Existing federal law provides for allocation of federal funds through the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant program to eligible states. Existing law provides for the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program under which, through a combination of state and county funds and federal funds received through the TANF program, each county provides cash assistance and other benefits to qualified low-income families. Existing law, with certain exceptions, provides eligible families with homeless assistance, including temporary shelter assistance for one period of up to 16 consecutive calendar days. This bill would eliminate the requirement that the temporary assistance be provided during one period of consecutive days, and instead would limit the temporary assistance to a maximum of 16 calender days. This bill would require the State Department of Social Services to issue an all-county letter or similar instructions by April 1, 2015, and to adopt regulations to implement the provisions of the bill by July 1, 2016. The bill also would make conforming and technical, nonsubstantive changes. Because this bill would create new administrative duties for counties, it would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing law continuously appropriates moneys from the General Fund to defray a portion of county costs under the CalWORKs program. This bill would, instead, provide that the continuous appropriation would not be made for purposes of implementing the bill. 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.
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The Personal Income Tax Law and the Corporation Tax Law allow various credits against the taxes imposed by those laws. This bill would, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2014, and before January 1, 2019, allow a credit under both laws in an amount equal to 50% of the costs paid or incurred by a taxpayer for qualified education and training, as defined, of a qualified employee, as specified. This bill would take effect immediately as a tax levy.
Under existing law, funds in the federal Petroleum Violation Escrow Account consisting of federal oil overcharge funds, have been disbursed to the state by the federal government and deposited into the Petroleum Violation Escrow Account in the Federal Trust Fund to be used for purposes specified in federal law. This bill would, to the extent permitted by federal law, appropriate $500,000 to the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission for the purpose of providing a grant to the City of Escondido for energy saving programs, to be disbursed by the Controller subject to the approval by the Director of Finance as to which court judgment or federal agency order is the proper source of the funds. This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the City of Escondido.
Existing law designates area agencies on aging as local units on aging in California, which are financially supported by a variety of sources, including federal funding, state and local government assistance, the private sector, and individual contributions. Existing law also provides for independent living centers, for the purpose of assisting individuals with disabilities in their attempts to live fuller and freer lives outside institutions, and achieve social and economic independence. This bill would continuously appropriate from the Federal Trust Fund, in the absence of enactment of the annual Budget Act by July 1 of a fiscal year, (1) to the California Department of Aging, the amount of federal funds contained in the Federal Trust Fund necessary to pay area agencies on aging for the administration of programs under their jurisdiction, and (2) to the Department of Rehabilitation, the amount of federal funds contained in the Federal Trust Fund necessary to pay independent living centers for the administration of programs under their jurisdiction, pending enactment of the Budget Act. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.
Existing federal law, the Federal Aviation Administration Modernization and of Reform Act of 2012, provides for the integration of civil unmanned aircraft systems, commonly known as drones, into the national airspace system by September 30, 2015. Existing federal law requires the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to develop and implement operational and certification requirements for the operation of public unmanned aircraft systems in the national airspace system by December 31, 2015. Existing federal law also prohibits a person from operating a United States registered aircraft unless that aircraft displays specified nationality and registration marks. This bill would require, beginning January 1, 2015, a person or public or private entity that owns or operates an unmanned aircraft, as defined, to place specified identifying information or digitally store identifying information on that unmanned aircraft. The bill would exempt model aircraft, as defined, from that requirement. The bill would make a person or entity that violates that provision liable for a civil fine not to exceed $2,500. The bill would authorize the Attorney General, a district attorney, county counsel, or a city attorney to bring an action to recover that fine, as specified.
Existing law, the California Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly Act, provides for the licensure and regulation of residential care facilities for the elderly by the State Department of Social Services. Existing law requires that every residential care facility for the elderly be subject to unannounced visits by the department, that reports on the results of each inspection, evaluation, or consultation shall be kept on file by the department, and that all inspection reports, consultation reports, lists of deficiencies, and plans of correction shall be open to the public. This bill would require the department to post, on the department's Internet Web site, all inspection reports, consultation reports, violations, and plans of correction. This bill would also require the department to post on the department's Internet Web site the number and nature of complaints filed against a facility within each calendar year, including whether a complaint is undergoing investigation, whether it has been substantiated or unsubstantiated, and whether it has been found to be inconclusive.
The Planning and Zoning Law requires a city, county, or city and county to adopt a comprehensive general plan that addresses a number of elements. If a general plan has been adopted, each county or city officer, department, board, or commission, as specified, is required to submit a list of proposed public works for the ensuing fiscal year. The agency receiving the list of proposed public works is required to prepare, as specified, a coordinated program of proposed public works for the ensuing fiscal year. This bill would authorize the submission of the list of proposed public works projects one month prior to the start of the fiscal year and would authorize, instead of require, the agency receiving the list to prepare a coordinated program of proposed public works for the ensuing fiscal year.
This measure would call upon all Californians to observe César Chávez's birthday, March 31, as a day of public service, to recognize the hard work and self-sacrifice that farmworkers go through to feed all the families in our state, and to learn from César Chávez's life and his mission of nonviolence, social justice, and selfless service to others.
Existing law, as amended by Proposition 21, as approved by the voters at the March 7, 2000, statewide primary election, provides that any person who actively participates in any criminal street gang with knowledge that its members engage in or have engaged in a pattern of criminal gang activity, and who willfully promotes, furthers, or assists in any felonious criminal conduct by members of that gang, shall be punished, as specified. Existing law defines "a pattern of criminal gang activity" as the commission of, attempted commission of, conspiracy to commit, or solicitation of, sustained juvenile petition for, or conviction of, 2 or more listed offenses. Proposition 21 may be amended by a statute passed by a 23 vote of the membership of each house of the Legislature. This bill would add human trafficking as an offense that may be used to establish a pattern of criminal gang activity. Because this bill would amend Proposition 21, the bill requires a 23 vote. Because this bill would change the definition of a crime and require a higher level of service from local prosecutors in pleading and proving the enhancement, it would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would also correct cross-references and make conforming changes. 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.
Existing law requires the State Office of Child Abuse Prevention to develop and disseminate information to all school districts and district school personnel regarding the detection of child abuse. Existing law, the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act, designates certain persons, including teachers, as mandated reporters. Existing law requires a mandated reporter to make a report if the person has knowledge of or observes a child whom the person knows or reasonably suspects has been the victim of child abuse or neglect. Existing law also provides that the California School for the Blind and the California School for the Deaf are under the administration of the State Department of Education. This bill would require the governing board of each school district and county office of education, the governing body of each charter school, and, for purposes of the California School for the Blind and the California School for the Deaf, the department, to adopt a policy on the reporting of child abuse and the responsibilities of mandated reporters. The bill would require each school district, charter school, and county office of education, the California School for the Blind, and the California School for the Deaf to, at minimum, review the mandated reporting requirements of school employees with all school personnel within the first 6 weeks of each school year, at a regularly scheduled staff meeting. By expanding the duty of school districts, charter schools, and county offices of education, 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.