This measure would urge the President and the Congress of the United States to significantly increase federal funding from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund surplus for navigational improvements and continued operational and maintenance dredging in those federal channels that serve California's ports such that these expenditures equal the amounts contributed by California, to halt adding to the surplus in the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund, and to recognize the role of California's ports in contributing the greatest share of the Harbor Maintenance Tax revenues. This measure would also memorialize the Legislature's support of efforts by California's congressional delegation to obtain an equitable share of all federal port and goods movement infrastructure funding and would encourage those representatives to support measures that will fund the security and facilitation of commercial activity at California's ports.
Sponsored bills
Existing law establishes the Biennial Inspection of Terminals Program (BIT) to ensure the safe operation of certain vehicles by a motor carrier through the inspection of these vehicles at the motor carrier's terminal by the Department of the California Highway Patrol. Existing law defines a motor carrier, for this purpose, as the registered owner of, and in some cases the lessee or person exclusively authorizing and directing the operation of, specified vehicles. Existing law requires, within 30 days of establishing a terminal, a motor carrier to schedule an inspection by submitting to the department an application for a terminal inspection accompanied by the payment of a fee the amount of which is based on the number of vehicles in a terminal or the "terminal fleet size." Existing law requires the department to inspect every terminal at least once every 25 months and defines a terminal as the location or locations designated by the motor carrier where subject vehicles and specific records are available for inspection. This bill would revise and recast these provisions as the Basic Inspection of Terminals (BIT) program. The bill would define motor carrier for this purpose as the registered owner, lessee, licensee, or bailee of specified vehicles. The bill would make it unlawful to operate a new terminal unless an inspection is conducted within the first 18 months of operation. The bill would instead authorize the department to conduct terminal inspections at any time. The bill would require the department, on or before January 1, 2015, to implement a performance-based truck terminal inspection priority system similar to that used by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration that would require the department to place an inspection priority on motor carrier terminals never previously inspected by the department. Nonpriority terminals would not be required to be inspected less than 4 years since their last inspection. The bill would require a motor carrier to make vehicles and records available for inspection upon request by the department and to pay a carrier inspection fee, the amount to be based on the size of the motor carrier's fleet. The bill would impose a penalty for failure to pay the fee. The bill would make other technical and conforming changes to the BIT program.
This measure would declare May 2012 to be American Stroke Month in California.
This measure would call on the United States Congress to pass the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2011, Senate Bill No. 1925, authored by Senators Leahy and Crapo, and ensure the sustainability of vital programs designed to keep women and families safe from violence and abuse.
Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of residential care facilities for the elderly, as defined, by the State Department of Social Services. Existing law requires the admission agreement for a residential care facility for the elderly to contain specified elements. Under existing law, a violation of these provisions is punishable as a misdemeanor. This bill would prohibit a residential care facility for the elderly from assessing personal care fees upon notice of the death of a resident, and would prohibit the facility from assessing fees for the residential living unit of a deceased resident once all personal property of the deceased is removed. This bill would require an admission agreement to include a clear explanation of this prohibition. This bill would limit the liability for the payment of these fees that are not prohibited to prescribed individuals and entities. This bill would also require for a recipient receiving SSI/SSP, that a residential care facility for the elderly meet the requirements for the SSI/SSP program in assessing these fees, as prescribed by law. By expanding the definition of a crime, this bill would result in 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.
This measure would declare April 22 through April 28, 2012, as West Nile Virus and Mosquito and Vector Control Awareness Week.
This measure would declare the month of February 2012 as Children's Dental Health Month.