The existing federal Telecommunications Act of 1996 establishes a program for the regulation of telecommunications to attain the goal of local competition, while implementing specific, predictable, and sufficient federal and state mechanisms to preserve and advance universal service, consistent with certain universal service principles. The universal service principles include the principle that consumers in all regions of the nation, including low-income consumers and those in rural, insular, and high-cost areas, should have access to telecommunications (including broadband) and information services, including interexchange services and advanced telecommunications and information services, that are reasonably comparable to those services provided in urban areas and that are available at rates that are reasonably comparable to rates charged for similar services in urban areas. That act additionally requires the Federal Communications Commission and each state commission with regulatory jurisdiction over telecommunications services, in California the Public Utilities Commission, to encourage the deployment on a reasonable and timely basis of advanced telecommunications capability to all Americans by utilizing, in a manner consistent with the public interest, convenience, and necessity, price-cap regulation, regulatory forbearance, measures that promote competition in the local telecommunications market, or other regulating methods that remove barriers to infrastructure investment. The act defines "advanced telecommunications capability," without regard to any transmission media or technology, as high-speed, switched, broadband telecommunications capability that enables users to originate and receive high-quality voice, data, graphics, and video telecommunications using any technology. This bill would establish the California Broadband Council in state government for the purpose of promoting broadband deployment in unserved and underserved areas of the state and broadband adoption throughout the state, impose specified duties on the council relating to that purpose, and specify the membership of the council.
Sponsored bills
Existing law adjusts funding for individuals with exceptional needs based on an incidence multiplier, as defined, for each special education local plan area. This bill would continue the current special education incidence factor formula through the 2010–11 fiscal year. The bill would make the adjustment inoperative on July 1, 2011, and repeal it on January 1, 2012. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.
The Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, administered by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, regulates the sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages and the granting of licenses for the manufacture, distribution, and sale of alcoholic beverages within the state. The act allows a person who has purchased wine from a licensed winegrower and has taken the wine from the state, to return that wine to the licensed premises of the winegrower from whom the wine was purchased. This bill would also allow for the return of wine taken out of state where the wine was purchased from a holder of a beer and wine wholesaler's license and an off-sale retail license that only sells wine. The Alcoholic Beverage Control Act also provides for specified recordkeeping requirements for winegrowers and bottlers of wine within specified counties. This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive amendments to this requirement.
The Alcoholic Beverage Control Act provides for specified labeling requirements for containers of alcoholic beverages sold within this state. This bill would require any wine bottled on or after January 1, 2014, labeled with an American Viticultural Area established pursuant to federal law that is located entirely within a county of the 19th class, to bear the designation "Sonoma County" on the label in specified type size as determined by the size of the wine container, as prescribed. The bill would authorize the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to suspend or revoke the license of any person who violates those provisions. The Alcoholic Beverage Control Act provides that a violation of its provisions is a misdemeanor, unless otherwise specified. This bill, by creating a new crime, imposes a state-mandated local 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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
This measure would recognize March 31, 2010, as the anniversary of the birth of César Chávez, and would call upon all Californians to participate in appropriate observances to remember César Chávez as a symbol of hope and justice to all persons.
This measure would proclaim April 12 through April 18, 2010, as California Holocaust Memorial Week and would urge Californians to observe these days of remembrance for the victims of the Holocaust in an appropriate manner.
Existing law prohibits the manufacture, sale, or distribution in commerce of certain toys and child care articles, as defined, if those products contain specified types of phthalates in concentrations exceeding 110 of 1%. Existing law also requires manufacturers to use the least toxic alternative when replacing phthalates in their products and would prohibit manufacturers from replacing phthalates with certain carcinogens and reproductive toxicants. The bill would enact the Toxin-Free Infants and Toddlers Act, which would, except as specified, prohibit, on and after January 1, 2012, the manufacture, sale, or distribution in commerce of any bottle, cup, or liquid, food, or beverage in a can, jar, or plastic bottle that contains bisphenol A, or that is lined with a material that contains bisphenolA, at a level above 0.1 parts per billion (ppb) . It would also, except as specified, prohibit, on and after July 1, 2012, the manufacture, sale, or distribution of liquid infant formula in a can or plastic bottle containing bisphenolA or lined with a material containing it. The bill would also require manufacturers to use the least toxic alternative when replacing bisphenolA in containers in accordance with this bill. This bill would repeal these provisions if the Department of Toxic Substances Control adopts a specified regulatory response.
Existing law, known as the Donahoe Higher Education Act, sets forth, among other things, the missions and functions of California's public and independent segments of higher education, and their respective institutions of higher education, in the context of the goals of the Master Plan for Higher Education in California. Among other things, the act expresses legislative intent to outline in statute the broad policy and programmatic goals of the master plan and to expect the higher education segments to be accountable for attaining those goals. The act also expresses legislative intent that the governing boards be given ample discretion in implementing policies and programs necessary to attain those goals. This bill would reference the report of the Joint Committee on the Master Plan for Higher Education in the Donahoe Higher Education Act. The bill would also add to the act legislative intent that the master plan review committees be used to guide higher education policy. The bill would further add to the act legislative intent to outline in statute clear, concise statewide goals and outcomes for effective implementation of the master plan, attuned to the public interest of the people and state.
Existing law requires the annual inspection of any jail, juvenile hall, or special purpose juvenile hall that, in the preceding calendar year, was used for confinement, for more than 24 hours, of any minor. Existing law requires the Corrections Standards Authority to establish minimum standards for state and local correctional facilities. The federal Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 2002 provides grants to the states to support state and local programs that address juvenile delinquency, as specified. The act requires that a state submit a state plan that meets specified criteria in order to be eligible for those grants. Among other criteria, the state plan must provide that certain juveniles will not be placed in secure detention facilities, must ensure that juveniles will not be detained or confined in any institution in which they have contact with adult inmates, and must provide for an adequate system of monitoring jails, detention facilities, correctional facilities, and nonsecure facilities to ensure that these and other criteria set forth in the act are met. The act also requires annual reporting of the results of that monitoring, except as specified. This bill would require the Corrections Standards Authority to inspect and collect relevant data from any facility that may be used for the secure detention of minors, in accordance with the federal Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 2002.