Sen. Mike Morrell

This measure would call upon all Californians to observe César Chávez's birthday, March 31, as a day of public service, to recognize the hard work and self-sacrifice that farmworkers go through to feed all the families in our state, and to learn from César Chávez's life and his mission of nonviolence, social justice, and selfless service to others.

This measure would designate the month of November 2012 as California Runaway and Homeless Youth Month and would recognize the need for individuals, schools, communities, businesses, local governments, and the state to take action on behalf of runaway and homeless youth in California.

This measure would proclaim California as a Purple Heart State, honoring the service and sacrifices of our nation's men and women in uniform wounded or killed by the enemy while serving to protect the freedoms enjoyed by all Americans.

Existing law provides for unemployment compensation benefits to eligible persons who are unemployed through no fault of their own. Existing law also provides that, insofar as federal law requires that state unemployment insurance law contains such a provision of certification, the amount of unemployment compensation benefits, extended duration benefits, and federal-state extended benefits payable to an individual in a period with respect to which that individual is receiving a governmental or other pension, retirement or retired pay, annuity, or any other similar periodic payment shall be reduced by an amount equal to the amount of the pension, retirement or retired pay, annuity, or other payment reasonably attributable to that week, as specified. This bill would provide that the amount of unemployment compensation benefits, extended duration benefits, and federal-state extended benefits payable to an individual for any week which begins after January 1, 2013, in a period with respect to which that individual is receiving a governmental pension, retirement or retired pay, annuity, or any other similar periodic payment, and which is based on the previous work of the individual, shall be reduced by an amount equal to the amount of the pension, retirement or retired pay, annuity, or other payment, which is reasonably attributable to that week, without a requirement from federal law, as specified.

This measure would proclaim April 15 through April 22, 2012, 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.

Article XVI of the California Constitution requires a general obligation bond act to specify the single object or work to be funded by the bonds, and further requires a bond act to be approved by a 23 vote of each house of the Legislature and by a majority of the voters. Article XVI authorizes the Legislature, at any time after the approval of a general obligation bond act by the voters, to reduce the amount of the indebtedness authorized by the act to an amount not less than the amount contracted at the time of the reduction or to repeal the act if no debt has been contracted. Existing law, pursuant to the Safe, Reliable High-Speed Passenger Train Bond Act for the 21st Century, approved by the voters as Proposition 1A at the November 4, 2008, statewide general election, provides for the issuance of $9.95 billion in general obligation bonds for high-speed rail and related rail purposes. Existing law creates the High-Speed Rail Authority with specified powers and duties related to the development and implementation of a high-speed train system. This bill would provide that no further bonds shall be sold for high-speed rail and related rail purposes pursuant to the Safe, Reliable High-Speed Passenger Train Bond Act for the 21st Century. The bill would amend the bond act to authorize redirection of the net proceeds received from outstanding bonds issued and sold prior to the effective date of this act, upon appropriation by the Legislature, from those high-speed rail purposes to retiring the debt incurred from the issuance and sale of those outstanding bonds. This bill would provide that, pursuant to Article XVI of the California Constitution, these provisions shall become effective only upon approval by the voters at the next statewide general election. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

Existing law requires the court to order a person who is convicted of a crime to pay a restitution fine, as prescribed, and restitution to the victim or victims for the full amount of economic loss, unless the court finds compelling and extraordinary reasons for not doing so and states them on the record. Existing law requires that the Secretary of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation deduct a minimum of 20% or the balance owing on the fine amount, whichever is less, up to a maximum of 50% from the wages and trust account deposits of a prisoner for payment of a restitution fine or a restitution order for the victims of the crime. Existing law also requires the secretary to retain certain prescribed administrative fees from the wages and trust account deposits of a prisoner and amounts paid from a settlement or award to satisfy an outstanding restitution order or fine. This bill would require a county sheriff or correctional administrator to deduct a prescribed amount from the wages and trust account of a prisoner sentenced to a county jail or a person who is subject to postrelease community supervision for the payment of restitution orders to the victims of the crime and restitution fines. The bill would also require, unless prohibited by federal law and in addition to the restitution fines and restitution order, the sheriff or correctional administrator to deduct and retain prescribed administrative fees. By requiring local sheriffs and correctional administrators to implement these provisions, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The Restitution Fund into which the amounts for payment of restitution fines and orders are put is a continuously appropriated fund. By increasing the amount deposited in that fund, this bill would make an appropriation. 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.

This measure would respectfully request Congress and the Department of Defense to remain committed to maintaining the 144th Fighter Wing and the Aerospace Control Alert mission in California in order to prevent any negative impacts to Southwest air defense operations, the California economy, and the ability of first responders to protect the residents of this state.