Photo of Jim Cooper
D California Assembly · District 9

Asm. Jim Cooper

Compare
Total votes
15,375
all sessions
Attendance
93%
1,066 missed
Near the chamber average
With party
98%
of cast votes
Lower than 78% of chamber peers
Bipartisan score
1%
crosses aisle rarely
Near the chamber average
Sponsored
1,450
bills & resolutions
Near the chamber average
Committees
0
assignments
1,450 bills and resolutions

Sponsored bills

Total
1,450
Primary
176
Co-sponsor
1,274
This page
1,450
matching current filters
Primary AB 1289
Signed into law · California Assembly · Lead sponsor
Transportation network companies: participating drivers: penalties.

(1) The Passenger Charter-party Carriers' Act defines a transportation network company as an organization, whether a corporation, partnership, sole proprietor, or other form, operating in California that provides prearranged transportation services for compensation using an online-enabled platform to connect passengers with drivers using their personal vehicles. A transportation network company is subject to regulation by the Public Utilities Commission, which requires, among other things, a criminal background check of each participating driver. A transportation network company is also required to have a specified certificate or permit, as appropriate, from the commission, and is subject to various other requirements. A violation of the act is generally a misdemeanor and subject to a fine of not less than $1,000 and not more than $5,000 or by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than 3 months, or by both that fine and imprisonment. This bill would require a transportation network company to conduct, or have a 3rd party conduct, a local and national criminal background check for each participating driver, as specified. The bill would prohibit a transportation network company from contracting with, employing, or retaining a driver if he or she, among other things, is currently registered on the United States Department of Justice National Sex Offender Public Website, has been convicted of any of certain terrorism-related felonies or a violent felony, as defined, or, within the previous 7 years, has been convicted of any misdemeanor assault or battery, any domestic violence offense, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or any of a specified list of felonies. The bill would additionally provide that a transportation network company that violates, or fails to comply with, its provisions is subject to a penalty of not less than $1,000 nor more than $5,000 for each offense. (2) Existing law provides that an investigative consumer reporting agency shall furnish an investigative consumer report only under specified circumstances and, except as specified, existing law also prohibits an investigative consumer reporting agency from making or furnishing any investigative consumer report containing certain items of information, including, among other things, records of an arrest, indictment, information, misdemeanor complaint, or conviction of a crime that, from the date of disposition, release, or parole, antedates the report by more than 7 years. This bill would, notwithstanding these provisions, authorize an investigative consumer reporting agency to furnish an investigative consumer report to a transportation network company about a person seeking to become a participating driver, regardless of whether the participating driver is to be an employee or an independent contractor of the transportation network company. The bill would provide that the prohibition on including the criminal history information referenced above in an investigative consumer report does not apply to a report furnished to a transportation network company under these provisions. (3) Because a violation of the act is a crime, and this bill would expand the scope of the act, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (4) 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.

Signed into law Sep 28, 2016 0 co-sponsors
Primary AB 2220
Signed into law · California Assembly · Lead sponsor
Elections in cities: by or from district.

Existing law generally requires all elective city offices, including the members of a city council, to be filled at large by the city electorate at a general municipal election. Existing law, at any municipal election or special election held for this purpose, authorizes the legislative body of a city to submit to the registered voters an ordinance providing for the election of members of the legislative body by district or from district, as defined, and with or without an elective mayor. Existing law also authorizes the legislative body of a city with a population of fewer than 100,000 people to adopt an ordinance that requires the members of the legislative body to be elected by district or by district with an elective mayor without being required to submit the ordinance to the voters for approval. This bill would delete the population limitation in that provision, thereby authorizing the legislative body of a city to adopt an ordinance that requires the members of the legislative body to be elected by district or by district with an elective mayor without being required to submit the ordinance to the voters for approval. The bill also would make a conforming change to these provisions.

Signed into law Sep 28, 2016 0 co-sponsors
Co-sponsor AB 2704
Signed into law · California Assembly · Co-sponsor
State Capitol: Mervyn Dymally bust.

