Asm. Matthew Harper

Existing law, the Water Conservation Projects Act of 1985, declares that the intent of the act is to encourage local agencies and private enterprise to implement potential water conservation and reclamation projects by establishing a state program to finance or assist in financing projects that meet state criteria and will result in an additional supply of water for use in areas of need. This bill would make nonsubstantive changes in that provision.

Existing law requires that all vote by mail ballots cast be received by the elections official from whom they were obtained or by the precinct board no later than the close of the polls on election day or no later than 8 p.m. on election day, as specified. Notwithstanding this requirement, existing law provides that a vote by mail ballot is considered timely cast if it is received by the voter's election official via the United States Postal Service or a bona fide private mail delivery company, as defined, no later than 3 days after election day if a specified requirement is met. This bill would additionally require that a ballot delivered to the elections official by a bona fide private mail delivery company include documentation that the company received the ballot on or before election day.

The Cobey-Porter Saline Water Conversion Law declares that the growing water needs of the state require the development of cost-effective and efficient water supply technologies and that desalination technology is now feasible to help provide significant new water supplies from seawater, brackish water, and reclaimed water. This bill would declare the intent of the Legislature to enact subsequent legislation relating to desalination.

Existing law imposes various limitations on emissions of air contaminants for the control of air pollution from vehicular and nonvehicular sources. Existing law generally designates the State Air Resources Board as the state agency with the primary responsibility for the control of vehicular air pollution, and air pollution control and air quality management districts with the primary responsibility for the control of air pollution from all sources other than vehicular sources. This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation related to fire rings at state and local beaches.

Existing law provides for the licensure, certification, and regulation of alcoholism or drug abuse recovery or treatment facilities serving adults. This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation related to alcoholism or drug abuse recovery or treatment facilities.

Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of various professions and vocations by boards within the Department of Consumer Affairs. Existing law provides that these boards are established to ensure that private businesses and professions are regulated to protect the people of this state. This bill would make a nonsubstantive change to that provision.

The Political Reform Act of 1974 imposes various limitations on contributions that may be made to, or accepted by, candidates for elective office and campaign committees that support or oppose candidates and ballot measures. The act prohibits a foreign government or principal, as defined, from making a contribution or expenditure in connection with a ballot measure. The act also prohibits a person or committee from soliciting or accepting a contribution from a foreign government or principal for this purpose. This bill would expand the scope of these prohibitions by also prohibiting a government, principal, or national from making a contribution or expenditure, and a person or committee from soliciting or accepting this type of contribution, in connection with an election. A violation of the act's provisions is punishable as a misdemeanor. By expanding the scope of an existing 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 Political Reform Act of 1974, an initiative measure, provides that the Legislature may amend the act to further the act's purposes upon a 23 vote of each house of the Legislature and compliance with specified procedural requirements. This bill would declare that it furthers the purposes of the act.

Existing law makes it unlawful for any person other than a licensee of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to sell, manufacture, or import alcoholic beverages in this state. This bill would provide that a license or permit is not needed for an art gallery to provide wine and beer to patrons, for consumption on the gallery premises, subject to specified conditions, including that the price of the wine and beer is not included in the sales price of any piece of art or merchandise sold by the gallery.

Existing law makes it a crime, punishable by a fine, by imprisonment, or by both a fine and imprisonment, for a person to willfully inflict corporal injury resulting in a traumatic condition, as defined, upon a person with whom the defendant has been in a specified domestic relationship. Existing law authorizes a court to issue an order to restrain a person in order to prevent acts of domestic violence, abuse, and sexual abuse and to provide for a separation of the persons involved in the domestic violence, as specified. This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation relating to domestic violence.