The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 requires the State Air Resources Board to approve a statewide greenhouse gas emissions limit that is equivalent to the 1990 level to be achieved by 2020. The act requires the state board to make recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature on how to continue the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions beyond 2020. This bill would require the state board, on or before January 1, 2016, and in consultation with specified entities, to develop quantitative, advisory reduction targets for greenhouse gas emissions and short-lived climate pollutants, as defined, for 2030 in order to inform future legislative action. The bill would require the state board to report to the Legislature on those targets. The bill, on January 1, 2020, would declare inoperative the requirement that the state board report to the Legislature.
Sponsored bills
Existing law, the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975, provides for the licensure and regulation of health care service plans by the Department of Managed Health Care. Existing law provides for the regulation of health insurers by the Department of Insurance. Existing law requires a plan or insurer to provide certain disclosures of the benefits, services, and terms of a contract or policy. This bill would declare the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to increase transparency in the health care service plan contract and health insurance policy marketplace.
Existing law provides that long-term care insurance includes any insurance policy, certificate, or rider advertised, marketed, offered, solicited, or designed to provide coverage for diagnostic, preventive, therapeutic, rehabilitative, maintenance, or personal care services that are provided in a setting other than an acute care unit of a hospital. Long-term care insurance includes all products containing any of the following benefit types: coverage for institutional care including care in a nursing home, convalescent facility, extended care facility, custodial care facility, skilled nursing facility, or personal care home; home care coverage including home health care, personal care, homemaker services, hospice, or respite care; or community-based coverage including adult day care, hospice, or respite care. Long-term care insurance includes disability-based long-term care policies but does not include insurance designed primarily to provide Medicare supplement or major medical expense coverage. This bill would prohibit a long-term care insurance policy issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2015, from charging a different premium, price, or charge based on the sex of the contracting party, potential contracting party, or a person reasonably expected to benefit from the policy. The bill would prohibit insurers issuing, amending, or renewing long-term care insurance policies on or after January 1, 2015, from reducing or eliminating benefits or coverage based on the sex of the contracting party, potential contracting party, or a person reasonably expected to benefit from the policy as a result of implementing these provisions. The term "sex" would be defined for these purposes to mean a person's gender, gender identity, and gender expression, as defined.
(1) Existing law generally prohibits the possession or transfer of assault weapons, except for the sale, purchase, importation, or possession of assault weapons by specified individuals, including law enforcement officers. Under existing law, "assault weapon" means, among other things, a semiautomatic, centerfire rifle or a semiautomatic pistol that has the capacity to accept a detachable magazine and has any one of specified attributes, including, for rifles, a thumbhole stock, and for pistols, a second handgrip. This bill would revise these provisions to mean a semiautomatic, centerfire rifle or a semiautomatic pistol that does not have a fixed magazine but has any one of those specified attributes. This bill would also define "fixed magazine" to mean an ammunition feeding device contained in, or permanently attached to, a firearm in such a manner that the device cannot be removed without disassembly of the firearm action. By expanding the definition of an existing crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (2) Existing law requires that any person who, within this state, possesses an assault weapon, except as otherwise provided, be punished as a felony or for a period not to exceed one year in a county jail. This bill would exempt from punishment under that provision a person who initially possessed an assault weapon prior to January 1, 2014, and until July 1, 2015, if specified requirements are met. (3) Existing law requires that, with specified exceptions, any person who, prior to January 1, 2001, lawfully possessed an assault weapon prior to the date it was defined as an assault weapon, and which was not specified as an assault weapon at the time of lawful possession, register the firearm with the Department of Justice. Existing law permits the Department of Justice to charge a fee for registration of up to $20 per person but not to exceed the actual processing costs of the department. Existing law, after the department establishes fees sufficient to reimburse the department for processing costs, requires fees charged to increase at a rate not to exceed the legislatively approved annual cost-of-living adjustment for the department's budget or as otherwise increased through the Budget Act. Existing law requires those fees to be deposited into the Dealers' Record of Sale Special Account. Existing law, the Administrative Procedure Act, establishes the requirements for the adoption, publication, review, and implementation of regulations by state agencies. This bill would require that any person who, from January 1, 2001, to December 31, 2013, inclusive, lawfully possessed an assault weapon that does not have a fixed magazine, as defined, and including those weapons with an ammunition feeding device that can be removed readily from the firearm with the use of a tool, register the firearm with the Department of Justice before July 1, 2015, but not before the effective date of specified regulations. This bill would permit the department to increase the $20 registration fee as long as it does not exceed the reasonable processing costs of the department. This bill would also require registrations to be submitted electronically via the Internet utilizing a public-facing application made available by the department. This bill would require the registration to contain specified information, including, but not limited to, a description of the firearm that identifies it uniquely and specified information about the registrant. This bill would permit the department to charge a fee of up to $15 per person for registration through the Internet, not to exceed the reasonable processing costs of the department to be paid and deposited, as specified. This bill would require the department to adopt regulations for the purpose of implementing those provisions and would exempt those regulations from the Administrative Procedure Act. This bill would also make technical and conforming changes. (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.
