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.
This measure would continue designation and observance of the month of October as Italian American Heritage Month. This measure would also encourage the Legislature to continue the Italian American Legislator Project and welcome the exhibit "The Italian American Legislator Project of 2011: A Legacy of Service to the California Legislature" to the State Capitol Building in October 2011 and encourage all Californians, through the K–12 curriculum and otherwise, to learn about the history, role, and contributions of Italian Americans to the State of California.
This measure would urge the Governor to make the prevention of underage alcohol use a priority within this state by engaging in a statewide effort to prevent and reduce underage drinking and its consequences.
Existing property tax law provides, pursuant to the authorization of the California Constitution, for the exemption from property taxation of the principal residence of a disabled veteran, a veteran's spouse, and the unmarried surviving spouse, in the case in which the veteran has, as a result of a service-connected disease or injury, died while on active duty in military service. Existing property tax law specifies that property is a veteran's principal residence if the veteran would principally reside at that property if not for his or her confinement to a hospital or other care facility. This bill would, beginning with the lien date for the 2012–13 fiscal year and for each fiscal year thereafter, specify that property is an unmarried surviving spouse's principal residence if the unmarried surviving spouse would principally reside at that property if not for his or her confinement to a hospital or other care facility. This bill would also correct an erroneous cross-reference in this provision. This bill would additionally make technical, nonsubstantive changes that would consolidate the provisions relating to the date when property becomes eligible for the disabled veterans' exemption, and would make other conforming changes. This bill would also make other clarifying changes, including clarifying that the exemption terminates for an unmarried surviving spouse of a disabled veteran when that surviving spouse remarries.
Existing law authorizes victims of domestic violence or stalking and reproductive health care providers, employees, and volunteers, as defined, to complete an application to be approved by the Secretary of State for the purposes of enabling state and local agencies to respond to requests for public records without disclosing a program participant's residence address contained in any public record. Existing law prohibits the Secretary of State from making a program participant's address publicly available, except in specified circumstances, including when the participant's program certification has been canceled. This bill would specify, instead, that a participant's personal address may be revealed after termination of certification only if the participant's termination resulted from the program manager determining that false information was used as a subterfuge to avoid detection of illegal or criminal activity or apprehension by law enforcement. This bill would, for purposes of the program for victims of domestic violence or stalking, prohibit a person, business, or association from knowingly and intentionally publicly posting or displaying on the Internet, or soliciting, selling, or trading on the Internet, specified personal information of a program participant or other persons residing at the same address with a prescribed intent to cause great bodily harm or place a person in objectively reasonable fear for his or her personal safety. The bill would also prohibit a person, business, or association from intentionally publicly posting or displaying on the Internet specified personal information of a program participant or other persons residing at the same address if the participant has made a demand on the person, business, or association to not disclose that information, as specified. Violation of these provisions would be subject to specified civil penalties. The bill would prohibit a person from posting on the Internet the home address, the telephone number, or personal identifying information of a domestic violence or stalking victim program participant or the program participant's family members who are participating in the program, or a provider, employee, volunteer, or patient of a reproductive health facility or individual residing at the same address with the intent that another person imminently use that information to commit a crime involving violence or a threat of violence against the participant or the program participant's family members who are participating in the program. Violations of these provisions would be a crime, punishable as specified. By creating a new 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.
The California Constitution requires meetings of public bodies to be open to public scrutiny. This measure would also include in the California Constitution the requirement that each public body provide public notice of its meetings and disclose any action taken.
Existing law establishes the various segments of the public higher education system in the state. These segments include the University of California, which is administered by the Regents of the University of California, the California State University, which is administered by the Trustees of the California State University, and the California Community Colleges, which is administered by the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges. This bill would require that by January 1, 2014, and every 2 years thereafter, the Trustees of the California State University and the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, and request the Regents of the University of California, report to the Legislature on workload and key performance data on distance learning courses, as defined. This bill would, by February 1, 2012, also require the Legislative Analyst's Office to convene a work group composed of the Legislative Analyst, specified staff of the Legislature, and the Department of Finance to evaluate whether it is necessary, or advisable, to establish the Western Governors University, California. The work group would be required to consult with representatives of the University of California, the California State University, the California Community Colleges, the California Postsecondary Education Commission, independent California colleges and universities, and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. The work group would, by February 1, 2013, be required to report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature. These provisions would be repealed on January 1, 2018. The bill would state the intent of the Legislature relating to the Western Governors University, California, as a degree-granting institution that is self-supporting and does not receive state funding.
Existing law requires that a vote by mail ballot be received by the issuing elections official or the precinct board no later than the close of polls on election day. This bill would make an exception for special absentee voters, as defined, temporarily living outside of the territorial limits of the United States and the District of Columbia and would instead require that their vote by mail ballots be postmarked on or before election day and received by their elections officials not later than 10 days after election day. Because the bill would impose additional duties on elections officials, 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, 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 these statutory provisions.
