This measure would state the intent of the Legislature that the State of California generate sufficient funds for, and allocate sufficient funds to, education, so as to bring per-pupil spending up to or beyond the national average, and to a level that accounts for the actual cost of educating California's diverse pupil population.
Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations. Existing law defines an "electric service provider" as an entity that offers electrical service to customers within the service territory of an electrical corporation, excluding electrical corporations, local publicly owned electric utilities, and certain cogenerators. Provisions of the existing Public Utilities Act restructuring the electrical services industry require that electric service providers register with the commission, and provide for the authorization of direct transactions between electric service providers and retail end-use customers. The act requires the commission, pursuant to electrical restructuring, to authorize and facilitate direct transactions between electricity suppliers and retail end-use customers. However, other existing law suspends the right of retail end-use customers other than community aggregators, as defined, to acquire service from certain electricity suppliers, after a period of time to be determined by the commission, until the Department of Water Resources no longer supplies electricity under that law. Notwithstanding this suspension, existing law authorizes a nonprofit charitable organization to acquire electric commodity service through a direct transaction with an electric service provider, until January 1, 2010, if electric commodity service is donated free of charge without compensation. This authorization will repeal on January 1, 2010, unless the date is extended or deleted. This bill would extend the repeal date until January 1, 2015.
(1) Existing law requires a person driving a vehicle on a freeway approaching a stationary authorized emergency vehicle displaying emergency lights, or a stationary tow truck that is displaying flashing amber warning lights to approach with due caution and, before passing in a lane immediately adjacent to the authorized emergency vehicle or tow truck, to either change lanes or slow to a reasonable and prudent speed, absent any other direction by a peace officer. This provision is repealed on January 1, 2010. A violation of this provision is an infraction. This bill would delete the repeal date. Because this bill would extend a criminal violation indefinitely, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (2) Existing law requires tow trucks used to tow disabled vehicles to be equipped with flashing amber warning lamps, and authorizes tow trucks to display flashing amber warning lamps while providing service to a disabled vehicle. Existing law prohibits a tow truck from displaying flashing amber warning lamps on a freeway except when an unusual traffic hazard or extreme hazard exists. This provision is repealed on January 1, 2010. A violation of this provision is a crime. This bill would delete the repeal date. Because this bill would extend a criminal violation indefinitely, the bill would 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.
This measure would designate a specified segment of State Highway Route 82 in the City of Palo Alto as the Betty Meltzer Memorial Highway. The measure would request the Department of Transportation to determine the cost of appropriate signs showing this designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate sources covering that cost, to erect those signs.
This measure would declare April 12 to April 18, 2009, inclusive, as National Library Week.
This measure would designate Friday, May 8, 2009, as California Peace Officers' Memorial Day and would urge all Californians to use that day to honor California peace officers.