Under existing law, there are programs providing assistance for, among other things, emergency housing, multifamily housing, farmworker housing, home ownership for very low and low-income households, and downpayment assistance for first-time homebuyers. Existing law also authorizes the issuance of bonds in specified amounts pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law. Existing law requires that proceeds from the sale of these bonds be used to finance various existing housing programs, capital outlay related to infill development, brownfield cleanup that promotes infill development, and housing-related parks. This bill would enact the California Homes and Jobs Act of 2013. The bill would make legislative findings and declarations relating to the need for establishing permanent, ongoing sources of funding dedicated to affordable housing development. The bill would impose a fee, except as provided, of $75 to be paid at the time of the recording of every real estate instrument, paper, or notice required or permitted by law to be recorded. By imposing new duties on counties with respect to the imposition of the recording fee, the bill would create a state-mandated local program. The bill would require that revenues from this fee be sent quarterly to the Department of Housing and Community Development for deposit in the California Homes and Jobs Trust Fund, which the bill would create within the State Treasury. The bill would provide that moneys in the fund may be expended for supporting affordable housing, administering housing programs, and the cost of periodic audits, as specified. The bill would impose certain auditing and reporting requirements. Existing law requires the Department of Industrial Relations to monitor and enforce compliance with applicable prevailing wage requirements for specified public works projects that are funded by state bond proceeds. Moneys collected for this purpose are continuously appropriated to the department from the State Public Works Enforcement Fund to cover the costs of these monitoring and enforcement duties. This bill would require the Department of Industrial Relations to monitor and enforce prevailing wage requirements for construction contracts for certain public works projects over $1,000,000, that are funded, in whole or in part, by the bill. The bill would authorize the department to charge each person or entity awarding a construction contract for the reasonable and directly related costs of the monitoring and enforcement activities, and would require the department to deposit the moneys collected into the State Public Works Enforcement Fund. The bill would exempt projects with a collective bargaining agreement with a mechanism for resolution of wage disputes from this requirement. By establishing a new source of revenue for a continuously appropriated fund, this bill would make an appropriation. 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.
The measure would urge the Congress and the President of the United States to end mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent drug offenses.
Existing law establishes the Firearms Safety and Enforcement Special Fund, a continuously appropriated fund, for use by the Department of Justice for specified purposes related to weapons and firearms regulation. Existing law provides that certain persons, including, among others, felons, and certain persons suffering from mental illness, as specified, are prohibited from possessing firearms. Existing law requires the Attorney General to establish and maintain an online database to be known as the Prohibited Armed Persons File, sometimes referred to as the Armed Prohibited Persons System, to cross-reference persons who have ownership or possession of a firearm with those who are prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm. This bill would appropriate the sum of $5,000,000 from the Firearms Safety and Enforcement Special Fund to the Department of Justice for the 2014–15 fiscal year to contract with local law enforcement agencies to reduce the backlog of individuals who are identified by the Armed Prohibited Persons System as illegally possessing firearms. The bill would additionally appropriate from the fund, $3,333,334 for the 2014–15 fiscal year, and $3,333,333 for each of the 2015–16 and 2016–17 fiscal years, to the department to redesign and update specified computer systems related to firearms, as specified. The bill would appropriate an additional $50,000 from the fund to the department for the 2014–15 fiscal year to provide training to local law enforcement agencies on the use of the Automated Firearms System. The bill would require that the training be completed on or before June 1, 2015.
