The Vehicle License Fee (VLF) Law establishes, in lieu of any ad valorem property tax upon vehicles, an annual license fee for any vehicle subject to registration in this state, on and after May 19, 2009, and until July 1, 2013, in the amount of 1.15% of the market value of specified vehicles, the revenues derived thereof to be deposited in specified funds. Existing law provides that, on and after July 1, 2013, the annual license fee for specified vehicles subject to registration in this state shall be 0.65% of the market value of that vehicle. This bill would provide that for new vehicles, including new motorcycles, the annual license fee shall be 0.65% of the market value of the vehicle. This bill would also state the intent of the Legislature with regard to funding levels for local law enforcement. This bill would take effect immediately as a tax levy.
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Existing law, the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act, regulates the making of anatomical gifts and the disposition of donated bodies and body parts. Existing law authorizes the creation of a nonprofit entity designated as the California Organ and Tissue Donor Registrar, which is required to establish and maintain the California Organ and Tissue Donor Registry. Existing law requires the Department of Motor Vehicles, upon issuance of a new driver's license or a renewal of a driver's license or the issuance of an identification card, to provide information on organ and tissue donation, including a standardized form to be filled out by an individual who desires to enroll in the California Organ and Tissue Donor Registry with instructions for mailing the completed form to the California Organ and Tissue Donor Registrar, and including a donor dot that may be affixed to the new driver's license or identification card. Existing law also provides that a person who applies for an original or renewal driver's license or identification card may designate a voluntary contribution of $2 for the purpose of promoting and supporting organ and tissue donation. Existing law authorizes the department to use these contributions to cover its actual administrative costs incurred pursuant to this organ and tissue donor registration program. This bill would authorize the department to use not more than $300,000 of the contributions collected under these mail in enrollment registration provisions per year to cover its related actual administrative costs. This bill would also require the department to add a graphic hyperlink to the confirmation page of vehicle registrations processed online in order to provide the option for drivers to connect to the state-authorized Donate Life California online California Organ and Tissue Donor Registry and would authorize a person, upon renewal of a vehicle registration online to designate a voluntary contribution, as specified, to the registry for the purpose of promoting and supporting organ and tissue donation.
The California Adult Day Health Care Act provides for the licensure and regulation of adult day health care centers, with administrative responsibility for the adult day health care program shared among the State Department of Public Health, the State Department of Health Care Services, and the California Department of Aging pursuant to an interagency agreement. The Adult Day Health Medi-Cal Law establishes adult day health care services as a Medi-Cal benefit for Medi-Cal beneficiaries who meet certain criteria. Under existing law, participation in an adult day health care program requires prior authorization by the State Department of Health Care Services. Existing law authorizes the State Department of Health Care Services to implement a moratorium on the certification and enrollment into the Medi-Cal program of new adult day health care centers on a statewide basis or within a geographic area, subject to certain limitations. Existing law provides that the moratorium shall not apply to certain applicants. This bill would add 2 specified veterans homes of California, to the list of applicants that are not subject to the moratorium. This bill would also make technical, nonsubstantive changes to these provisions.
(1) Existing law requires a city council to, within 30 days of a vacancy in an elective office, fill that vacancy by appointment or call a special election to fill the vacancy, as specified. This bill would require the city council to, within 60 days of a vacancy in an elective office, fill that vacancy by appointment or call a special election to fill the vacancy, as specified. (2) Existing law specifies the procedures for election of, and terms of office for, city council members and elective officers following an incorporation of a city. This bill would revise the initial terms of office for city council members and elective officers following an incorporation of a city.
Existing law authorizes the sheriff of a county, or the chief or other head of a municipal police department upon proof that the person applying is of good moral character, that good cause exists, and that the person applying satisfies certain conditions or has been deputized or appointed as a peace officer, as specified, to issue a license for the person to carry a concealed handgun, as specified. This bill would delete the good cause requirement, and require the sheriff or the chief or other head of a municipal police department to issue the license if the other criteria described above are met. By imposing additional duties on local law enforcement agencies, this bill would impose 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, 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 these statutory provisions.
