Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board, an independent entity within the department, has the exclusive authority to adopt occupational safety and health standards within the state. Existing law requires every employer to comply with those standards. A violation of these standards and regulations under specific circumstances is a crime. This bill would require the board to adopt occupational safety and health standards for state public works projects to prevent and control coccidioidomycosis, more commonly known as Valley Fever. By expanding the definition of an existing crime, 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.
Existing law requires a person who owns, leases, controls, operates, or maintains an occupied dwelling or occupied structure in, upon, or adjoining a mountainous area, forest-covered land, brush-covered land, grass-covered land, or land that is covered with flammable material within a very high fire hazard severity zone to at all times maintain defensible space of 100 feet from each side and from the front and rear of the structure, as provided. Existing law vests control of the state park system with the Department of Parks and Recreation. Existing law provides that the department has the right to remove and dispose of debris deposited on public beaches, waterways, or lands within the state park system when the deposits create a hazard or impediment to public safety, enjoyment, and use of the public beach, waterway, or land. This bill would, until January 1, 2023, require the department, upon request by a private property owner or by an agency of local government or a local official, to reduce surface fuels or other fire hazards on the department's property that are within 300 feet of a structure on the land of the property owner or local government, as provided. The bill would require the department, in consultation with the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, to determine the necessary amount of surface fuel or fire hazard reduction work, as prescribed.
Existing law, the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) , an initiative measure enacted by the voters as Proposition 63 at the November 2, 2004, statewide general election, establishes the continuously appropriated Mental Health Services Fund to fund various county mental health programs. Existing law requires the State Department of Health Care Services to, among other things, implement specified mental health services through contracts with county mental health programs or counties acting jointly. Existing law requires the department to conduct program reviews of performance contracts to determine compliance, as specified. If a county mental health program is not in compliance with its performance contract, existing law authorizes the department to request a plan of correction with a specific timeline to achieve improvements. Existing law authorizes the act to be amended by a 23 vote of the Legislature if the amendments are consistent with, and further the intent of, the act. Existing law authorizes the Legislature to add provisions to clarify procedures and terms of the act by majority vote. Existing law establishes the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission to oversee various parts of the act, as specified. Existing law authorizes the commission to, among other things, obtain data and information from specified entities to utilize in its oversight, review, training and technical assistance, accountability, and evaluation capacity regarding projects and programs supported with MHSA funds. This bill would require the commission to develop a local government transparency and accountability strategy for local mental health programs that includes fiscal, program and outcome components, as specified. The bill would also require the commission to develop a transparency and accountability strategy for state government that includes fiscal information, and information on programs and outcomes related to mental health. The state and local plans would include developing elements, information tools, materials, or other efforts that allow for public awareness and monitoring of state level mental health spending, activities, and outcomes, as specified. With respect to the program component of the local transparency and accountability strategy, the bill would require the State Department of Health Care Services to adopt, by January 1, 2020, and periodically update, regulations regarding demographic reporting or other requirements, that are consistent with regulations adopted by the commission and support the transparency and accountability strategy developed by the commission. The bill would require the commission to assess the adequacy of existing statutory and regulatory data reporting requirements, strategies, and practices, and make recommendations to the Governor and Legislature for streamlining and strengthening those strategies. The bill would require the commission, in developing the transparency and accountability strategy, to prepare and report to the Legislature on or before March 31, 2020, and periodically thereafter, on the commission's progress in complying with the requirements of the bill, and any funding, personnel, authority, or other resources the commission may need to achieve the bill's intent.
The Personal Income Tax Law allows various credits against the taxes imposed by that law, including certain credits that are allowed in modified conformity to credits allowed by federal income tax laws. Federal income tax laws allow a refundable earned income tax credit (EITC) for certain low-income individuals who have earned income, as specified and who meet certain other requirements. The Personal Income Tax Law, in modified conformity with federal income tax laws, allows an earned income credit against personal income tax, and a payment in excess of that credit amount, to an eligible individual that is equal to that portion of the EITC allowed by federal law as determined by the EITC adjustment factor as set forth in the annual Budget Act which, unless otherwise specified in that act, is 0%. This bill would require the Franchise Tax Board to revise the Form 540 to include specified language relating to claiming the California EITC on the Form 3514 and to revise the Form 540 2EZ to attach the Form 3514. Existing law, the Earned Income Tax Credit Information Act, requires state departments and agencies that serve those who may qualify for the federal EITC and the California EITC to notify their program recipients that they may be eligible for the federal EITC and the California EITC, as provided. Existing law defines "state departments and agencies that serve those who may qualify for the federal EITC and the California EITC" to mean certain programs in the State Department of Education, the Employment Development Department, and the State Department of Health Care Services. This bill would expand the definition of "state departments and agencies that serve those who may qualify for the federal EITC and the California EITC" to include the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program in the State Department of Social Services and would require those state departments and agencies that serve those who may qualify for the federal EITC and the California EITC to additionally provide the Internet Web site address of the Form 540 2EZ and a physical paper copy of the Form 540 2EZ to those program recipients who may be eligible for the federal EITC and the California EITC.
This measure would declare the support of the Legislature for the expansion of sensory-friendly movie screenings and similar programs for people with autism, and would encourage families to attend a sensory-friendly movie screening during April 2018, which is National Autism Awareness Month.
This measure would, among other things, designate the year 2018 as "State of California Year of Commemoration of the Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide of 1915–1923," would designate April 24, 2018, as "State of California Day of Commemoration of the 103rd Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide of 1915–1923," and would call upon the President of the United States and the United States Congress to formally and consistently reaffirm the historical truth that the atrocities committed against the Armenian people constituted genocide.
