The Pharmacy Law provides for the licensure and regulation of pharmacists by the California State Board of Pharmacy. Existing law prohibits a pharmacist from dispensing any prescription unless it is in a specified container that is correctly labeled to include, among other information, the directions for the use of the drug. Existing regulations of the board provide standardized directions for use that are required to be used on drug container labels, as specified. This bill would require the board to conduct a survey of a representative sample of licensed pharmacists to determine the usage of the directions for use described above. The bill would require this survey to address certain issues, including, but not limited to, whether and how often the pharmacist utilizes the directions for use, barriers to utilizing the directions for use, and other directions for use utilized by the pharmacist. The bill would also require the board to conduct a similar survey of vendors that provide electronic health records (EHR) to pharmacies and prescribers to determine the type of directions for use included in the vendor's EHR programming, as specified. The bill would authorize these surveys to be conducted with other routine surveys conducted by the board during its regular course of business. The bill would require the board to report the survey findings at its July 2016 board meeting and to publish the findings on the board's Internet Web site, as specified.
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This measure would urge the President and Congress of the United States to take specified action and adopt specified policies designed to protect unaccompanied minors immigrating to the United States.
Existing law establishes the California State University, which is administered by the Trustees of the California State University, as one of the segments of public postsecondary education in this state. Existing law authorizes the trustees to, by rule, require all persons to pay fees, rents, deposits, and charges for services, facilities, or materials provided by the trustees to such persons, and requires the trustees to control and expend all money appropriated for the support and maintenance of the California State University. This bill would appropriate $22,000,000 to the California State University for purposes of enrolling additional students. The bill would express legislative intent that the appropriated funds be used for specified matters and would include legislative findings and declarations related to student enrollment.
The Local Health Care District Law authorizes the organization, incorporation, and management of health care districts that are permitted to exercise specified powers, including, among others, to do any and all things that an individual might do that are necessary for, and to the advantage of, a health care facility and a nurses' training school, or a child care facility for the benefit of employees of the health care facility or residents of the district. Existing law also authorizes local authorities to adopt rules and regulations by ordinance or resolution regarding specified matters, including, among other things, appointing nonstudent school crossing guards for the protection of persons who are crossing a street or highway in the vicinity of a school or while returning thereafter to a place of safety. Under existing law, a person who disregards a traffic signal or direction given by those crossing guards is guilty of an infraction, and subject to fines ranging from not less than $50 for a first conviction to not more than $500 for a 3rd or subsequent conviction within a 2-year period. In addition to those fines, a court may order the Department of Motor Vehicles to suspend the driver's license of a person convicted of a 3rd or subsequent violation of those provisions within a period of 2 years for up to 30 days. This bill would, notwithstanding any other law, additionally authorize the Washington Township Health Care District to appoint a health care district crossing guard to provide for the protection of persons who are crossing a street or highway within 1,000 feet of an emergency room, emergency department, or trauma center located within that health care district or while returning thereafter to a place of safety. The bill would provide that disregarding a traffic signal or direction given by a Washington Township Health Care District crossing guard is an infraction, punishable as described above. By expanding the scope of an existing crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the Washington Township Health Care District. 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.
Existing law, the California Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly Act, provides for the licensure of residential care facilities for the elderly by the State Department of Social Services and makes a violation of those provisions a crime. Existing law authorizes a person to request an inspection of a facility by transmitting notice of an alleged violation of law to the department. Existing law requires the department to review a complaint and conduct an onsite inspection within 10 days and requires the department to provide the substance of the complaint to the licensee no earlier than the time of the inspection. This bill, beginning July 1, 2015, would make various changes to this complaint procedure, including prohibiting the department from giving a licensee advance notice of an investigation regarding a complaint and requiring the department to conduct an onsite investigation within one working day of receiving a complaint if the complaint alleges physical abuse, sexual abuse, or a threat of imminent danger. The bill would state the intent of the Legislature that the department conduct investigations in the manner required to ensure maximum effectiveness while respecting the rights of residents and to complete an investigation, except as specified, within 90 days of receiving a complaint, or within 30 days when the complaint alleges physical abuse, sexual abuse, or a threat of imminent danger. The bill would prohibit a licensee, or officer or employee of the licensee, from interfering with or obstructing an investigation conducted pursuant to these provisions and would require the department to assess an immediate civil penalty, as specified, per day per violation for violations of that prohibition. Because a violation of this prohibition would also be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would authorize a complainant who is dissatisfied with the department's investigation, findings, or enforcement to file an appeal, as specified, and would require the department to inform the complainant of these appeal rights, as specified. Existing law prohibits a licensee from discriminating or retaliating in any manner against a person receiving the services of the licensee's residential care facility for the elderly, or against an employee of the licensee's facility, on the basis, or for the reason that, the person or employee or any other person has initiated or participated in the filing of a complaint, grievance, or a request for inspection with the department, or has initiated or participated in the filing of a complaint, grievance, or request for investigation with the appropriate local ombudsman, or with the state ombudsman. This bill would require the department to assess an immediate civil penalty, as specified, per day for each violation of these provisions. 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.