Existing federal law requires the Consumer Product Safety Commission to institute proceedings for the determination of an appropriate flammability standard if the commission finds that such a standard, including labeling, for a fabric, related material, or product, may be needed to protect the public. Existing federal law authorizes a state to establish a flammability standard if, among other things, it provides a higher degree of protection from the risk of fire. Existing state law, the Home Furnishings and Thermal Insulation Act, provides for the licensure and regulation of upholstered furniture manufacturers by the Bureau of Electronic and Appliance Repair, Home Furnishings, and Thermal Insulation. Existing state law requires every upholstered-furniture manufacturer to hold a furniture and bedding manufacturer's license. Existing state law also requires every upholstered-furniture retailer to hold a retail furniture dealer's license. A violation of the act is a crime and each offense is punishable by a fine, as specified. Existing state law requires certain upholstered furniture to contain a specified label that is permanently attached in an area open to visible view. Existing state law establishes a standard to produce upholstered furniture which is safer from the hazards associated with smoldering ignition. This standard provides methods for smolder resistance of cover fabrics, barrier materials, resilient filling materials, and decking materials for use in upholstered furniture. This bill would require a manufacturer of covered products, as defined, to indicate whether or not the product contains added flame retardant chemicals, as defined, by including a specified statement on that label. The bill would require the manufacturer of the covered product to retain sufficient documentation to show whether flame retardant chemicals were added to a covered product or component. The bill would provide that a written statement by the supplier of each component attesting that flame retardant chemicals were added or not added is sufficient to make this showing. The bill would require the bureau to assess a fine for a violation of the documentation requirement or for failure to provide, upon request, the required documentation to the bureau, as specified. The bill would require a manufacturer of a covered product sold in California, upon request, to provide to the bureau, within 30 days of the request, documentation establishing the accuracy of the flame retardant chemical statement on the label. The bill would require the bureau to provide the Department of Toxic Substances Control with samples of the covered product or components thereof sold in California from products marked "contain NO added flame retardant chemicals" for testing for the presence of added flame retardant chemicals, as specified. If the department's testing shows that a covered product labeled as "contain NO added flame retardant chemicals" is mislabeled because it contains added flame retardant chemicals, the bill would require the bureau to assess fines for violations against manufacturers of the covered product and component manufacturers, as specified. The bill would require the bureau to make information about any citation issued pursuant to its provisions available to the public on its Internet Web site. The bill would also make it the duty of the bureau to receive consumer complaints. The bill would authorize the bureau to adopt regulations to carry out these provisions. Because a violation of the bill's requirements 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.
Existing law requires each campaign committee formed or existing primarily to support or oppose a statewide ballot measure to file with the Secretary of State periodic reports identifying the sources and amounts of contributions received during specified periods. Existing law, including the Political Reform Act of 1974, also specifies information required to be included in the state ballot pamphlet for each statewide ballot measure to be voted upon. This bill would require the Secretary of State to create an Internet Web site, or use other available technology, to consolidate information about each ballot measure in a manner that is easy for voters to access and understand. The Internet Web site would be required to include a summary of each ballot measure, the total amount of reported contributions made to support or oppose a ballot measure, and a list of a committee's top 10 contributors, as specified. The bill would require the state ballot pamphlet to include for each ballot measure a printed statement that refers voters to the Secretary of State's Internet Web site for a list of committees primarily formed to support or oppose a ballot measure, and information on how to access the committee's top 10 contributors. This bill would incorporate additional changes in Section 9082.7 of the Elections Code proposed by SB 1253, that would become operative only if SB 1253 and this bill are both chaptered and become effective on or before January 1, 2015, and this bill is chaptered last. The bill would, contingent upon the enactment of SB 1442, incorporate additional changes. The Political Reform Act of 1974, an initiative measure, generally provides that the Legislature may amend the act to further the act's purposes upon a 23 vote of each house and compliance with specified procedural requirements. The act also provides that, notwithstanding this requirement, the Legislature may add to the ballot pamphlet information regarding candidates or other information. This bill, which would permit or require additional information to be included in the ballot pamphlet, would therefore require a majority vote.
Existing law imposes various taxes and allows specified credits, deductions, exclusions, and exemptions in computing those taxes. Existing law limits the collection and use of taxpayer information and provides that any unauthorized use of this information is punishable as a misdemeanor. This bill would require any bill, introduced on or after January 1, 2015, that would authorize a personal income or corporation tax credit to contain, among other provisions, specified goals, purposes, and objectives that the tax credit will achieve and detailed performance indicators, including data collection requirements, to measure whether the tax credit is meeting those goals, purposes, and objectives. This bill would provide that taxpayer information collected pursuant to these new requirements is subject to the limitation on the collection and use of that information. By expanding the scope of a crime, this 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.