Asm. Paul J Cook

This measure would have the Legislature join the Congress of the United States in further acknowledging the service of Filipino World War II veterans in the Armed Forces of the United States by recognizing that these veterans should be reunited with their children during their golden years, and would request that the President and the Congress of the United States pass S. 1337 and H.R. 2412, which would exempt children of certain Filipino World War II veterans from the numerical limitations on immigrant visas, thus allowing for family reunification.

This measure would designate the South Bonnyview Boat Ramp in the City of Redding as the John F. Reginato Boat Ramp. The measure also would request the City of Redding, after consulting with the Department of Fish and Game, to incorporate the placement of new signs that reflect that special designation into the impending rehabilitation of the boat ramp so long as the new signs do not increase project costs.

Under existing law, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) issues environmental and other specialized license plates, including veterans' organization license plates. Those license plates are required to have a distinctive design or decal. The issuance of those license plates is subject to additional fees, the revenue from which, less the DMV's costs, is required to be deposited in the Veterans Service Office Fund, except that 12 of a specified additional fee is required to be deposited in the California Environmental License Plate Fund. Existing law requires money in the Veterans Service Office Fund to be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Veterans Affairs for allocation and disbursement to counties for the operation of county veterans service offices. This bill would authorize the Department of Veterans Affairs to modify the distinctive design or decal for those veterans' organization license plates. The bill would authorize those newly designed plates or decals to be issued only after all existing plates or decals have been issued. The bill also would delete the requirement that 12 of the specified additional fee be deposited in the California Environmental License Plate Fund, and, instead, would require all revenue from those additional fees, less the DMV's costs, to be deposited in the Veterans Service Office Fund. The bill would require the DMV, by July 1, 2011, to maintain on its Internet Web site, a link to order online the veterans' organization license plates.

This measure would declare the last week of March every year as a statewide week of advocacy for Latino education.

This measure would recognize April 2010 as County Government Month.

This measure would recognize March 2, 2010, as "Read Across America Day."

Existing federal law authorizes a health care professional, as defined, to practice his or her health profession in any state or territory without licensure by that state if he or she has a current license to practice the health profession and is performing authorized duties for the Department of Defense. Existing state law provides that no board that licenses dentists, physicians and surgeons, podiatrists, or nurses may require a person to obtain a California license to practice his or her profession in this state if the person is employed by, or has a contract with, the federal government and is rendering services in a facility of the government or the person is practicing as part of a program or project conducted by the federal government which, by federal statute, exempts persons in the program from state licensure, as specified. This bill, until January 1, 2016, would authorize a hospital to enter into an agreement with the Armed Forces of the United States to authorize a physician and surgeon, physician assistant, or registered nurse to provide medical care in the hospital if the health care professional holds a valid license in good standing in another state or territory, the medical care is provided as part of a training or educational program designed to promote the combat readiness of the health care professional, and the agreement complies with federal law. The bill would exempt those health care professionals from licensure or relicensure by the State of California while practicing under an agreement, but would require those health care professionals to register with the board that licenses that health care profession in this state and to wear a specified name tag while working.

This measure would proclaim February 28, 2010, as Rare Disease Day.

This measure would establish, until January 1, 2014, the California Task Force on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education for the purpose of promoting the improvement of mathematics, science, engineering, and technology education across the state. The task force would consist of Members of the Legislature and experts appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly and the Senate Committee on Rules. The task force would conduct its business on a volunteer basis, be able to accept private funds, and would submit an annual report on its work to the Legislature.

This measure would request that the Congress and the President of the United States enact the Medicare Secondary Payer Enhancement Act of 2010.