Asm. Kevin D Jeffries

Existing law requires that ballot labels for state measures voted on at elections contain specified information. Existing law requires the Legislative Analyst to prepare a discussion of the state's current bonded indebtedness for the ballot pamphlet at a statewide general election in which a state bond measure is submitted for voter approval. This bill would require the Legislative Analyst to include additional information in the ballot pamphlet for an election for each state initiative measure that proposes the issuance of a state bond.

The Lewis-Presley Air Quality Management Act establishes the South Coast Air Quality Management District in those portions of the Counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino included within the South Coast Air Basin as the local agency with the responsibility for comprehensive air pollution control within the basin. The act requires the south coast district to be governed by a district board consisting of 13 appointed members. This bill would require the members of the south coast district governing board to be elected by divisions commencing with the 2012 general election. By imposing new duties on local officials in establishing new electoral divisions and conducting elections, this bill would create 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.

"?>The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead agency to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of, an environmental impact report on a project, as defined, that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment, as defined, or to adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that effect. CEQA also generally requires a lead agency to prepare a mitigated negative declaration for a project that may have a significant effect on the environment if revisions in the project would avoid or mitigate that effect and there is no substantial evidence that the project, as revised, would have a significant effect on the environment. CEQA provides some exemptions from its requirements. This bill would allow an applicant for a project and the lead agency, at the time of application, to opt to resolve all disputes arising out of a subsequent environmental impact report for that project before an arbitrator, in lieu of retaining the option to file an action or proceeding arising out of those disputes before a court. If an applicant and the lead agency opt to do so, the bill would require the applicant and the lead agency to agree to an arbitrator.

The Personal Income Tax Law allows various deductions in computing the income that is subject to the taxes imposed by that law. This bill would allow for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2010, and before January 1, 2015, a deduction under that law for the qualified costs paid or incurred during the taxable year by a taxpayer for the adoption of pets from a qualified animal rescue organization, as defined. Existing law relating to the administration of personal income taxes authorizes individual taxpayers to contribute amounts in excess of their tax liability for the support of specified funds or accounts. This bill would allow individual taxpayers to designate on their tax returns, that a specified amount in excess of their tax liability be transferred to the Pet Adoption Cost Deduction Fund, which would be created by this bill. This bill would provide that all moneys contributed to the fund, upon appropriation by the Legislature, be allocated to the Franchise Tax Board and the Controller for reimbursement of costs, as provided, to the Controller for reimbursement of the General Fund for revenue losses from providing the deduction for pet adoption costs, and to the Department of Food and Agriculture for purposes relating to abandoned and impounded animals. This bill would provide that these voluntary contribution provisions are repealed on either January 1 of the 5th taxable year following the taxable year the fund first appears on the personal income tax return or on January 1 of an earlier calendar year, if the Franchise Tax Board estimates that the annual contribution amount will be less than $250,000, or an adjusted amount, as specified, for subsequent taxable years.

Existing law requires the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to be responsible for the fire protection, fire prevention, maintenance, and enhancement of the state's forest, range, and brushland resources, contract fire protection, associated emergency services, and assistance in civil disasters and other nonfire emergencies. This bill would require the department to conduct a state and federal level criminal offender record information search through the Department of Justice prior to hiring an applicant for a position with the department or the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, with exceptions. The bill would require the Department of Justice to provide the information electronically, and require the department to request the Department of Justice to provide subsequent arrest notification services. The applicant would pay the fee charged by the Department of Justice for processing the request, and the department would refund the fee once that person had been employed 24 months cumulatively. This bill would require the department to make and enforce those regulations necessary and proper for the implementation and maintenance of the requirements of these provisions.

Existing law requires the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection to represent the state's interest in the acquisition and management of state forests as provided by law and in federal land matters pertaining to forestry, and the protection of the state's interests in forest resources on private lands. The board is required to determine, establish, and maintain an adequate forest policy. General policies for guidance of the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection are determined by the board. This bill would add 2 new members to the board. One member would be a currently serving county supervisor from a rural county that has entered into a cooperative agreement with the department to provide fire prevention and suppression services on lands within that county. In considering the appointment, the Governor would be required to give reasonable consideration to nominations by the Regional Council of Rural Counties. The other member would be a currently serving county supervisor from any county that has entered into a cooperative agreement with the department to provide fire prevention and suppression services on lands within that county. In considering the appointment, the Governor would be required to give reasonable consideration to nominations by the California State Association of Counties. The bill would also make various technical, nonsubstantive changes.

