Sen. Jerry Hill

This measure would designate May 2012 as Lupus Awareness Month.

This measure would recognize May 2012 as Asian and Pacific Islander American Heritage Month.

This measure would recognize June 27, 2012, as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Day.

This measure would declare the Legislature's recognition of the importance of access to local parks, trails, open space, and facilities for the health and development of all Californians. This measure would also declare July 2012 as "Parks Make Life Better!®" Month.

This measure would designate the month of April 2012 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month, would recognize April 25, 2012, as Denim Day California, and would encourage everyone to wear jeans on that day to help communicate the message that there is no excuse for, and never an invitation to commit, rape.

This measure would declare May 23, 2012, as the 24th Annual State Scientist Day, as a tribute to the dedication and professionalism of the state scientists who work on behalf of all the residents of California.

Existing law authorizes a person who has been arrested but is not convicted to petition the court for a finding that the defendant is factually innocent of the charges. If the petitioner is found factually innocent, existing law requires the court to order the records of the arrest to be sealed and destroyed, as specified. This bill would authorize a person to petition a court to set aside a conviction for an offense relating to solicitation or prostitution, as specified, based on a finding that the person is factually innocent of the charge if the person is a victim of human trafficking and the offense is a result of the petitioner's status as a victim of that crime. In that case, the bill would require the court to order the records of the arrest to be sealed and destroyed, and to take other action appropriate under the circumstances or as justice requires. The bill would also provide that a finding that the petitioner is factually innocent pursuant to this provision shall be admissible as evidence in a civil action brought by the petitioner, or his or her estate or representative, against an individual or entity for damages arising from the individual's or entity's alleged involvement in human trafficking.

Existing law authorizes the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, participating counties, and the State Public Works Board (SPWB) to acquire, design, and construct local jail facilities approved by the Board of State and Community Corrections. Existing law authorizes the SPWB to issue revenue bonds, notes, or bond anticipation notes in specified amounts to finance the acquisition, design, or construction, and a reasonable construction reserve, of approved local jail facilities, as specified. This bill would require funds dispersed to counties pursuant to Phase I of the program to be returned to the department by August 1, 2013, if the funds have not been encumbered and if specified conditions, including identification and purchase of the jail site, have not been met by June 1, 2013. The bill would appropriate the funds returned to the department to be used to fund county facilities and would give priority for those awards to counties that have met the specified criteria.

Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory authority over public utilities. The California Constitution authorizes the commission to establish rules for all public utilities, subject to control by the Legislature. This bill would require the commission, at a specified rulemaking proceeding, to establish a comprehensive whistleblower protection program to protect public utility employees, former employees, and 3rd-party contractors and subcontractors from retaliation for bringing information to the commission or other public entities, as specified, regarding, but not limited to, safety issues. Under existing law, a violation of any order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime. Because the bill would require the commission to adopt rules for the protection of whistleblowers and a violation of these rules would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program by creating a new crime. 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 May 2012 as Foster Care Month in California.