Existing law requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to disburse funds, appropriated to the department for the purpose of supporting county veterans service officers pursuant to the annual Budget Act, on a pro rata basis, to counties that comply with certain conditions. This bill would authorize the department, in conjunction with the California Association of County Veterans Service Officers, no later than July 1, 2015, to develop an allocation formula based upon performance standards that encourage innovation and reward outstanding service by county veterans service officers, and, if that allocation formula is developed, the bill would require those moneys appropriated for support of county veterans service offices in the annual Budget Act to be allocated in accordance with that formula, as specified.
Existing law defines an electronic cigarette as a device that can provide an inhalable dose of nicotine by delivering a vaporized solution. Existing law, to the extent not preempted by federal law, makes it unlawful for a person to sell or otherwise furnish an electronic cigarette to a person under 18 years of age. Existing law, the Stop Tobacco Access to Kids Enforcement Act or the STAKE Act, requires the State Department of Public Health to establish and develop a program to reduce the availability of tobacco products to minors and to enforce the provisions of the act. Among other things, the act prohibits a cigarette or tobacco product from being sold, offered for sale, or distributed from a vending machine or appliance, or any other coin or token operated mechanical device designed or used for vending purposes, unless the machine or appliance is located at least 15 feet away from the entrance of a premise that has been issued an on-sale public premises license to sell alcoholic beverages, as specified. The act authorizes the adoption of more restrictive local standards that further restrict access to and reduce the availability of cigarette or tobacco products from vending machines or devices or ban the sale entirely. This bill would make the provision of the STAKE Act restricting the sale of cigarette and tobacco products from vending machines applicable to electronic cigarettes, as defined.
Existing law provides for various research and development programs, including programs related to energy supplies, consumption, and conservation, and to transportation, and also establishes certain tax incentives for private research and development. This bill states the intent of the Legislature to capitalize on California's spending on research and development, understand the present status and long term trends of research and development in California, make strategic investments in research and development, and maximize the state's research and development investments.
(1) Existing law establishes and imposes on state and local agencies various requirements relating to the acquisition, construction, and renovation of public buildings. This bill would require new construction or renovation, as specified, of a public building, as specified, that is owned by a state or a local agency, or a portion of a building that is owned by a state or local agency and includes at least one restroom that is open to the public, to provide on each floor level containing one or more restrooms that are accessible to the public at least one safe, sanitary, and convenient baby diaper changing station, as specified. The bill would require each station to be maintained, repaired, and replaced as necessary to ensure safety and ease of use, and to be cleaned with the same frequency as the restroom in which it is located. By imposing a higher level of service on local agencies, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (2) Existing law, the California Retail Food Code, establishes uniform health and sanitation standards for retail food facilities and provides for the enforcement of those standards by local health agencies and by the State Department of Public Health, as specified. Among other sanitation standards, the code requires a permanent food facility to provide clean toilet facilities in good repair for consumers, guests, or invitees if the food facility was constructed after July 1, 1984, and has more than 20,000 square feet of floor space. A violation of these provisions is a crime. This bill would require a permanent food facility, as specified, to provide a clean baby diaper changing station in good repair for consumers, guests, or invitees. By creating a new crime and by imposing a higher level of service on local health agencies, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (3) Existing law also requires publicly and privately owned facilities where the public congregates to be equipped with sufficient restrooms to meet the needs of the public at peak hours. This bill would require various facilities, including a theater, sports arena, or library, to install and maintain at least one baby diaper changing station if the facility is open to the public, as specified. (4) The bill would set forth findings and declarations stating that ensuring that safe, sanitary, and convenient baby diaper changing stations are widely available throughout the state is a matter of statewide concern. (5) 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 with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
(1) Existing law dissolved redevelopment agencies and community development agencies as of February 1, 2012, and provides for the designation of successor agencies to wind down the affairs of the dissolved redevelopment agencies, subject to review by oversight boards, and to, among other things, make payments due for enforceable obligations and to perform obligations required pursuant to any enforceable obligation. Existing law requires the Department of Finance to issue a finding of completion to a successor agency upon confirmation by the county auditor-controller that specified payments have been fully made by the successor agency. Existing law prohibits a successor agency from entering into contracts with, incurring obligations or making commitments to, any entity, as specified; or from amending or modifying existing agreements, obligations, or commitments with any entity, for any purpose. Existing law defines "enforceable obligation" for these purposes to generally exclude any agreements, contracts, or arrangements between the city, county, or city and county that created the redevelopment agency and the former redevelopment agency. This bill would authorize a successor agency, if the successor agency has received a finding of completion, to enter into, or amend existing, contracts and agreements, or otherwise administer projects in connection with enforceable obligations, if the contract, agreement, or project will not commit new property tax funds or otherwise adversely affect the flow of specified tax revenues or payments to the taxing agencies, as specified. The bill