Existing law prescribes various duties for the Department of General Services in connection with development and maintenance of the park around the State Capitol Building. This bill would authorize the Mervyn Dymally Memorial Capitol Foundation, upon establishment, in consultation with the Department of General Services, to plan a bust of Mervyn Dymally to be placed in the State Capitol Building Annex. The bill would require the Department of General Services and the Mervyn Dymally Memorial Capitol Foundation to approve the design and any other aspect of the bust. The bill would require that the planning, construction, and maintenance of the bust be funded with private donations through the Mervyn Dymally Memorial Capitol Foundation. The bill would prohibit construction of the bust until the Joint Committee on Rules has approved and adopted the plan for the bust, and the Joint Committee on Rules and the Department of Finance have determined that sufficient private funding is available to construct and maintain the bust. The bill would provide legislative findings in support of these provisions.

Signed into law Sep 27, 2016 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor AB 2387
Signed into law · California Assembly · Co-sponsor
Vehicle equipment: supplemental restraint system components and nonfunctional airbags.

Existing law makes it a misdemeanor for a person to (a) install, reinstall, rewire, tamper with, alter, or modify for compensation, a vehicle's computer system or supplemental restraint system, otherwise referred to as an airbag, so that it falsely indicates the supplemental restraint system is in proper working order; or (b) knowingly distribute or sell a previously deployed airbag or component that will no longer meet the original equipment manufacturing form or function for proper operation. This bill would repeal these provisions and instead make it a misdemeanor for any person to knowingly and intentionally manufacture, import, install, reinstall, distribute, sell, or offer for sale any device intended to replace a supplemental restraint system component, as defined, in any motor vehicle if the device is a counterfeit supplemental restraint system component or a nonfunctional airbag, as defined, or does not meet specified federal safety requirements. The bill would also make it a misdemeanor to knowingly and intentionally sell, install, or reinstall in a vehicle any device that causes the vehicle's diagnostic systems to fail to warn when the vehicle is equipped with a counterfeit supplemental restraint system component or nonfunctional airbag, or when no airbag is installed. The bill would provide that its provisions do not affect any duties, rights, or remedies otherwise available at law or preclude prosecution under any other law. By creating new crimes, 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 a specified reason.

Signed into law Sep 27, 2016 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor SB 1064
Signed into law · California Senate · Co-sponsor
Sexually exploited minors.

Existing law, until January 1, 2017, authorizes the Counties of Alameda and Los Angeles, respectively, to create a pilot project, contingent upon local funding, for the purposes of developing a comprehensive, replicative, multidisciplinary model to address the needs and effective treatment of commercially sexually exploited minors, as specified. This bill would extend the operation of this program indefinitely in the County of Alameda. The bill would also expand the definition of a "commercially sexually exploited minor" to include, among others, a minor who has been adjudged a dependent of the juvenile court because he or she is a commercially sexually exploited child, and would create a presumption that, if a minor has been arrested for engaging in prostitution, or is the subject of a petition to adjudge him or her a dependent of the juvenile court because he or she is a commercially sexually exploited child, he or she is a commercially sexually exploited minor for the purposes of that definition. This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the County of Alameda.

Signed into law Sep 26, 2016 1 co-sponsor
Primary AB 2011
Signed into law · California Assembly · Lead sponsor
Thoroughbred racing: northern, central, and southern zones: auxiliary offsite stabling, training, and vanning.

