Asm. Sharon Quirk-Silva

This measure would proclaim March 2024 as American Red Cross Month and would dedicate it to all those who continue to advance the noble legacy of the organization's founder. The measure would encourage all Californians to reach out, support the organization's humanitarian mission, and join in their commitment to care for people in need.

This measure would proclaim March 4, 2024, to March 8, 2024, inclusive, as School Breakfast Week.

This measure would declare 2024 as the year to Coexist with Wildlife, California.

Existing law establishes the Department of Housing and Community Development within the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency and sets forth its powers and duties, including the administration of various housing programs, including the State Rental Assistance Program, which allocates federally provided funds as block grants to provide rental assistance to eligible households, as provided. This bill would establish the California Rent Relief Program, which would be administered by the department. The bill would require the department, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to make block grant allocations to grantees to provide rental assistance to eligible households. This bill would require grantees, as defined, to contract with nonprofit corporations to distribute block grant funds. The bill would require a grantee to agree to use its block grant funds consistent with the bill's provisions. The bill would authorize the department to require the grantee to pay back the block grant funds that are spent in a manner inconsistent with the bill's provisions, and would authorize the department to reallocate those funds for these purposes. This bill would, for the duration of the program, require the department to report to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee every 6 months on the programmatic performance metrics for block grant funds. The bill would require grantees to provide information necessary for the department to comply with these reporting requirements.

Existing law establishes the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, which may adjudge a child to be a dependent of the court under certain circumstances, including when the child suffered, or there is a substantial risk that the child will suffer, serious physical harm or illness as a result of the failure or inability of their parent or guardian to adequately supervise or protect the child. Existing law authorizes a peace officer, probation officer, or social worker, without a warrant, to take a minor into temporary custody for various reasons, including when the child has been declared a dependent of the juvenile court or there is reasonable cause to believe the minor comes within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court. Existing law permits a social worker or the juvenile court to authorize the performance of medical, surgical, dental, or other remedial care needed by a child who is in temporary custody, who is a dependent of the juvenile court and placed under the supervision of a social worker, or for whom a dependency petition has been filed after notifying the parent, guardian, or person standing in loco parentis of the child. This bill would additionally permit, in the absence of a standing court order, a social worker to authorize a noninvasive initial medical, dental, and mental health screening of a child in temporary custody. The bill would require the social worker to make reasonable attempts to notify the parent that the child will be undergoing a screening and to provide the parent with a reasonable opportunity to object. The bill would provide that if the parent objects, the screening may be conducted only upon the order of the court. The bill would also add mental health care, as defined, to the medical and dental care that may be authorized for a child who is in temporary custody, who is a dependent of the juvenile court and placed under the supervision of a social worker, or for whom a dependency petition has been filed.

This measure would proclaim February 22, 2024, as Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day.

This measure would recognize February 2024 as Black History Month, urge all citizens to join in celebrating the accomplishments of African Americans during Black History Month, and encourage the people of California to recognize the many talents of African Americans and the achievements and contributions they make to their communities to create equity and equality for education, economics, and social justice. The measure would also recognize the significance in protecting citizens' right to vote and remedying racial discrimination in voting.