Existing law, the Physical Therapy Practice Act, creates the Physical Therapy Board of California and makes it responsible for the licensure and regulation of physical therapists. The act defines the term "physical therapy" for its purposes and makes it a crime to violate any of its provisions. The act authorizes the board to suspend, revoke, or impose probationary conditions on a license, certificate, or approval issued under the act for unprofessional conduct, as specified. This bill would specify that patients may access physical therapy treatment directly, and would, in those circumstances, require a physical therapist to refer his or her patient to another specified healing arts practitioner if the physical therapist has reason to believe the patient has a condition requiring treatment or services beyond that scope of practice, to disclose to the patient any financial interest he or she has in treating the patient, and, with the patient's written authorization, to notify the patient's physician and surgeon, if any, that the physical therapist is treating the patient. The bill would provide that failure to comply with these provisions constitutes unprofessional conduct subject to disciplinary action by the board. Because the bill would specify additional requirements under the Physical Therapy Practice Act, the violation of which would be a crime, it would impose 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.
(1) Existing law establishes the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission and the Electricity Oversight Board with jurisdiction related to energy matters. Existing law provides the Public Utilities Commission with jurisdiction over the certification of natural gas and electric facilities. Existing law also provides the Office of Planning and Research, the Department of General Services, and the Office of the State Architect with jurisdiction over certain energy-related matters. Existing law provides the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission with the jurisdiction over the certification of thermal powerplants. This bill would abolish the State Energy Resources and Conservation Commission and the Electricity Oversight Board. The bill would create the Department of Energy, headed by a Secretary of Energy, and would create the California Energy Board and the Office of Energy Market Oversight within the department. The bill would provide for the creation of various divisions and subdivisions as deemed necessary by the secretary. The secretary would be appointed by, and hold office at the pleasure of, the Governor, subject to confirmation by the Senate. The bill would require the Governor to appoint the initial secretary by January 31, 2010. The bill would authorize the Governor to appoint an Assistant Secretary of Energy who would serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The bill would require the department to create a legal subcommittee comprised of specified members to develop a single statewide position on litigation concerning energy matters. The bill would provide that the California Energy Board consists of the following members: the Secretary of Energy who would be the chair of the board, 4 members of the public with qualifications, as specified, appointed by the Governor and subject to confirmation by the Senate, the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency, and the president of the California Public Utilities Commission. The Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency, and the president of the California Public Utilities Commission would serve as ex officio, nonvoting members of the board. The bill would specify that the public members shall serve for a term of 4 years. The bill would require the board to nominate for appointment by the Governor a public adviser to the board who would serve for a 3-year term and may be removed upon the joint concurrence of 4 board members and the Governor. The bill would vest the Office of Energy Market Oversight with the powers, duties, responsibilities, obligations, liabilities, and jurisdiction of the Electricity Oversight Board and add to the functions of the office. The bill would vest the new department and the California Energy Board with the powers, duties, responsibilities, obligations, liabilities, jurisdiction, and rights and privileges of the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission, as specified. The bill would transfer jurisdiction over the certification of thermal powerplants and grant jurisdiction over certification of specified solar nonthermal powerplants to the California Energy Board. The bill would also transfer jurisdiction of certain energy-related matters from the Office of Planning and Research, the Department of General Services, and the Office of the State Architect to the Department of Energy or the California Energy Commission, as specified. The bill would also rename the California Consumer Power and Conservation Authority Fund as the California Consumer Power and Conservation Financing Fund. The bill would transfer all responsibilities with respect to the certification of certain electric transmission facilities from the Public Utilities Commission to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Secretary of Energy, in consultation with the California Energy Board. The bill would require the Department of Energy, on or before January 1, 2011, in consultation with the Public Utilities Commission and the Independent System Operator, to submit to the Governor and the Legislature a strategic plan identifying administrative and statutory measures that would improve the siting and licensing process for electric transmission lines. (2) Existing law requires a person proposing to construct a thermal powerplant or