Existing law, until July 1, 2023, authorizes the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, in consultation with the California State University and the University of California, to establish a statewide baccalaureate degree pilot program. Existing law requires a district baccalaureate degree pilot program to commence by the beginning of the 2017–18 academic year and requires a student participating in a baccalaureate degree pilot program to complete his or her degree by the end of the 2022–23 academic year. This bill would extend the operation of the statewide baccalaureate degree pilot program until July 1, 2028, and would extend the time by which a student participating in a baccalaureate degree pilot program is required to complete his or her degree to the end of the 2027–28 academic year.
Sponsored bills
Existing law authorizes a court, with the consent of the defendant and a waiver of the defendant's speedy trial right, to postpone prosecution of a misdemeanor and place the defendant in a pretrial diversion program if the defendant is suffering from sexual trauma, a traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, or mental health problems as a result of his or her military service. Existing law authorizes the defendant to be referred to services for treatment and requires the responsible agencies to report to the court and the prosecution not less than every 6 months. This bill would authorize a court, with the consent of the defendant and a waiver of the defendant's speedy trial right, to postpone prosecution of a misdemeanor or a felony punishable in a county jail, and place the defendant in a pretrial diversion program for up to 2 years if the court is satisfied the defendant suffers from a mental disorder, that the defendant's mental disorder played a significant role in the commission of the charged offense, and that the defendant would benefit from mental health treatment. For specified offenses, the bill would condition granting diversion on the consent of the prosecution. The bill would require the defense to arrange, to the satisfaction of the court, for a program of mental health treatment utilizing existing inpatient or outpatient mental health resources. The bill would require the divertee's mental health provider to provide reports on the defendant's progress to the court, the defense, and the prosecution not less than every 3 months. By increasing the duties of local prosecutors and public defenders, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would require, upon successful completion of the diversion program, that the charges be dismissed and the records of the arrest sealed, and that the arrest be deemed never to have occurred, except as provided. The bill would state findings and declarations by the Legislature regarding the need for the diversion 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, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
Existing law authorizes the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to issue special license plates, including environmental license plates and specified special environmental design license plates. Under existing law, a state agency is authorized to apply to the DMV to sponsor a special license plate program, and the DMV is required to issue those license plates if the agency meets certain requirements. The DMV is required to charge specified fees for certain services related to the issuance of those plates. This bill would require the State Department of Health Care Services to apply to sponsor a reproductive freedom license plate program, and would require the DMV to issue the license plates if the State Department of Health Care Services meets certain requirements. The bill would authorize the State Department of Health Care Services to accept and use donated artwork from California artists for the license plate. The bill would require the revenue generated from the license plates, as specified, to be deposited in the California Reproductive Freedom Fund, created by the bill, and to be used, upon appropriation, for the Family Planning, Access, Care, and Treatment program (Family PACT) .
Under existing law, the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act, the State Department of Developmental Services is responsible for providing various services and supports to persons with developmental disabilities, and for ensuring the appropriateness and quality of those services and supports. Existing law authorizes the department to contract with regional centers to provide these services and supports. Existing law sets forth the department's and the regional center's authority to establish provider rates. Existing law prohibits certain provider rate increases, but authorizes increases to those rates as necessary to adjust employee wages to meet the state minimum wage law. Existing law further requires the department to adopt regulations that specify rates, calculated on the basis of a cost model, including, among other things, changes in the state or federal minimum wage, for community care facilities serving persons with developmental disabilities, as specified. Existing law authorizes the department to approve rate adjustments for a work activity program that demonstrates to the department that the adjustment is necessary, as specified. Existing law authorizes community-based day program and in-home respite services agency providers with temporary payment rates set by the department to seek unanticipated rate adjustments from the department, as specified. This bill would require the cost model described above to also include changes in local minimum wage. The bill would additionally authorize adjustment of prescribed provider rates if the adjustment is necessary in order to pay employees no less than the minimum wage required to comply with an ordinance that increases the minimum wage, as specified. The bill would provide that these provisions become operative on July 1, 2018.
Existing law prohibits the Department of Motor Vehicles from issuing a commercial driver's license to any person to operate a commercial motor vehicle unless the person has passed a written and driving test for the operation of a commercial motor vehicle that complies with the minimum standards established by the federal Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986 and specified federal regulations, and has satisfied all other requirements of that act as well as any other requirements imposed by state law. This bill would require the department, no later than June 5, 2020, to adopt regulations related to entry-level driver training requirements for drivers of commercial motor vehicles including specified minimum hours of behind-the-wheel training and in compliance with the requirements of specified federal regulations. The bill would, until January 1, 2024, exempt a driver operating certain farm vehicles under certain conditions, as specified, from these new training requirements. This bill would also make legislative findings and declarations and would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to these provisions.
Existing law authorizes any party to obtain discovery by means of a physical or mental examination of a party to the action, an agent of any party, or a natural person in the custody of or under the legal control of a party, in any action in which the mental or physical condition of that party or other person is in controversy. Existing law requires a party to obtain leave of court to conduct a mental examination of a party, and requires a court to grant a motion for a mental examination only for good cause shown. Existing law also requires a mental examination to be performed by a licensed physician or licensed clinical psychologist with specified training. This bill would, in any action involving allegations of sexual abuse of a minor, further require that a mental examination of a child less than 15 years of age be conducted by a licensed physician or clinical psychologist with expertise in child abuse and trauma and limit the examination to no more than 3 hours, including any breaks, unless the court grants an extension for good cause.
This measure would recognize May 2017 as National Mental Health Awareness Month in California to enhance public awareness of mental illness.
This measure would recognize the week of May 15, 2017, to May 19, 2017, inclusive, as Infrastructure Week, and would urge the citizens of California to join in this special observance with appropriate events and commemorations.