Sen. Josh Becker

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution formally recognizes July 4 as Independence Day and encourages Californians to celebrate the occasion with reverence and gratitude. The document highlights the historical significance of the date, noting its role in commemorating American independence and the principles of liberty and democracy. It serves as a symbolic gesture to honor the sacrifices of military service members and the contributions of citizens to the nation. The resolution does not create new laws or change existing policies but rather expresses the Senate's collective sentiment regarding the holiday.

Maddy summaryThis bill urges the United States Congress to set a limit on deferred compensation, which allows high-income earners to postpone receiving money and potentially avoid state taxes on those funds. The proposal is driven by concerns that the current system creates tax inequality, citing a specific baseball player's contract as an example of how large sums can be deferred to reduce tax liability. By requesting a federal cap, the measure aims to ensure a more balanced tax structure for all income levels while maintaining state revenue. The resolution does not change California law directly but instead asks the federal government to address the issue through new legislation.

Existing law, the Labor Code Private Attorneys General Act of 2004 (PAGA) , authorizes an aggrieved employee, as defined, to bring a civil action, on behalf of that employee and other current or former employees, to enforce a violation of any provision of the Labor Code that provides for a civil penalty to be assessed and collected by the Labor and Workforce Development Agency or any of its departments, divisions, commissions, boards, agencies, or employees pursuant to certain notice and cure provisions, as prescribed. This bill would, among other things, authorize, on or after October 1, 2024, an employer that employed fewer than 100 employees in total during the period covered by the required notice to, within 33 days of receipt of the notice submit to the agency a confidential proposal to cure one or more of the alleged violations and, upon completing the cure, provide a sworn notification to the employee and agency that the cure is completed, as prescribed. By expanding the scope of the crime of perjury, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would require the agency to verify whether the cure is complete within 20 days of receiving the employer's notification, as specified. This bill would also authorize an employer who employed at least 100 employees in total during the period covered by the required notice to, upon being served with a summons and complaint asserting a claim under PAGA, file a request and participate in, as prescribed, an early evaluation conference in the proceedings of the claim and a request for a stay of court proceedings before, or simultaneous with, that defendant's responsive pleading or other initial appearance in the action that includes the claim. This bill would apply its provisions to a civil action brought on or after June 19, 2024, except as specified. Existing constitutional provisions require that a statute that limits the right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for protecting that interest. This bill would make legislative findings to that effect. 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 become operative only if AB 2288 of the 2023–24 Regular Session is enacted and takes effect on or before January 1, 2025. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

Existing law, the Labor Code Private Attorneys General Act of 2004 (PAGA) , authorizes an aggrieved employee, as defined, to bring a civil action, on behalf of that employee and other current or former employees, to enforce a violation of any provision of the Labor Code that provides for a civil penalty to be assessed and collected by the Labor and Workforce Development Agency or any of its departments, divisions, commissions, boards, agencies, or employees pursuant to certain notice and cure provisions, as prescribed. This bill would, among other things, instead authorize an aggrieved employee to bring a civil action as described above on behalf of the employee and other current or former employees against whom a violation of the same provision was committed. With respect to a violation by a person of a provision that does not provide for a civil penalty, PAGA makes that person liable for a civil penalty of $500 if, at the time of the alleged violation, the person does not employ one or more employees. If, at the time of the alleged violation, the person employed one or more employees, PAGA makes that person liable for a civil penalty of $100 for each aggrieved employee per pay period for the initial violation and $200 for each aggrieved employee per pay period for each subsequent violation. PAGA requires 75% of civil penalties recovered by aggrieved employees to be distributed to the Labor and Workforce Development Agency for enforcement of labor laws, including the administration of PAGA, and for education of employers and employees about their rights and responsibilities under the Labor Code, as specified, and requires 25% of civil penalties recovered by aggrieved employees to be distributed to the aggrieved employees, except as prescribed. This bill would instead, if, at the time of the alleged violation, the person employed one or more employees, make that person liable for a civil penalty of $100 for each aggrieved employee per pay period, except if certain mitigating factors apply, including that the alleged violation resulted from an isolated, nonrecurring event that did not extend beyond the lesser of 30 consecutive days or 4 consecutive pay periods, in which case the bill would make the civil penalty $25 or $50, except as provided. The bill would, subject to an exception, also reduce the civil penalties prescribed by PAGA by 15% or 30%, as specified, if a person accused of a violation has taken all reasonable steps to comply with the provisions alleged to have been violated in the required notice provided by the aggrieved employee, as prescribed. This bill would apply its provisions to a civil action brought on or after June 19, 2024, except as specified. This bill would become operative only if SB 92 of the 2023–24 Regular Session is enacted and takes effect on or before January 1, 2025. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution declares September 2024 as Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month in California to honor those affected by the disease and promote public understanding. The measure highlights critical statistics about ovarian cancer, such as its high mortality rate and the fact that early detection significantly improves survival chances. By drawing attention to these facts, the resolution encourages women to monitor their health and consult medical professionals regarding unexplained symptoms. Ultimately, the bill serves as a formal acknowledgment of the disease's impact and a call to support ongoing efforts in research, advocacy, and patient care.