(1) The Horse Racing Law requires, when satellite wagering is conducted on thoroughbred races at associations or fairs in the northern, central, or southern zone, that an amount not to exceed 1.25% of the total amount handled by all of those satellite wagering facilities be deducted from the funds otherwise allocated for distribution as commissions, purses, and owners' premiums and instead be distributed to an organization formed and operated by thoroughbred racing associations, fairs conducting thoroughbred racing, and the organization representing thoroughbred horsemen and horsewomen, to administer a fund to provide reimbursement for offsite stabling at California Horse Racing Board-approved auxiliary training facilities for additional stalls beyond the number of usable stalls the association or fair is required to make available and maintain, and for the vanning of starters from these additional stalls on racing days for thoroughbred horses. This bill would increase the amount that is required to be deducted to an amount not to exceed 2% in the northern, central, and southern zones, and would provide that this amount in the northern zone, if adjusted by the board, may be a different percentage of the handle for different associations and fairs, but only if all the associations and fairs agree to the differing percentages. The bill would establish an auxiliary offsite stabling and training facility and vanning program for thoroughbred races in the northern, central, and southern zones. The bill would revise and recast the provisions governing the organization formed and operated to administer the fund to include, among other things, a 50-50 percentage allocation of specified voting interests on the board of the organization, the use of funds to pay the organization's expenses and compensate the provider of a board-approved auxiliary facility for offsite stabling and training of thoroughbred horses in the northern, central, and southern zones, and the requirement that the organization submit its proposed financial and operational plans for the upcoming calendar year to the board for review no later than November 1 of the preceding year. The bill would require, at the request of the board, the organization to submit a report detailing all of its receipts and expenditures over the prior 2 fiscal years and, upon request of any party within the organization, that those receipts and expenditures be audited by an independent 3rd party selected by the board at the organization's expense. The bill would also require that the funds be used to cover all or part of the cost of vanning thoroughbred horses in the northern, central, or southern zone from a board-approved auxiliary offsite stabling and training facility and would authorize the organization to enter into multiyear contracts for auxiliary facilities in the northern, central, or southern zone subject to specified conditions. The bill would authorize the organization to use the funds to pay back commissions, purses, and owners' premiums to the extent that the deductions made exceed in any year the amount of the funds necessary to achieve the objectives of the organization. The bill would also authorize a thoroughbred racing association or fair in the northern zone to opt out of the auxiliary offsite stabling and training facility and vanning program, as specified. The bill would provide that the board shall reserve the right to adjudicate any disputes that arise regarding costs, or other matters, relating to the furnishing of offsite stabling or vanning, as specified. (2) By expanding the provisions of the Horse Racing Law, a violation of which is a crime, the bill would create new crimes and would thereby impose a state-mandated local program. (3) 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. (4) This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

Signed into law Sep 24, 2016 0 co-sponsors
Co-sponsor SB 977
Signed into law · California Senate · Co-sponsor
Tobacco: youth sports events.

Existing law prohibits the smoking of a cigarette, cigar, or other tobacco product, and the disposal of tobacco-related waste, within 25 feet of any playground or tot lot sandbox area, as defined. Existing law prohibits a person from intimidating or retaliating against another person seeking compliance with these prohibitions. These prohibitions do not apply to the use of tobacco on private property. A violation of these prohibitions is an infraction, punishable by a fine of $250 for each violation. Existing law expressly does not preempt the authority of any county, city, or city and county to regulate smoking around playgrounds or tot lot sandbox areas. This bill would prohibit a person located in the same park or facility where a youth sports event is taking place from using a tobacco product, as defined, within 250 feet of the youth sports event, as defined, and make a violation an infraction punishable by a fine of $250 for each violation. The bill would make the use of tobacco on private property subject to those prohibitions. The bill would state that its provisions do not preempt the authority of any county, city, or city and county to regulate the use of tobacco products around a youth sports event. By establishing a new crime, this bill would create 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.

Signed into law Sep 23, 2016 1 co-sponsor
Primary AB 1853
Vetoed · California Assembly · Lead sponsor
County employees' retirement: districts: retirement system governance.

