Asm. Tasha Boerner

Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services, through managed care or fee-for-service delivery systems. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions. Existing law covers emergency or nonemergency medical transportation, and nonmedical transportation, under the Medi-Cal program, as specified. This bill would require the department to ensure that the fiscal burden of nonemergency medical transportation or nonmedical transportation is not unfairly placed on public paratransit service operators and would authorize the department to direct Medi-Cal managed care plans to reimburse public paratransit service operators who are enrolled as Medi-Cal providers at the fee-for-service rates for conducting that transportation, as described. The bill would require the department to engage with public paratransit service operators to understand the challenges as public operators of nonemergency medical transportation or nonmedical transportation services and would require the department to issue new guidance to ensure the fiscal burden is not unfairly placed on public operators on or before June 1, 2026. The bill would condition implementation of these provisions on receipt of any necessary federal approvals and the availability of federal financial participation.

Existing law establishes within state government the Transportation Agency, which consists of the Department of the California Highway Patrol, the California Transportation Commission, the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Department of Transportation, the High-Speed Rail Authority, and the Board of Pilot Commissioners for the Bays of San Francisco, San Pablo, and Suisun. The agency is under the supervision of the Secretary of Transportation, who has the power of general supervision over each department within the agency. Existing law imposes various duties on the secretary, including advising the Governor on, and assisting the Governor in establishing, major policy and program matters affecting each department, office, or other unit within the agency. This bill would, upon appropriation by the Legislature, require the agency to develop and distribute, on or before September 1, 2025, a bicycle safety handbook that includes information on, among other things, existing laws regulating bicycles and e-bikes. The bill would require the agency to make a downloadable electronic version of the bicycle safety handbook available on specified internet websites. In developing the handbook, the bill would require collaboration and consultation between the agency and prescribed state entities, including, among others, the Department of Motor Vehicles and the Department of the California Highway Patrol.

The Donahoe Higher Education Act sets forth the missions and functions of California's public segments of higher education and their respective institutions of higher education. The California State University, under the administration of the Trustees of the California State University, and the University of California, under the administration of the Regents of the University of California, are 2 of the segments. Provisions of the act apply to the University of California only to the extent that the Regents of the University of California act, by appropriate resolution, to make them applicable. This bill would require the California State University, and would request the University of California, to develop and implement a 4-year accountability plan for outreach to, and admission of, first-generation college students to the segment, as specified. The bill would require the California State University, and would request the University of California, to submit an annual report to the Assembly Committee on Education, the Assembly Committee on Higher Education, and the Senate Committee on Education on the implementation and ongoing administration of the accountability plan, as provided.

Existing law requires each student to be classified as a resident or nonresident at the University of California, the California State University, or the California Maritime Academy, or at a California community college. Existing law requires a student classified as a nonresident to pay nonresident tuition, in addition to other fees required by the institution, except as provided. Existing law entitles a student to resident classification only for the purpose of determining tuition and fees if the student is a member of the Armed Forces of the United States stationed in the state, except as provided. This bill would entitle a student to resident classification only for the purpose of determining tuition and fees if the student is a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe, as defined, whose tribal land lies across the state border of California and Arizona, Nevada, or Oregon, and the student has a residence in the bordering state. If the Regents of the University of California, the Trustees of the California State University, or the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges enter into an interstate tuition and fee agreement between (1) a respective campus that enrolls students who meet the criteria for resident classification and (2) an out-of-state regionally accredited public postsecondary institution located in the bordering state where those enrolled students reside, the bill would require those agreements to provide for reciprocal benefits for students whose tribal land lies across the state border of California and Arizona, Nevada, or Oregon, but whose residence is in California, as provided. To the extent the bill would require community college districts to exempt more students from nonresident tuition, 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.

