Sen. Jerry Hill

(1) Existing law requires a public or private hospital, clinic, or birthing center, at the time of discharge of a child, to provide and discuss information on the current law requiring child passenger restraint systems, safety belts, and the transportation of children in rear seats to the parents or the person to whom the child is released if the child is under 8 years of age, but specifies that a public or private hospital, clinic, or birthing center shall not be responsible for the failure of the parent or person to whom the child is released to properly transport the child. This bill would require a public or private hospital, clinic, or birthing center, at the time a child under 8 years of age is discharged, to also provide and discuss contact information relating to obtaining, at no cost or low cost, information and assistance relating to child passenger restraint system requirements, installation, and inspection, including, among other things, the telephone number of the local office of the Department of the California Highway Patrol. Because this bill would expand the definition of an existing crime, it would impose a state-mandated local program. (2) 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, the Real Estate Law, provides for the licensure and regulation of real estate salespersons and real estate brokers. Under existing law, the Real Estate Commissioner may issue a real estate broker's license to an applicant who (1) has at least the equivalent of 2 years' general real estate experience or graduated from a 4-year college or university course with a specialization in real estate, (2) files a written petition with the Department of Real Estate, which is approved by the commissioner, setting forth his or her qualifications and experience, and (3) passes an examination and satisfies other requirements. This bill would instead authorize the commissioner to grant an original real estate broker's license to an applicant who (1) has at least the equivalent of 2 years' general real estate experience, (2) files a written petition with the Department of Real Estate, which is approved by the commissioner, setting forth his or her qualifications and experience, and (3) passes an examination and satisfies other requirements. The bill would also authorize the commissioner to treat a degree from a 4-year college or university, with a major or minor in real estate, as the equivalent of 2 years' general real estate experience.

The Gambling Control Act provides for the licensure of certain individuals and establishments that conduct controlled games, as defined, and for the regulation of these gambling activities by the California Gambling Control Commission. That law provides that, if the owner of a gambling enterprise is not a person, the owner is not eligible for a gambling license unless specified persons involved in the enterprise obtain a gambling license. Existing law authorizes the commission to exempt specified limited partners in limited partnerships from the licensing requirements described above solely for the purpose of the licensure of a card club located on the grounds of a racetrack that is owned by a limited partnership that also owns the racetrack. This bill would repeal that licensure exemption. The bill, instead, would provide, solely for the purpose of the licensure of a gambling enterprise or gambling establishment that is owned directly or indirectly by a racetrack limited partnership owner, as defined, and under specified conditions, that these licensing requirements shall apply only to a corporation, and its officers, directors, and key employees, that (1) is directly or indirectly owned by a racetrack limited partnership owner, (2) leases or owns the gambling establishment or manages, supervises, or controls the gambling enterprise, and (3) holds the exclusive right, authority, and discretion to manage, supervise, conduct, and control the day-to-day operations, and direct the policies, of the gambling enterprise, without influence from, or direction by, the racetrack limited partnership owner, its general partners, or its investment managers or advisors. The bill would prohibit any other person or entity from being required to be licensed, except that if the corporation chooses to retain another person or entity to manage, supervise, control, and conduct the day-to-day operations, and direct the policies, of the gambling enterprise, that person or entity would be required to be licensed in addition to the corporation and its officers, directors, and key employees. This bill would make a related statement of legislative intent regarding a specified racetrack and card club.

This measure would recognize June 12, 2012, as the 114th Anniversary of Philippine Independence, and would call upon the people of the state to observe the month of June with appropriate ceremonies, programs, and activities.

This measure would commemorate and honor the service and sacrifice of the members of the United States Armed Forces who supported the operations in Iraq, and their families, as the official combat mission in Iraq draws to a close. This measure would encourage mayors and communities across the State of California to honor veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan on November 11, 2012, in Veterans Day parades, ceremonies, and other displays of our state's gratitude for their service and sacrifice. This measure would also request that the Department of General Services work with appropriate 3rd parties to advise and oversee the creation of a memorial for the California veterans who fought and served in Iraq and, upon receiving donations from nonstate sources covering the design, construction, and maintenance costs and ensuring that the memorial is in the best interest of the State Capitol Park, erect that memorial, in accordance with California law, in the State Capitol Park. This measure would state the intent of the Legislature to enact future legislation authorizing the creation of a larger memorial commemorating and thanking those who served in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Vacation Ownership and Time-share Act of 2004 requires a time-share association to maintain among its records a complete list of the names and addresses of all owners of time-share interests in the time-share plan, as specified. Existing law prohibits an association from publishing the owners list or providing a copy of it to any time-share interest owner or to any 3rd party or using or selling the list for commercial purposes, except as provided in the time-share instruments. This bill would require the association to maintain a complete list of the names and post office addresses of all owners of time-share interests in the time-share plan, and would prohibit the association from publishing the owners list or providing a copy of it to any time-share interest owner or to any 3rd party or using or selling the list for commercial purposes. The bill would provide methods for a time-share interest owner to communicate with the entire membership of the association through a written request to the association, as specified. The bill would authorize an owner, whose request to communicate was denied by the association, to file a court action, and, under certain circumstances, authorize a court to award to the requesting owner costs, including attorney's fees, reasonably incurred to enforce the owner's rights. The bill would also specify that certain provisions of the Nonprofit Mutual Benefit Corporation Law do not apply to time-share associations under the Vacation Ownership and Time-share Act of 2004. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

This measure would designate the week of September 8 through September 15, 2012, and the 2nd week of September every year thereafter as California Coastal Protection Week and would urge all Californians to observe that week as California Costal Protection Week.

This measure would proclaim February 29, 2012, as Rare Disease Day in California.