Sen. Jerry Hill

This measure would designate a specified portion of State Highway Route 15 in Temecula as the Deputy Kent Hintergardt Memorial Highway. The measure would also request the Department of Transportation to determine the cost of appropriate signs showing this special designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate sources covering those costs, to erect those signs.

This measure would urge the President and the Congress of the United States to expand federally funded research efforts aimed at developing a reliable means of detecting pancreatic cancer in its early stages.

Existing law provides that any person who in good faith, and not for compensation, renders emergency medical care at the scene of an emergency shall not be liable for any civil damages resulting from any act or omission. This bill would instead provide that medical, law enforcement, and emergency personnel who in good faith, and not for compensation, render emergency medical or nonmedical care at the scene of an emergency shall not be liable for any civil damages resulting from any act or omission. This bill would also provide that any person, not including medical, law enforcement, and emergency personnel, who in good faith, and not for compensation, renders emergency medical or nonmedical care or assistance at the scene of an emergency shall not be liable for any civil damages resulting from any act or omission, as long as that act or omission does not constitute gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

The Teachers' Retirement Law establishes certain retirement benefits and procedures for the administration of those benefits to retired public schoolteachers and other persons formerly employed in connection with the schools, as specified. Existing law requires that certain documents relating to benefits under that retirement system be signed, as specified. This bill would require that, for an application or document requiring a signature, that signature be in a form prescribed by the retirement system, including on paper or made by electronic means. Existing law authorizes a retired member, disabled member, or beneficiary to specify that monthly benefit payments be disbursed by direct deposit, direct mail to a financial or other institution, or by mailing to a payment address provided by the retired member, disabled member, or beneficiary. Existing law requires a member or beneficiary to whom a lump-sum payment or benefit is to be disbursed to specify the mailing address for the payment. This bill would apply the above provisions relating to the method of receiving benefit payments and the mailing address for lump-sum payments to a member, nonmember spouse, or beneficiary. The bill would provide that a member, nonmember spouse, or beneficiary to whom a lump-sum payment or benefit is to be disbursed, and who is receiving payment for an ongoing benefit by electronic funds transfer, may have the lump-sum payment disbursed by electronic funds transfer to the financial institution on file for payment of the ongoing benefit. The bill would require the retirement system to make available an electronic copy of the benefit payment information to any member, nonmember spouse, or beneficiary who receives a monthly benefit payment. The bill would also require the retirement system to send a copy of the benefit payment information to any member, nonmember spouse, or beneficiary when there is an adjustment in the allowance, or a change in any amount deducted from the allowance. Existing law requires the Teachers' Retirement Board to send a copy of the benefit payment information to any retired member, disabled member, or beneficiary who has payments transmitted by direct deposit or by mail to a financial institution, unless the board has received a written request from that person not to send a copy of the information. This bill would delete the provision that requires the Teachers' Retirement Board to send a copy of the benefit payment information to any retired member, disabled member, or beneficiary who has payments transmitted by direct deposit or by mail to a financial institution. The bill would instead require the board to notify the member, nonmember spouse, or beneficiary that he or she has the right to request that a copy of the benefit payment information be mailed. The bill would require the board to send a copy of the benefit payment information if the system has received a written request from that person.

The Public Employees' Retirement Law permits any public agency, as defined, to enter into a contract to participate in the Public Employees' Retirement System, as specified. That law also authorizes the Board of Administration of the Public Employees' Retirement System to establish a deferred compensation program for California public employees. The Public Employees' Medical and Hospital Care Act authorizes the Board of Administration of the Public Employees' Retirement System to contract with carriers for health benefit plans and major medical plans for employees and annuitants, as defined. Participation in the system and these benefit programs is funded by employer and employee contributions. This bill would require contributions made by a contracting agency under the provisions described above to be paid through an electronic funds transfer, as defined, that is prescribed by the Board of Administration of the Public Employees' Retirement System, as specified. The bill would authorize a contracting agency that is unable, for good cause, to comply with that requirement to apply to the board for a waiver. The Public Employees' Retirement Law authorizes the Board of Administration of the Public Employees' Retirement System to charge interest, at a rate approximating the average rate received on moneys then being invested, on the amount of any payment due and unpaid by a contracting agency until payment is received. This bill would instead authorize the board to charge interest at the actuarial interest rate on those amounts due and unpaid by a contracting agency.

The California Constitution prohibits the Legislature from authorizing lotteries, but allows the Legislature to authorize private, nonprofit, eligible organizations to conduct raffles, as specified. Existing statutory law generally regulates raffles conducted by eligible organizations for beneficial or charitable purposes. Existing law prohibits a raffle from being advertised over the Internet. This bill would delete the prohibition on advertising a raffle over the Internet and would set forth specified information regarding a raffle that may be included on an Internet Web site.

This measure would urge the Congress of the United States and the federal administration to work with the Governor and the Legislature of the State of California to, among other things, provide federal loan guarantees, flexibility with respect to certain programs, and certain funding levels for vital programs, as specified.

This measure would declare the week of June 29 through July 5, 2009, Yellow Ribbon Week to show support for military families and for troops fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.

This measure would acknowledge the history of the Chinese in California, recognize the contributions made to the State of California by Chinese Americans and Chinese immigrants, and express regret for past discriminatory laws and constitutional provisions which resulted in the persecution of Chinese living in California.

This measure would proclaim the month of May 2009 as Motorcycle Awareness Month.