Asm. Wilmer Amina Carter

Existing law provides that grand theft is theft when the money, labor, or real or personal property taken is of a value exceeding $950 and is punishable as either a misdemeanor or a felony. This bill would provide that every person who steals, takes, or carries away copper materials which are of a value exceeding $950 is guilty of grand theft, punishable by a fine not exceeding $2,500, imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, or by both that fine and imprisonment, or by imprisonment in a county jail or the state prison not exceeding 16 months, or 2 or 3 years and a fine not to exceed $10,000, as specified.

This measure would designate the month of September of every year as Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month throughout the State of California, and would encourage and promote efforts to educate the people and the health care practitioners of the state regarding ovarian cancer and its early detection and prevention, the risk factors involved in its development, and the early warning symptoms and signs.

This measure would proclaim May 2 through May 9, 2011, as Cinco de Mayo Week, and would urge all Californians to join in celebrating Cinco de Mayo.

Existing law requires agents and insurers to fulfill certain requirements with regard to the replacement of existing life insurance policies and annuities. This bill would require insurers and insurance producers, as defined, to comply with specified requirements regarding the purchase, exchange, or replacement of an annuity recommended to a consumer, including, but not limited to, having reasonable grounds for the insurance producer believing the annuity transaction would be suitable for the consumer, as provided. The bill would also prohibit an insurance producer from selling annuities unless he or she has received Insurance Commissioner-approved training, and would authorize the commissioner to require certain actions by, and impose sanctions and penalties on, insurers and their agents for a violation of the bill's provisions. The bill would further provide that sales by a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) broker-dealer that comply with the suitability and supervision requirements of FINRA shall be deemed to satisfy the suitability and supervision requirements of this bill, as specified.

This measure would designate a specified location on State Highway Route 1 in the City of Guadalupe in Santa Barbara County as the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway. This measure would also request the Department of Transportation to determine the cost of appropriate signs showing this special designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate sources covering those costs, to erect those signs.

This measure would proclaim October 22 to October 30, 2011, as including Red Ribbon Week, and would encourage all Californians to help build drug-free communities and participate in drug prevention activities.

Existing law sets forth the purpose of juvenile court law, and provides that a minor under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court who is in need of protective services shall receive care, treatment, and guidance consistent with his or her best interest and the best interest of the public. Existing law provides that a minor under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court as a consequence of delinquent conduct shall, in conformity with the interests of public safety and protection, receive care, treatment, and guidance that is consistent with his or her best interest, that holds the minor accountable for his or her behavior, and that is appropriate for his or her circumstances. This bill would authorize a county to adopt a restorative justice program to address the needs of minors, victims, and the community. The bill would require the restorative justice program to be implemented through a restorative justice protocol developed by the juvenile court in conjunction with the prosecutor, public defender, and other interested groups. The bill would prohibit the use of General Fund moneys to fund the program. The bill would include related findings and declarations.

This measure would proclaim the month of March of every year as Read Across California Month and request that public and private stakeholders work together to raise awareness of the importance of reading to young children and the importance of independent reading among our pupils and citizens of California by encouraging everyone to read for 30 minutes for 30 days during the month of March of every year, in conjunction with the Read Across America campaign held annually on March 2.

This measure would recognize June 19, 2011, as Veterans of the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces Day, in memory of the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for freedom and democracy and the victims of the Vietnam War, and in honor of the survivors, activists, and freedom fighters of that war.

This measure would recognize March 31, 2011, as the anniversary of the birth of César Chávez, and would call upon all Californians to participate in appropriate observances to remember César Chávez as a symbol of hope and justice to all persons.