Existing law, the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act, on or before January 1, 2004, requires the State Water Resources Control Board, in consultation with others, to adopt regulations or standards for the permitting and operation of specified onsite sewage treatment systems. The act requires the board to apply those regulations or standards to those systems commencing 6 months after their adoption. This bill would repeal those provisions.

Existing law imposes various duties on the county welfare department at any hearing to terminate jurisdiction over a dependent child who has reached the age of majority. Among other duties, the county must submit a report verifying that certain information, documents, and services have been provided to the child including written information concerning the child's dependency case that includes any known information regarding the child's Indian heritage or tribal connections, if applicable, his or her family history and placement history, and any photographs of the child or his or her family in the possession of the department, except as specified. The documents provided must also include a letter prepared by the county welfare department that includes specified information regarding the child, including the dates the child was within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, and, if applicable, a social security card, a certified birth certificate, a health and education summary, an identification card, a death certificate of parent or parents, and proof of citizenship or residence. The court is authorized to continue jurisdiction if it finds that the county welfare department has not met these requirements and that termination of jurisdiction would be harmful to the best interests of the child. This bill would require the county welfare department to fulfill these duties at the court hearing closest to and before a dependent child's 18th birthday, or at the hearing to terminate jurisdiction over a dependent child who has reached the age of majority, whichever is earlier. The bill would additionally require that the report verifying the information, documents, and services provided to the child include the date when the child entered the jurisdiction of the juvenile court and the date when that jurisdiction is expected to terminate, all addresses of residency while under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, a voter registration form, and, if applicable, a United States Selective Service registration form. The bill would require the county welfare department to screen the child and file for the federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, if the child is likely to be eligible for benefits, and to ensure that the child has received a consumer credit report, as specified. The bill would require the court to continue jurisdiction if it finds that the county welfare department has not provided to the child the information, documents, and services described above, unless the child no longer wishes to be a dependent of the court. By imposing additional duties on local employees, 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 these statutory provisions.

Existing law requires the Attorney General, upon receipt of a draft of a petition for a proposed initiative or referendum, to prepare a title and summary of the proposed measure. Under existing law, the Attorney General is required to determine the effect of a proposed initiative measure on revenues and expenditures of the state or local government. If the Attorney General determines that a proposed measure would affect state or local revenues or expenditures, he or she must include in the title either the estimate of the amount of change in state or local revenues or costs or an opinion as to whether a substantial net change in state or local finances would result if the proposed initiative is adopted. Existing law requires the Department of Finance and the Joint Legislative Budget Committee to prepare jointly the fiscal estimate that is included in the title. This bill would require the Legislative Analyst, instead of the Attorney General, to prepare the ballot title and summary for all measures submitted to the voters of the state and would require the Legislative Analyst, instead of the Department of Finance and the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, to prepare any fiscal estimate or opinion required by a proposed initiative measure. The bill would make its operation contingent upon the approval by the voters of ACA 20 of the 2009–10 Regular Session.

Existing law establishes, within the office of the Governor, the California Emergency Management Agency under the supervision of a Secretary of California Emergency Management. Existing law also establishes the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, within the Natural Resources Agency, and the Office of the State Fire Marshal, within that department. Existing law further establishes, within the Office of the State Fire Marshal, the State Board of Fire Services, consisting of 18 members. Existing law establishes the Department of the California Highway Patrol, within the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency, under the supervision of the Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol. Existing law also establishes, within the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency, the Office of Traffic Safety, under the supervision of a director. Existing law establishes the California Conservation Corps, within the Natural Resources Agency, and the Emergency Medical Services Authority, within the California Health and Human Services Agency. This bill would require the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the Office of the State Fire Marshal, the State Board of Fire Services, the Department of the California Highway Patrol, the Office of Traffic Safety, the California Conservation Corps, and the Emergency Medical Services Authority to create a working group, by March 1, 2010, to prepare a Governor's Reorganization Plan that would transfer the authorities and duties of those departments, offices, and entities to the California Emergency Management Agency. The bill would require the working group to develop the proposed Governor's Reorganization Plan, so that the Governor may transmit the plan to the Legislature for approval during the 2011 portion of the 2011–12 Regular Session of the Legislature. The bill would require the plan to provide that it would become operative no later than January 1, 2012.