Existing property tax law establishes a veterans' organization exemption under which property is exempt from taxation if, among other things, that property is used exclusively for charitable purposes and is owned by a veterans' organization. This bill would provide that the veterans' organization exemption shall not be denied to a property on the basis that the property is used for fraternal, lodge, or social club purposes, and would make specific findings and declarations in that regard. The bill would also provide that the exemption shall not apply to any portion of a property that consists of a bar where alcoholic beverages are served. The bill would apply these changes to lien dates occurring on and after January 1, 2020, and before January 1, 2030. Existing law requires the state to reimburse local agencies annually for certain property tax revenues lost as a result of any exemption or classification of property for purposes of ad valorem property taxation. This bill would provide that, notwithstanding those provisions, no appropriation is made and the state shall not reimburse local agencies for property tax revenues lost by them pursuant to the bill. This bill would take effect immediately as a tax levy.
Sponsored bills
Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory authority over public utilities, including telephone corporations. Existing law authorizes the commission to fix just and reasonable rates and charges for public utilities. Existing law requires the commission to exercise its regulatory authority to maintain the California High-Cost Fund-A program, until January 1, 2023, to provide universal service rate support to small independent telephone corporations, as defined, in furtherance of the state's universal service commitment to the continued affordability and widespread availability of safe, reliable, high-quality communications services in rural areas of the state. This bill would authorize a small independent telephone corporation to initiate a rate case through either an advice letter or application. If a rate case is initiated by an advice letter, the bill would require that the case be processed according to the commission's rules governing advice letters. If a rate case is initiated by application, the bill would require that the case be processed according to the commission's rules governing formal proceedings. The bill would authorize the commission, following review of a rate case advice letter, to require that it be resubmitted as an application, if the commission adopts a resolution within 120 days that includes specified factual findings.
Under existing law, obtaining property by theft with a value under $950 is petty theft, punishable as a misdemeanor, and obtaining property by theft with a value over $950 is grand theft, punishable as a misdemeanor or a felony. Existing law authorizes a fine of $1,000 for a misdemeanor or $10,000 for a felony, upon conviction for a crime punishable by imprisonment for which a fine is not prescribed. This bill would, in a county participating in a Rural Crime Prevention Program, require the proceeds of a fine imposed for a grand theft involving agricultural property, as specified, to be allocated by the Controller, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Central Valley Rural Crime Prevention Program or the Central Coast Rural Crime Prevention Program. By requiring a prosecutor to prove additional elements 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.
This measure would proclaim October 10, 2019, as the 108th Anniversary of Women's Suffrage in California.
This measure would urge the United States Congress to act favorably in regard to legislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Merrill's Marauders.
This measure would recognize June 6, 2019, as the 75th anniversary of the invasion of Normandy, also known as D-Day. This measure would express the gratitude and appreciation of the Legislature to the members of the United States Armed Forces who participated in D-Day, and would call upon the people of California to observe the anniversary with appropriate reflections and recognition.
This measure would dedicate the month of May 2019 as Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month.
This measure would honor the service members who have served and are serving in our nation's military, and would recognize the month of May 2019 as National Military Appreciation Month.