Asm. Randy Voepel

Existing federal law establishes the federal Pell Grant Program under Title IV of the federal Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide need-based grant awards to low-income students in order to promote access to postsecondary education. This measure would respectfully request the Congress and the President of the United States to immediately take action to increase the maximum annual amount of the federal Pell Grant Program award from $6,195 to at least $7,500 to further help low-income college students alleviate the burden of postsecondary education debt.

This measure would declare the month of June 2019 as Portuguese National Heritage Month.

This measure would dedicate the month of May 2019 as Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month.

This measure would declare June 5, 2019, as California Nonprofits Day in recognition of the importance of nonprofit organizations to the economy and well-being of this state.

This measure would declare the support of the Legislature for the expansion of sensory-friendly movie screenings and similar programs for people with autism, and would encourage families to attend a sensory-friendly movie screening during April 2019, which is National Autism Awareness Month.

Existing property tax law, pursuant to the authorization of the California Constitution, provides a disabled veteran's property tax exemption for the principal place of residence of a veteran, the veteran's spouse, or the veteran and veteran's spouse jointly, and the unmarried surviving spouse of a veteran, as provided, if the veteran is blind in both eyes, has lost the use of 2 or more limbs, or is totally disabled as a result of injury or disease incurred in military service, or if the veteran has, as a result of a service-connected injury or disease, died while on active duty in military service. Existing law exempts that part of the full value of the residence that does not exceed $100,000, or $150,000 if the household income of the claimant does not exceed $40,000, as adjusted for inflation, as specified. This bill, for the 2020–21 fiscal year to the 2029–30 fiscal year, inclusive, would increase these exemption amounts to $200,000, or $250,000 if the household income of the claimant does not exceed $65,000, as adjusted for inflation. The bill would require county assessors to report to the State Board of Equalization on the use of the increased property tax exemption and for the board to consolidate this information in a report to the Legislature. By adding to the duties of county assessors in this regard, 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 the statutory provisions noted above. Existing law requires the state to reimburse local agencies annually for certain property tax revenues lost as a result of any exemption or classification of property for purposes of ad valorem property taxation. This bill would provide that, notwithstanding those provisions, no appropriation is made and the state shall not reimburse local agencies for property tax revenues lost by them pursuant to the bill. This bill would take effect immediately as a tax levy.

This measure would proclaim the week of June 1 through June 9, 2019, as California Fishing and Boating Week.

This measure would proclaim the week of May 20, 2019, to May 26, 2019, inclusive, to be Emergency Medical Services Week in California.

This measure would designate the month of May 2019 as California Fairgrounds Appreciation Month and would extend the Legislature's warmest regards and appreciation to the thousands of volunteers, fair directors, staff, business supporters, and sponsors who keep the network of California state fairgrounds strong, vibrant, relevant, and successful.