electric transmission line on a site to submit to the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission a notice of intention to file an application for the certification of the site. This bill would repeal this requirement. (3) Existing law prohibits the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission from certifying a facility that adds generating capacity to a potential multiple facility site in excess of the maximum allowable capacity determined by the commission. This bill would repeal this prohibition. (4) Existing law requires the Department of Community Services and Development to administer federal funds for programs to provide energy assistance to qualified low-income households and to administer the community services block grant program. This bill would transfer the above-described duties and responsibilities of the Department of Community Services and Development, on and after January 1, 2013, to the Department of Energy. (5) Existing law establishes grant and loan programs to provide financial assistance to specified entities for constructing and retrofitting buildings to be more energy efficient. This bill would require the Department of Finance to conduct an independent audit of those programs and to provide an audit report to the Legislature no later than March 1 of each year in which an appropriation has been made to implement those programs. (6) Existing law established the Katz Safe Schoolbus Clean Fuel Efficiency Demonstration Program to assist local educational agencies in replacing older schoolbuses with schoolbuses meeting federal safety standards that operate with greater efficiency and fewer adverse air emissions. This bill would repeal this program. (7) Existing law establishes the Small Business Energy Efficient Refrigeration Program and the State Solar Medallion Passive Design Competition. This bill would repeal the program and competition. (8) The bill would make conforming changes in existing law. (9) The California Constitution authorizes the Governor to declare a fiscal emergency and to call the Legislature into special session for that purpose. The Governor issued a proclamation declaring a fiscal emergency, and calling a special session for this purpose, on December 19, 2008. This bill would state that it addresses the fiscal emergency declared by the Governor by proclamation issued on December 19, 2008, pursuant to the California Constitution. (10) The bill would provide that the provisions of the bill are severable.
(1) Existing law requires the State Air Resources Board to adopt procedures for determining the compliance of any system designed for the control of gasoline vapor emissions during gasoline marketing operations, including storage and transfer operations, and additional performance standards to ensure that systems for the control of gasoline vapors from motor vehicle fueling operations do not cause excessive spillage and emissions. Existing law prohibits the state board from requiring a gasoline dispensing facility that meets certain requirements from undergoing an Enhanced Vapor Recovery Phase II upgrade until April 1, 2011. This bill would exempt a gasoline dispensing facility that does not meet these requirements from penalties for failing to undergo an Enhanced Vapor Recovery Phase II upgrade until April 1, 2010. (2) The California Constitution authorizes the Governor to declare a fiscal emergency and to call the Legislature into special session for that purpose. The Governor issued a proclamation declaring a fiscal emergency, and calling a special session for this purpose, on December 19, 2008. This bill would state that it addresses the fiscal emergency declared by the Governor by proclamation issued on December 19, 2008, pursuant to the California Constitution.
(1) Existing law requires that, when a reduction in the number of certificated employees employed by a school district is authorized for specified reasons, the notice of the termination of the services of an employee in the subsequent school year be given, in a prescribed manner, before May 15. This bill would express findings and declarations of the Legislature relating to the effect of the outcome of the May 19, 2009, special election on school district budgets. The bill would require that, in 2009 only, the deadline for the notice of termination of services be changed to June 15. (2) The California Constitution authorizes the Governor to declare a fiscal emergency and to call the Legislature into special session for that purpose. The Governor issued a proclamation declaring a fiscal emergency, and calling a special session for this purpose, on December 19, 2008. This bill would state that it addresses the fiscal emergency declared by the Governor by proclamation issued on December 19, 2008, pursuant to the California Constitution. (3) This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.
Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation by the State Department of Public Health of long-term health care facilities, including skilled nursing facilities. Existing law creates the State Health Facilities Citation Penalties Account in the Special Deposit Fund, with the moneys in this account to be used, upon appropriation, for prescribed purposes. This bill would, commencing January 1, 2011, require skilled nursing facilities to post, in accordance with prescribed requirements, the overall facility rating information determined by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and to inform consumers regarding information available at the department's Internet Web site. A violation of these provisions would be a class B violation, as defined, with the proceeds from fines collected to be deposited into the State Health Facilities Citation Penalties Account.