(1) Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission with regulatory authority over public utilities. Existing law requires the commission to appoint a public advisor and establish an office of the public advisor, both of which are required, among other things, to perform specified duties relating to public participation in commission proceedings. Existing law requires the public advisor to publicize the commission's programs for encouraging and supporting participation in the commission's proceedings. This bill would require the public advisor to work with all of the divisions of the commission to ensure that the commission's internet website provides adequate transparency in the information provided to the public and would specify that the public advisor has the responsibility for ensuring that the activities of the commission are as transparent to the public as reasonably possible and consistent with applicable law. The bill would require the commission, upon a request by the public for any public records, to follow the procedures and requirements of the California Public Records Act, as specified. (2) Existing law provides for the establishment of an Independent System Operator (ISO) as a nonprofit public benefit corporation, and requires the ISO to ensure efficient use and reliable operation of the electrical transmission grid consistent with achieving planning and operating reserve criteria no less stringent than those established by the Western Electricity Coordinating Council and the North American Electric Reliability Council. Existing law requires the ISO to maintain open meeting standards and meeting notice requirements consistent with the general policies of the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act and states that specified policies adopted by the ISO meet this requirement. Existing law requires the ISO to provide corporate records consistent with the general policies of the California Public Records Act and states specified policies adopted by the ISO meet this requirement. This bill would state it is the intent of the Legislature that greater transparency in the operation of the facilities subject to the control of the ISO and the markets administered by the ISO is in the public interest. The bill would require specified information in the possession of the ISO and the commission to be published in a timely manner on the internet website of the ISO. (3) The California Constitution provides that the Legislature has plenary power to establish the manner and scope of review of commission action in a court of record. Existing law provides that only the Supreme Court and the court of appeal have jurisdiction to review, reverse, correct, or annul any order or decision of the commission or to suspend or delay the execution or operation thereof, or to enjoin, restrain, or interfere with the commission in the performance of its official duties. This bill would authorize an action to enforce the requirements of the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act or the California Public Records Act to be brought against the commission in the superior court.
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Existing law establishes the State Water Resources Control Board within the California Environmental Protection Agency with specified duties relating to, among other things, administering water rights, the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act, and the California Safe Drinking Water Act. The state board has adopted a statewide policy on the use of the coastal and estuarine waters for powerplant cooling, referred to as the once-through cooling policy, as described. This bill would prohibit the state board from granting an operator of a powerplant any extension of time to comply with the once-through cooling policy if the city or county that has jurisdiction over the site of the powerplant formally adopts a resolution objecting to the extension and a specified advisory committee convened by the state board determines that the extension is not necessary to ensure electricity reliability.
This measure would respectfully memorialize the President of the United States and the Congress of the United States to take action to restore honor to Bernard B. James, and to take the necessary actions to ensure the treatment of Bernard B. James is rectified by a full exoneration, including having the military record of Bernard B. James cleared of any court judgment and less-than-honorable discharge.
This measure would declare March 13, 2022, to April 15, 2022, as Deaf History Month.
This measure would proclaim the month of April 2022 as Black April Memorial Month.
This measure would acknowledge the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and express the Legislature's respect to Muslims across California and throughout the world on this occasion.
This measure would recognize the value of all women's contributions to agriculture and resolve to help realize their success as leaders on the land.
This bill would proclaim the week of March 27, 2022, to April 2, 2022, inclusive, as Adult Education Week, and would honor the teachers, administrators, classified staff, and students of adult education programs statewide for their efforts, persistence, and accomplishments.
This measure would designate April 2, 2022, as World Autism Awareness Day and encourage residents of the state to show support for autism awareness.