Asm. Rocky J. Chávez

This measure would designate November 2013 as California Sikh American Awareness and Appreciation Month. It would recognize and acknowledge the significant contributions made by Californians of Sikh heritage to the state and afford all Californians the opportunity to understand, recognize, and appreciate the rich history and shared principles of Sikh Americans.

This measure would declare August 2013 as Valley Fever Awareness Month.

Existing law provides for the governance and regulation of state agencies, as defined. Existing law provides certain benefits and protections for members of the Armed Forces of the United States. This bill would require, on or after July 1, 2014, every state agency that requests on any written form or written publication, or through its Internet Web site, whether a person is a veteran, to request that information in a specified manner.

Existing law authorized the construction of a memorial to California's Vietnam veterans on the grounds of the State Capitol, as specified, and provided that funds for the construction of the memorial would be provided through private contributions. Existing law requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to establish a statewide Veterans Memorial Registry, and to make it available on that department's Internet Web site. This bill, until January 1, 2020, would require the department to annually compile a list of names of Vietnam veterans to be added to the memorial, as specified. The bill would require the department to form a specified committee to review and consider requests from the public to include names on the memorial, as specified. The bill would authorize the names on the list to be added to the memorial if specified requirements are met, including that adequate private funding is available.

This measure would proclaim September 23, 2013, as Restless Legs Syndrome/Willis-Ekbom Disease Awareness Day in California.

This measure would designate October 20, 2013, and each 20th day of October thereafter, as Leyte Landing Commemoration Day in recognition of the significance of the Leyte landing in liberating the Philippines from Japanese occupation, helping to establish the independence of the Philippines, and fostering closer ties between the Philippines and the United States.

Existing law imposes a fee of $500 on every person who is granted probation for a crime of domestic violence. Two-thirds of the fee is deposited in the county's domestic violence programs special fund to be expended in support of domestic violence shelter programs, as specified. Existing law authorizes fines to be reduced, as specified, for time served. This bill would clarify that the $500 payment is a fee, not a fine, and that the fee is not subject to reduction for time served. The bill would also authorize 8% of the moneys deposited in the county domestic violence programs special fund to be used for administrative costs and would authorize the collection of the fee by the collecting agency or the agency's designee after the termination of the period of probation, whether probation is terminated by revocation or by completion of the term. The bill would provide that a county board of supervisors may request, on not more than a quarterly basis, an accounting of the special fund, as specified. The bill would also make related findings and declarations.

This measure would specify goals for the reform of the nation's immigration system, and would urge Congress and the President of the United States to take a humane and just approach to solving the nation's broken immigration system.