(1) Existing law requires the Natural Resources Agency, in implementing actions to achieve the goal to conserve at least 30% of the state's lands and coastal waters by 2030 established by executive order, to prioritize specified actions. Existing law requires the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency to prepare and submit an annual report to the Legislature on the progress made during the prior calendar year toward achieving that goal, as provided. Existing law requires that annual report to include certain information, including, among other information, the progress made in the prior calendar year to address equity as part of the above-described goal. This bill, the Wildlife Connectivity and Climate Adaptation Act of 2024, would additionally require the agency, as part of that report, to include an update on the state's progress towards addressing the priority wildlife corridors, as defined, identified in the Restoring California's Wildlife Connectivity report by the Department of Fish and Wildlife, and goals for wildlife corridor protection in the next five years. The bill would also make related findings and declarations. (2) The Wildlife Conservation Law of 1947 requires the Wildlife Conservation Board to acquire real property, rights in real property, water, or water rights as necessary for a program to acquire lands and facilities suitable for recreational purposes and adaptable for the conservation, propagation, and utilization of state fish and game resources. The law establishes the program and makes a policy statement regarding the program and its purposes. This bill would additionally make it the policy of the state to preserve, protect, and restore wildlife habitats and biodiversity through the acquisition and restoration of blocks of habitat and natural lands that are connected by wildlife corridors, as defined, and the infrastructure that supports wildlife corridors. This bill would also require the board to identify priority projects for the acquisition, development, rehabilitation, restoration, protection, and expansion of wildlife corridors and open space. The bill would authorize the board to give priority for this purpose to projects that protect wildlife corridors, including wildlife corridors threatened by urban development, as specified. (3) Existing law requires the Department of Fish and Wildlife, contingent upon funding being provided by the Wildlife Conservation Board, or from other appropriate bond funds, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to investigate, study, and identify those areas in the state that are most essential as wildlife corridors and habitat linkages, as specified. Under existing law, it is the policy of the state to encourage, wherever feasible and practicable, voluntary steps to protect the functioning of wildlife corridors through various means, as specified. Existing law authorizes those means to include, but not be limited to, acquisition or protection of wildlife corridors as open space through conservation easements. This bill would remove from the contingency requirement that appropriate funds be from bonds and would specify that the department not only investigate, study, and identify, but also track the protection and conservation of the above-described areas. The bill would also revise and recast various provisions involving voluntary steps to protect the functioning of these wildlife corridors to additionally include, among other means, acquisition or protection of wildlife corridors as open space through fee title acquisitions.

Maddy summaryThis California Assembly resolution encourages the U.S. Congress to pass legislation creating a National Infrastructure Bank to fund critical repairs and upgrades for roads, bridges, dams, and other public works. The bill cites reports from the American Society of Civil Engineers highlighting billions of dollars in investment gaps and poor conditions affecting California's transportation and water systems. It advocates for a financing model that uses existing federal debt rather than new taxes, aiming to stimulate the economy, create jobs, and prioritize projects in disadvantaged communities. The resolution formally requests that federal leaders adopt this approach to address the state's urgent infrastructure needs.

Maddy summaryThis California House Resolution condemns the July 13, 2024, assassination attempt on former President Donald J. Trump and calls for an end to political violence. The measure highlights the event where Trump was wounded while speaking at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, and notes that one attendee died and others were injured while trying to protect him. It urges the state to foster a political environment based on respectful discourse and nonviolence. The resolution is a formal statement of the Assembly's stance and does not create new laws or change existing policies.

This measure would recognize the importance of California Native American Day, celebrated this year on September 27, 2024, and the annual California Indian Cultural Awareness Conference, to the enhancement of awareness of California Indian culture.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes Filipino American History Month to recognize the long-standing contributions of Filipinos to California and the United States. It directly affects state officials and the public by designating a specific month for commemoration and education. The resolution highlights historical milestones, including early Spanish-era interactions, the development of Filipino communities in cities like Stockton and San Francisco, and the significant roles Filipinos played in agriculture, shipbuilding, and military service during World War II. By formally acknowledging these events, the bill aims to promote awareness of Filipino American heritage within the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates November 22, 2024, as Kimchee Day in California to honor the traditional Korean dish and its cultural significance. It acknowledges the long history of kimchee, the contributions of Korean Americans, and the dish's recognized health benefits and growing popularity in the United States. The resolution directs the Assembly's Chief Clerk to send copies of the document to the author for distribution.