would specifically include within the definition of "enforceable obligation" an agreement entered into by the redevelopment agency prior to June 30, 2011, if the agreement relates to state highway infrastructure improvements to which the redevelopment agency committed funds pursuant to specified law. (2) Existing law requires that loan agreements entered into between the redevelopment agency and the city, county, or city and county that created the redevelopment agency be deemed enforceable obligations if the oversight board makes a specific finding. Existing law requires that, if the loan is an enforceable obligation, the accumulated interest on the remaining principal amount of the loan be recalculated from origination at that interest rate earned by funds deposited into the Local Agency Investment Fund and requires the loan to be repaid in accordance with a defined schedule at an interest rate not to exceed that interest rate. This bill would revise those provisions to provide that any accumulated interest on the remaining principal balance of the loan be recalculated from origination using the interest rate earned by funds deposited into the Local Agency Investment Fund in effect on the date of loan origination, and as adjusted quarterly thereafter and that the remaining balance of the loan and the accumulated interest be repaid in accordance with a defined schedule at an interest rate not to exceed that interest rate as the rate is adjusted on a quarterly basis. This bill would state the Legislature's intent that these revisions be clarifying. (3) Existing law requires a successor agency to prepare a recognized obligation payment schedule, which sets forth the minimum payment amounts and due dates of payments required by enforceable obligations for each 6-month fiscal period, that is required to be submitted to, and approved by, the oversight board, and submitted to other entities, including the Department of Finance. Existing law requires the Department of Finance to make its determination of the enforceable obligations and the amounts and funding sources of the enforceable obligations no later than 45 days after the Recognized Obligation Payment Schedule is submitted. This bill would require the rejection of an enforceable obligation from a recognized obligation payment schedule for a successor agency that has received a finding of completion from the department to be submitted to the oversight board for review and approval, and would provide that the determination of the oversight board is final and conclusive without further review by the department. (4) Existing law provides that, if an enforceable obligation provides for an irrevocable commitment of property tax revenue and the allocation of those revenues is expected to occur over time, the successor agency may petition the Department of Finance to provide written confirmation that its determination of the enforceable obligation as approved in a Recognized Obligation Payment Schedule is final and conclusive, and reflects the department's approval of subsequent payments made pursuant to the enforceable obligation. This bill would require the Department of Finance to provide that written confirmation within 45 days. (5) Existing law requires a city, county, or city and county that wishes to retain any properties or other assets for future redevelopment activities, funded from its own funds and under its own auspices, to reach a compensation agreement with the other taxing entities to provide payments to them in proportion to their shares of the base property tax for the value of the property retained, as specified. This bill would specify that these provisions do not apply to the disposition of properties pursuant to a long-range property management plan. (6) Existing law requires the disposition of assets and properties of the former redevelopment agency as directed by the oversight board, as specified, and suspends these requirements until the Department of Finance has approved a long-range property management plan, as specified. Upon approval of a long-range property management plan, the plan governs and supersedes, all other provisions relating to the disposition and use of the real property assets of the former redevelopment agency. Existing law requires the property of a former redevelopment agency to be disposed of according to law if the department has not approved a long-range property management plan by January 1, 2016. This bill would prohibit the department from requiring compensation agreements as part of the approval of a long-range property management plan and would specify the criteria the department may consider in approving a long-range property management plan. The bill would require the department to approve long-range property management plans as expeditiously as possible. This bill would also provide that actions relating to the disposition of property after approval of a long-range property management plan do not require review by the department. (7) Existing law requires the Controller to review the activities of redevelopment agencies in the state to determine whether an asset transfer has occurred after January 1, 2011, between the city or county, or city and county that created a redevelopment agency or any other public agency, and the redevelopment agency. This bill would require the review to be completed no later than January 1, 2016. (8) Existing law prohibits an agency or community officer or employee who is required to participate in the formulation of, or to approve plans or policies for, the redevelopment of a project area from acquiring any interest in any property included within a project area within the community. This bill would provide that an agency or community officer or employee is not prohibited from acquiring an interest in property within a former redevelopment project area of a dissolved redevelopment agency, as specified. (9) Existing law requires each successor agency to have an oversight board composed of 7 members and requires each member to be appointed by a specified authority. This bill would allow each appointing authority to appoint an alternate representative to serve on the oversight board as may be necessary. This bill would provide that the alternative representative has the same participatory and voting rights as all other attending members of the oversight board, and would require the successor agency to promptly notify the Department of Finance regarding the appointment of any alternate representative. (10) This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 34180 of the Health and Safety Code proposed by SB 1404 that would become operative only if this bill and SB 1404 are both chaptered and this bill is chaptered last. (11) This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 34191.4 of the Health and Safety Code proposed by AB 2493 that would become operative only if this bill and AB 2493 are both chaptered and this bill is chaptered last.