Asm. Chris Ward

Maddy summaryThis bill designates May 1, 2024, as "Move Your Body, Calm Your Mind Day" to raise awareness about the health benefits of physical activity. The measure directly affects the general public by encouraging participation in exercise and promoting the connection between physical movement and mental well-being. It serves as a commemorative resolution rather than creating new laws or regulations, aiming to educate Californians on the importance of an active lifestyle. The text highlights statistics regarding chronic health conditions and suggests that regular activity can help prevent disease and improve mental health.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates the week of May 5 through May 11, 2024, as Compost Awareness Week in California. The measure serves as a commemorative resolution to highlight the benefits of composting, such as waste reduction and soil improvement, without creating new laws or regulations. It does not impose any requirements on individuals or organizations but aims to raise public awareness about the practice.

Maddy summaryThis bill officially recognizes the third week of May 2024 as Peer Appreciation Week in California. It aims to increase public awareness of peer support specialists, who are trained individuals using their own lived experiences to help others with mental health, addiction, or trauma challenges. The resolution does not create new laws or funding but serves to honor the role these specialists play in the state's health and human services system.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates May 2024 as Mental Health Awareness Month in California to promote public understanding of mental well-being. It does not create new laws, funding, or programs but serves as an official state recognition of the importance of mental health. The resolution highlights statistics on youth mental health challenges and the need for awareness to reduce stigma. Its primary effect is symbolic, aiming to encourage the public and organizations to focus on mental health issues during the month of May.

This measure would encourage all Californians to make themselves and their families aware of the risk of food allergies and preventative measures, and to educate themselves regarding emergency responses. The measure would declare May as Food Allergy Awareness Month.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates May 14, 2024, as IgA Nephropathy Awareness Day to highlight a rare kidney disorder that affects approximately 150,000 people in the United States. The measure aims to increase public understanding of the condition, which currently has no cure and can lead to serious complications like the need for dialysis or a kidney transplant. By officially recognizing this date, the legislation seeks to encourage support for patients and promote research into better diagnosis and treatment options. The resolution does not create new laws or funding but serves as a symbolic declaration to draw attention to the disease.

Existing law, the State Housing Law, establishes statewide construction and occupancy standards for buildings used for human habitation. Existing law authorizes the governing body of a county or city to prescribe fees for permits, certificates, or other forms or documents required or authorized under the State Housing Law, and fees to defray the cost of enforcement required by the law to be carried out by local enforcement agencies. This bill, the California Private Permitting Review and Inspection Act, would require a building department of the county or city to prepare a schedule of the above-described fees and post the schedule on the county or city's internet website if the city or county prescribes the fees. Existing law, the California Building Standards Law, establishes the California Building Standards Commission within the Department of General Services. Existing law requires the commission to approve and adopt building standards and to codify those standards in the California Building Standards Code, which is also referred to as the State Building Standards Code. Existing law requires the building department of every city or county to enforce the provisions of the State Housing Law, the California Building Standards Code, and the other specified rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to the State Housing Law. Existing law requires the local agency, upon the applicant's request, to contract with or employ temporarily a private entity or person to check the plans and specifications submitted as part of an application for a residential building permit, when there is excessive delay in checking the plans and specifications. Existing law defines "excessive delay" as a local agency taking more than 30 days after submittal of a complete application to complete the structural building safety plan check of the applicant's set of plans and specifications, as specified. This bill would, if the local agency has not completed checking plans and specifications within 30 business days of receiving the completed application for a building permit, require a local agency, upon the applicant's request, to perform plan-checking services and assess the plans and specifications to ensure that the plans and specifications comply with the State Housing Law and the State Building Standards Code, as provided. The bill would require a local agency to directly perform or contract with or employ a private professional provider to perform those plan-checking services and take prescribed actions, including issuing or denying the building permit within a specified timeframe, as prescribed. If a private professional provider performs these plan-checking services, the bill would require the private professional provider to prepare an affidavit, under penalty of perjury, that they performed the plan-checking services and that the plans and specifications comply with specified law, and to submit to the local agency a specified report of the plan-checking services within 5 business days of the completion of those services. The bill would require the local agency, within 30 business days of receiving the report, to consider the report and issue or deny a building permit if the plans and specifications comply or fail to comply with the State Housing Law or the California Building Standards Code, as specified. The bill would authorize a local agency to charge the applicant reasonably necessary fees to defray the costs directly attributable to performing plan-checking services pursuant to these provisions. The bill would authorize an applicant to appeal a denial of a building permit to a local appeals board. The bill would provide that the bill's provisions do not apply to specified facilities, including health facilities and public buildings. By expanding the crime of perjury and imposing new duties on local agencies, 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 no reimbursement is required by this act for specified reasons.

Maddy summaryHouse Resolution 101 is a procedural measure that officially designates June as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) Pride Month in California. The resolution does not create new laws or change any policies; instead, it serves to acknowledge the historical significance of the June 1969 Stonewall Uprising and the ongoing contributions of the LGBTQ+ community. By recognizing this month, the legislature aims to promote awareness of the civil rights movement and encourage continued efforts toward equality and non-discrimination.

This measure would proclaim May 6, 2024, as California Holocaust Memorial Day and would urge all Californians to observe this day of remembrance for the victims of the Holocaust in an appropriate manner.

Maddy summaryThis bill officially designates the week of May 6 to May 10, 2024, as Student Mental Health Awareness Week in California. It directly affects schools, students, educators, and community organizations by encouraging them to focus on mental well-being during that specific period. The measure includes no funding or new programs; it serves solely as a symbolic recognition to highlight the importance of student mental health and reduce stigma. By establishing this awareness week, the legislation aims to promote discussions about mental health without altering existing laws or budgets.