Existing law creates the Department of Insurance and prescribes the department's powers and duties. Existing law generally regulates the business of insurance in the state, including the underwriting and ongoing monitoring of insured risks. Existing law generally requires an insurer or insurance producer to have underwriting guidelines that establish the criteria and process under which an insurer makes its decision to provide or to deny coverage. If a property insurer uses risk models for underwriting purposes, this bill would authorize the models to account for wildfire risk reduction associated with hazardous fuel reduction, home hardening, defensible space, and fire prevention activities. The bill would require an insurer using risk models for underwriting purposes, as specified, beginning January 15, 2026, and on or before each January 15 thereafter, to report to the department the extent to which models used for underwriting purposes account for specified categories of risk mitigation, and other specified information. The bill would require the department to post the information contained in the report, excluding any confidential or proprietary information, on its internet website. The bill would make related findings and declarations and would state the intent of the Legislature to do specified actions, including ensuring that actions taken to reduce wildfire risks and associated property losses are considered by property insurers in their underwriting evaluations by requiring that any models used for underwriting account for the identified categories of risk mitigation.

This measure would declare June 5, 2024, as California Nonprofits Day in recognition of the importance of nonprofit organizations to the economy and well-being of this state.

Existing law makes it a crime to possess, cultivate, and administer specified controlled substances, including psilocybin and psilocyn. Existing law makes it a crime for a person to rent, lease, or make available for use any building or room for the purpose of storing or distributing any controlled substance. Existing law authorizes forfeiture of property used for specified crimes involving controlled substances. This bill, the Heal Our Heroes Act, would, until January 1, 2028, establish the Psychedelic-Assisted Facilitation Pilot Program. The bill, as part of the pilot program, would authorize the public health officers of the City and County of San Francisco, the County of San Diego, and the County of Santa Cruz to approve entities to establish and operate up to 5 psychedelic-assisted facilitation centers per jurisdiction to administer psilocybin or psilocyn to patients meeting specified criteria, including being a veteran or former first responder over 21 years of age who has passed a suitability screening, as defined. The bill would authorize the jurisdictions to issue up to 3 permits to cultivate, as specified. The bill would require the public health officers to consult with experts in psilocybin or psilocyn facilitation on program design, to issue facilitator permits only to licensed physicians and surgeons and to report certain data and an evaluation of the program to the Legislature no later than January 1, 2027. The bill would exempt a person from, among other things, civil liability, professional discipline, or existing criminal sanctions, solely for good faith actions, conduct, or omissions in compliance with the pilot program. The bill would make related findings and declarations.

The Personal Income Tax Law and the Corporation Tax Law allow various credits against the taxes imposed by those laws, including, in modified conformity with federal tax laws, a credit to qualified low-income housing projects. This bill would, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2025, and before January 1, 2030, allow a credit against those taxes in an amount equal to 20% of the costs of development for a qualified school staff housing project, as defined, to a qualified taxpayer. Existing law requires any bill authorizing a new tax expenditure, as defined to include tax credits, to contain, among other things, specific goals, purposes, and objectives that the tax credit will achieve, detailed performance indicators, and data collection requirements. This bill would include findings and reporting requirements in compliance with this requirement. This bill would take effect immediately as a tax levy.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 98 officially designates October 2024 as Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month in California. This symbolic measure aims to raise public awareness about the importance of immediate bystander response, such as calling 911, performing hands-only CPR, and using automated external defibrillators. The resolution highlights the state's current low survival rates and encourages communities to adopt emergency preparedness practices in homes, schools, and workplaces. By promoting early detection of heart conditions and empowering citizens to act quickly, the bill seeks to improve survival outcomes for cardiac arrest victims across the state.