Existing law authorizes the Department of Transportation and regional transportation agencies, as defined, to enter into comprehensive development lease agreements with public and private entities, or consortia of those entities, for certain transportation projects that may charge certain users of those projects tolls and user fees, subject to various terms and requirements. These arrangements are commonly known as public-private partnerships. Existing law provides that a lease agreement may not be entered into under these provisions on or after January 1, 2017. This bill would extend this authorization indefinitely and would include within the definition of "regional transportation agency" the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, thereby authorizing the authority to enter into public-private partnerships under these provisions. The bill would also delete obsolete cross-references and make technical changes to these provisions.
Sponsored bills
The Donahoe Higher Education Act sets forth the missions and functions of the segments of the higher education system in the state, including, among other segments, the California State University, administered by the Trustees of the California State University. Existing federal law provides that a student whose absence from an institution of higher education is necessitated by service in the uniformed services shall be entitled to readmission to the institution if the cumulative length of the absence does not exceed 5 years. This bill would require the California State University to comply with that federal law, as specified, and would authorize the Trustees of the California State University to adopt regulations to implement that requirement.
This measure would designate a 5-mile portion of Interstate 10 as the CAL FIRE Firefighter Christopher Lee Douglas Memorial Highway. The measure would also request the Department of Transportation to erect appropriate signs, consistent with the signing requirements for the state highway system, showing this special designation and to cover the cost of those signs from nonstate sources previously secured.
This measure would recognize June 6, 2015, as the 71st anniversary of the invasion of Normandy, also known as D-Day. This measure would express the gratitude and appreciation of the Legislature to the members of the United States Armed Forces who participated in D-Day, and would call upon the people of California to observe the anniversary with appropriate reflections and recognition.
Existing law establishes the University of California, under the administration of the Regents of the University of California, the California State University, under the administration of the Trustees of the California State University, and the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as the 3 segments of public postsecondary education in this state. This measure would provide that the display of the Flag of the United States of America on the grounds of a campus of the University of California, the California State University, or the California Community Colleges shall not be prohibited.
This measure would recognize May 2015 as National Mental Health Awareness Month to enhance public awareness of mental illness.
Existing property tax law establishes a veterans' organization exemption under which property is exempt from taxation if, among other things, that property is used exclusively for charitable purposes and is owned by a veterans' organization. This bill would provide that the veterans' organization exemption shall not be denied to a property on the basis that the property is used for fraternal, lodge, or social club purposes, and would make specific findings and declarations in that regard. The bill would also provide that the exemption shall not apply to any portion of a property that consists of a bar where alcoholic beverages are served. Section 2229 of the Revenue and Taxation Code requires the Legislature to reimburse local agencies annually for certain property tax revenues lost as a result of any exemption or classification of property for purposes of ad valorem property taxation. This bill would provide that, notwithstanding Section 2229 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, no appropriation is made and the state shall not reimburse local agencies for property tax revenues lost by them pursuant to the bill. This bill would take effect immediately as a tax levy.
Under existing law, in any action on a contract based on a book account, as defined, that does not provide for attorney's fees and costs, the prevailing party on the contract is entitled to reasonable attorney's fees and costs, and the court is required to fix the attorney's fees in an amount that does not exceed the lesser of $800 for book accounts that are maintained for personal, family, or household purposes of a natural person, and $1,000 for book accounts that are maintained for all other purposes, or 25% of the principal obligation owing on the contract, as applicable. This bill would increase these maximum attorney's fees to an amount not to exceed the lesser of $960 for book accounts that are maintained for personal, family, or household purposes of a natural person, and $1,200 for book accounts that are maintained for all other purposes, or 25% of the principal obligation owing on the contract, as applicable.
The California Airport District Act provides for creation of airport districts having responsibility for the development of airports, spaceports, and air navigation facilities within or including the territories of one or more counties or cities. This bill would authorize the City of Ontario to issue revenue bonds, for the purpose of financing the acquisition of the Ontario International Airport from the City of Los Angeles, that are secured solely by the revenues and charges at the Ontario International Airport. The bill would require a public agency that acquires the Ontario International Airport to comply with specified conditions relating to incumbent workers, except as provided.
Existing law permits property to be titled in a trust, and provides that, upon the death of a settlor of a trust, the property of the deceased settlor that was subject to the power of revocation at the time of the settlor's death is subject to the claims of creditors of the deceased settlor's estate. Existing law defines specified terms for the purposes of these provisions. This bill would define the terms "probate estate" and "trust estate" for the purposes of these provisions and clarify that certain uses of the term "estate" in existing law refer to a probate estate.