Existing law requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission to administer various grant programs, including a program to provide incentives for liquid fuels fermented from biomass and biomass-derived resources. The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 designates the State Air Resources Board as the state agency charged with monitoring and regulating sources of emissions of greenhouse gases. The act authorizes the state board to include the use of market-based compliance mechanisms to achieve its goals. Existing law requires all moneys, except for fines and penalties, collected by the state board from the auction or sale of allowances as part of a market-based compliance mechanism to be deposited in the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. This bill would require the commission to develop and implement the Biosolids to Clean Energy Grant Program to provide 50% matching funds to local wastewater agencies for biosolids to clean energy capital projects. Beginning with the 2016–17 fiscal year, the bill would continuously appropriate $20,000,000 annually from the fund to the commission for purposes of the program.
Sponsored bills
Existing law establishes the Labor and Workforce Development Agency overseen by the Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development and provides that the agency consists of, among other entities, the California Workforce Investment Board, the Employment Development Department, and the Employment Training Panel. The California Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act establishes the California Workforce Development Board as the body responsible for assisting the Governor in the development, oversight, and continuous improvement of California's workforce investment system and the alignment of the education and workforce investment systems to the needs of the 21st century economy and workforce. That act requires the establishment of a local workforce development board in each local workforce development area of the state to, among other things, carry out analyses of the economic conditions in the local region. This bill would enact the Removing Barriers to Employment Act, which would establish the Breaking Barriers to Employment Initiative within the Labor and Workforce Development Agency. The bill would require the initiative to be led by the Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development and authorizes the secretary to assign all or part of the administration of the initiative to one or more entities within the agency's oversight, or to authorize another state agency, under specified conditions, to administer a portion of the initiative. The bill would specify that the purpose of the initiative is to create a grant program to assist individuals who have multiple barriers to employment to receive the remedial education and work readiness skills that will help those individuals to successfully participate in training, apprenticeship, or employment opportunities that enhance skill development that will lead to self-sufficiency and economic stability, and would set forth the goals of the initiative. The bill would require the secretary to develop criteria for the selection of grant recipients, as specified, and would require the secretary, by January 1, 2018, and annually thereafter, to post a report on the agency's Internet Web site that provides a status report on the implementation of the initiative and aggregates information provided by grant recipients. The bill would authorize the secretary, when implementing the initiative, to fund a project that uses a model that was previously funded as a pilot project under certain programs if specified criteria are met. The bill would make the funding of the initiative subject to an appropriation by the Legislature for that purpose and would make implementation of the initiative contingent on the secretary notifying the Department of Finance that sufficient moneys have been appropriated.
Existing federal law provides for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known in California as CalFresh, under which counties distribute food assistance benefits to eligible individuals. Existing federal law limits an able-bodied adult without dependents (ABAWD) participant to 3 months of CalFresh benefits in a 3-year period unless that participant has met specified work participation requirements. Existing law directs the State Department of Social Services to annually seek a federal waiver of this limitation, and provides that an eligible county is included in this waiver unless the county declines to participate in the waiver request. Existing law authorizes the department to implement this provision by all-county letters or similar instructions. This bill would require all eligible counties to be included in the federal waiver of the ABAWD time limitation and would delete the authorization for the department to implement this provision by all-county letters or similar instructions. By expanding eligibility for CalFresh benefits, 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, 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.
Existing law provides for the registration, certification, and licensure of various healing arts professionals. Existing law provides for various programs to eliminate alcohol and drug abuse, and states the finding of the Legislature that state government has an affirmative role in alleviating problems related to the inappropriate use of alcoholic beverages and other drug use. This bill, among other things, would establish the Alcohol and Drug Counseling Professional Bureau within the Department of Consumer Affairs, specify the bureau's powers and duties, and authorize the bureau to adopt necessary rules and regulations. The bill would prohibit a person from using the title licensed alcohol and drug counselor unless the person had applied for and obtained a license from the bureau and would specify the minimum qualifications for a license, including, but not limited to, educational qualifications, being currently credentialed as an advanced alcohol and drug counselor, and having submitted to a criminal background check. The bill would provide that a license for an alcohol and drug counselor would be valid for 2 years unless at any time during that period it is revoked or suspended, that the license would be authorized to be renewed prior to the expiration of the 2-year period, and that a licensee fulfill continuing education requirements prior to renewal. The bill would also require the bureau to establish the fees for an initial alcohol and drug counselor license and a renewal license in an amount reasonably related to the bureau's actual costs in performing its duties, but to not exceed $200. This bill would require the bureau to review the state and federal level criminal history of the applicant before issuing a license, and the bureau would be required, with exceptions, to deny, suspend, delay, or set aside a person's license if, at the time of the bureau's determination, the person has a criminal conviction or pending criminal charge relating to an offense, the circumstances of which substantially relate to actions as a licensed alcohol and drug counselor.
This measure would recognize Nowrūz, the Persian New Year celebration.
This measure would declare the week of April 17, 2016, to April 23, 2016, inclusive, as West Nile Virus and Mosquito and Vector Control Awareness Week in California.
This measure would designate the month of April 2016 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and would recognize April 27, 2016, as Denim Day California.
This measure would proclaim February 29, 2016, as Rare Disease Day in California and would provide for the recognition of Rare Disease Day in California in subsequent years, as specified.
This measure would designate Monday, May 2, 2016, as California Peace Officers' Memorial Day, and would urge all Californians to honor those individuals who have given their lives for our safety and express appreciation to those who continue to dedicate themselves to making California a safer place in which to live and raise our families.
This measure would recognize and honor the men and women of California agriculture for their dedication and productivity by observing March 15, 2016, as National Agriculture Day, and designating March 16, 2016, as California Agriculture Day.