(1) The County Employees Retirement Law of 1937 (CERL) authorizes counties to establish retirement systems pursuant to its provisions in order to provide pension benefits to their employees. CERL defines a district for these purposes, includes specified county retirement systems within that definition, and permits a district to participate in CERL retirement systems. CERL generally provides that the personnel of a county retirement system are county employees, subject to county civil service provisions and salary ordinances, but also authorizes the boards of retirement in specified counties to adopt provisions providing for the appointment of personnel who are to be employees of the retirement system, as well as other administrative provisions that reflect the independence of the retirement system from the county. The California Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) requires a public retirement system, as defined, to modify its plan or plans to comply with the act and establishes new retirement formulas that a public employer offering a defined benefit pension plan for employees first hired on or after January 1, 2013, may not exceed. PEPRA authorizes individuals who were employed by any public employer before January 1, 2013, and who became employed by a subsequent public employer for the first time on or after January 1, 2013, to be subject to the retirement plan that would have been available to employees of the subsequent employer who were first employed by the subsequent employer on or before December 31, 2012, if the individual was subject to reciprocity, as specified. This bill would authorize the retirement board of any retirement system operating under CERL to elect, by resolution, to be a district under the law. The bill would authorize a board to adopt, by resolution, specified administrative provisions that would classify various personnel of the retirement system as employees of the retirement system and not employees of the county. The bill would require the retirement system to notify, and to meet and discuss with, participating employers in the retirement system, the employees of the system, and an employee organization of the retirement system's intent to exercise this authority at least 60 days before considering a resolution to make these provisions applicable. The bill would grant an employee organization representing people who work for the retirement system, and an unrepresented person who works for the retirement system, the right to elect to be employees of the retirement system, which would be irrevokable, except as specified, and the status of the affected employee positions would remain changed for successor employees. In regard to county employees who would become retirement system employees, the bill would prescribe requirements in connection with their compensation and employment benefits and status. These provisions would include maintaining their county retirement benefits that would otherwise be reduced under PEPRA, keeping their employment classifications, and affording employees the opportunity to continue participation in group health and dental plans, among other plans and programs. The bill would also prescribe requirements regarding labor negotiations and the continuity of labor agreements. The bill would grant a retirement system electing these provisions the authority to adopt the regulations and enter into the agreements necessary to implement them. The bill would require counties to cooperate and act in a timely manner to establish and implement agreements in this regard. The bill would authorize retirement systems currently operating under alternative administrative structures also to adopt these provisions. The bill would also extend this authorization and the associated provisions to a board of investment, as specified. The bill would make technical and conforming changes. (2) CERL authorizes the retirement boards of 5 specified counties to appoint assistant administrators and chief investment officers who, following appointment, are outside county charter, civil service, and merit system rules, except as specified. CERL provides that these administrators and officers are employees of the county, as specified, while serving at the pleasure of the appointing boards, and they may be dismissed without cause. This bill would remove the limitation on these provisions to certain counties, thereby making them applicable to all CERL retirement systems. (3) Existing law permits a board of retirement operating under CERL to issue subpoenas and to compensate persons who are subpoenaed. Existing law permits a board to delegate its subpoena power to a referee or administrator who is appointed pursuant to specified authority. This bill would authorize specified retirement systems operating as districts to delegate the subpoena power, as described above.

Vetoed Sep 23, 2016 0 co-sponsors
Co-sponsor AB 2012
Signed into law · California Assembly · Co-sponsor
Jail Industry Authority.

Existing law authorizes the board of supervisors in specified counties, as part of a pilot jail industry program not to exceed 4 years, to establish, with the concurrence of the county sheriff, a Jail Industry Commission for that county. Existing law also requires the county board of supervisors, upon the establishment of a commission, to create a Jail Industries Fund, as specified, which may be used to fund specified purposes. Existing law specifies the composition of these commissions. This bill would repeal the authorization to create a Jail Industry Commission as a pilot program, and would instead authorize the board of supervisors of the Counties of Lake, Los Angeles, Madera, Sacramento, San Diego, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Tulare, Tuolumne, and Ventura to authorize the county sheriff or county director of corrections to create a Jail Industry Authority, as specified. The bill would also make conforming changes. This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the Counties of Lake, Los Angeles, Madera, Sacramento, San Diego, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Tulare, Tuolumne, and Ventura.

Signed into law Sep 22, 2016 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor AB 1864
Vetoed · California Assembly · Co-sponsor
Inquests: sudden unexplained death in childhood.

Existing law states that the Legislature finds and declares that sudden infant death syndrome, as defined, is the leading cause of death for children under age one. Existing law requires the coroner to, among other things, perform an autopsy, within 24 hours or as soon thereafter as feasible, in any case where an infant has died suddenly and unexpectedly. This bill would define "sudden unexplained death in childhood" as the sudden death of a child one year of age or older but under 18 years of age that is unexplained by the history of the child and for which a thorough postmortem examination fails to demonstrate an adequate cause of death. The bill would require the coroner to notify the parent or responsible adult of a child within that definition about the importance of taking tissue samples. The bill would also exempt the coroner from liability for damages in a civil action for any act or omission done in compliance with these provisions. The bill would make other, nonsubstantive, changes. By expanding the duties of a local agency, this bill would create a state-mandated local program. This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 27491.41 of the Government Code, proposed by SB 1189, to be operative only if SB 1189 and this bill are both chaptered and become effective on or before January 1, 2017, and this bill is chaptered last. 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.

Vetoed Sep 22, 2016 1 co-sponsor
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