Asm. Jim Cooper

This measure would call on our state Congressional Representatives to voice their concerns on the proposed fiscal cuts to programs created by the federal Housing and Community Development Act. The measure would also call on the President of the United States and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to protect and these programs, to veto any legislation to do so, and to work with the Congress to further protect these programs.

This measure would state that the Legislature strongly and unequivocally supports the existing fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions standards and California's federal Clean Air Act waivers; will consider any and all appropriate actions to maintain vehicle emissions standards for the protection of public health, California residents, and the economy; and strongly urges the President and Vice President of the United States, the Secretary of the United States Department of Transportation, and the Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency to reject the Safer and Affordable Fuel Efficient Vehicles Proposed Rule for Model Years 2021–2026.

This measure would affirm the Legislature's support for science-based action to conserve, protect, restore, and effectively manage California's coastal and ocean ecosystems, which the state holds in trust for the people of California, in the face of challenges presented by climate change, ocean acidification, hypoxia, and other changing ocean conditions, and would urge federal and state government entities to take specified actions to preserve the state's ocean and coastal resources as well as protect disadvantaged and low-income communities impacted by these challenges.

This measure would urge President Donald J. Trump to rescind three Executive orders issued on May 25, 2018, providing guidance to federal agencies regarding federal employees' representation, collective bargaining, and due process rights.

Existing law provides for the establishment of an Independent System Operator (ISO) as a nonprofit public benefit corporation and requires the ISO to make certain filings with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and to seek authority from the FERC as needed to give the ISO the ability to secure generating and transmission resources necessary to guarantee achievement of planning and operating reserve criteria no less stringent than those established by the Western Electricity Coordinating Council and the North American Electric Reliability Council. This bill would require the ISO, on or before December 31, 2019, to complete a process for the procurement of long duration energy storage projects that in aggregate have at least 1,000 megawatts capacity, but not more than 2,000 megawatts, except as provided. The bill would require the ISO to develop a methodology for allocating the cost of that procurement to all load-serving entities within the ISO-controlled electrical grid, as provided. Under existing law, a violation of the Public Utilities Act is a crime. Because the provisions of this bill would be a part of the act, a violation of which would be a crime, 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. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

This measure would proclaim September 30, 2018, as Gold Star Mothers' and Families' Day in California.

This measure would state the intent of the Legislature to take the opportunity preceding the 4th of July holiday to recognize and celebrate July 4, 2018, and the 242nd anniversary of the birth of our great nation and the signing of the Declaration of Independence that this day represents.

Existing law prohibits a person from being tried or adjudged to punishment while that person is mentally incompetent. Existing law establishes a process by which a defendant's mental competency is evaluated and by which the defendant receives treatment with the goal of returning the defendant to competency. Existing law allows a mentally incompetent defendant to be committed to the State Department of State Hospitals or other public or private treatment facility. Existing law establishes a procedure of diversion for defendants with mental disorders through which the court is authorized to grant pretrial diversion, for a period no longer than 2 years, to a defendant suffering from a mental disorder, on an accusatory pleading alleging the commission of a misdemeanor or felony offense, in order to allow the defendant to undergo mental health treatment. This bill would, among other things, revise those provisions to require the county board of supervisors to adopt a plan to create a diversion program in that county before diversion may be requested or granted for individuals charged with felonies and would authorize the board of supervisors to adopt additional criteria for an individual's participation in the diversion program. These requirements would not apply to an individual who was granted diversion prior to the effective date of the bill. The bill would also make defendants who have committed certain crimes, including murder, voluntary manslaughter, and rape, ineligible for the diversion program. The bill would authorize a court to grant a one-year extension of the diversion period and would establish a process and criteria for granting that extension. The bill would prohibit a person granted diversion under the program or other law, as specified, from purchasing or receiving a firearm, or having in his or her possession, custody, or control, a firearm during the period of diversion and for a period of 5 years from the date of dismissal of the charges upon successful completion of the program and would require the defendant to be advised of that prohibition. The bill would authorize a person who is granted diversion to file a petition for an order permitting him or her to own, possess, control, receive, or purchase a firearm. The bill would also require a court to conduct a hearing to determine whether restitution is owed to any victim as a result of the diverted offense and, if owed, to order its payment during the period of diversion.

This measure would recognize August 15, 2018, as India's Independence Day, and urge all Californians to join in celebrating India's independence.