Photo of Ben Allen
D California Senate · District 24

Sen. Ben Allen

Compare
Total votes
14,273
all sessions
Attendance
92%
893 missed
Lower than 86% of chamber peers
With party
99%
of cast votes
Near the chamber average
Bipartisan score
0%
crosses aisle rarely
Near the chamber average
Sponsored
478
bills & resolutions
Near the chamber average
Committees
13
assignments
478 bills and resolutions

Sponsored bills

Total
478
Primary
137
Co-sponsor
341
This page
478
matching current filters
Co-sponsor SB 900
Passed · California Senate · Co-sponsor
Political Reform Act of 1974: top contributors: disclosures.

(1) Existing law permits the name of the committee that paid for certain video, print, electronic media, or text message advertisements to be shortened, as specified. For purposes of this provision, this bill would clarify that a print advertisement includes a yard sign or a billboard and an electronic media advertisement means a graphic, image, animated graphic, or animated image that the online platform hosting the advertisement allows to link to an internet website paid for by the committee, as specified. For certain advertisements, the bill would permit the names of top contributors to be shortened by using approved abbreviations or leaving out words from the top contributor's name, as specified. For printed advertisements larger than those designed to be individually distributed, such as yard signs and billboards, existing law permits the text of the disclosure to be adjusted so that it does not appear on separate horizontal lines, with the names of the top contributors separated by a comma. This bill would define such advertisements as those that exceed 187 square inches. The bill would require the names of the top contributors to be separated by clearly visible bullet points or by inserting the applicable number (1, 2, or 3) before the names of the 3 largest contributors. The bill would specify the order in which required disclosures must appear on the advertisement. The bill would also extend these requirements to electronic advertisements displayed on a physical surface. (2) Under existing law, an advertisement supporting or opposing a candidate that is paid for by an independent expenditure must include a statement that it was not authorized by a candidate or a committee controlled by a candidate. If the advertisement was authorized or paid for by a candidate for another office, the expenditure must instead include a statement that "This advertisement was not authorized or paid for by a candidate for this office or a committee controlled by a candidate for this office." This bill would shorten the above statements, respectively, to "Not paid for by candidate" and "Not paid for by a candidate for this office." (3) 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. (4) The Political Reform Act of 1974, an initiative measure, provides that the Legislature may amend the act to further the act's purposes upon a 23 vote of each house of the Legislature and compliance with specified procedural requirements. This bill would declare that it furthers the purposes of the act.

Passed Aug 30, 2026 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor SB 904
Passed · California Senate · Co-sponsor
Recovery from a state of emergency.

Existing law, the California Emergency Services Act, authorizes the Governor to proclaim a state of emergency when specified conditions of disaster or extreme peril to the safety of persons and property exist, and authorizes the Governor to exercise certain powers in response to that emergency, including, but not limited to, suspending specified statutes, ordinances, orders, regulations, or rules. This bill would impose specific duties on the Department of Housing and Community Development if the Office of Emergency Services makes a written determination, within 10 days after the date that the Governor declared a state of emergency relating to a wildfire, that the wildfire caused substantial structural damage requiring significant rebuilding efforts, as defined. The bill would require the department, under this condition, to consult with other specified state entities and local governments to identify state permitting requirements and local procedures that could be suspended or revised to support recovery and rebuilding efforts as a result of the wildfire, as specified. The bill would require the department to prepare and submit initial and periodic reports to the Governor and Legislature with the information and recommendations. This bill, on or before July 1, 2028, would require the Department of Housing and Community Development, in consultation with other specified state entities, to convene a workgroup to review and provide a report to the Governor and the Legislature with recommendations regarding any provision of the California Building Standards Code that should be suspended for specified types of projects to facilitate rapid, safe, disaster-resilient, and cost-effective rebuilding and recovery guidance for any future state of emergency. The bill would require the workgroup to review and update the report to the Governor and Legislature after the release of every update to the California Building Standards Code. This bill, starting January 1, 2028, would require, upon the Governor's declaration of a state of emergency relating to a wildfire, every state agency or political subdivision, as defined, involved in postdisaster response, debris removal, reconstruction, housing, or land-use permitting to accept electronic submission of any application, form, plan set, appeal, or request for state agency or political subdivision action related to recovery efforts for that state of emergency, as provided. By imposing new duties on local agencies, the 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 the statutory provisions noted above.

Passed Aug 30, 2026 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor AB 1642
Passed · California House · Co-sponsor
Wildfires: contamination standards.

Existing law establishes the Department of Toxic Substances Control, which regulates the handling and management of hazardous waste and hazardous materials, and establishes the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment and the State Air Resources Board. Existing federal law sets action levels for lead in dust and emission standards for asbestos, and existing state law sets workplace standards for asbestos. Existing law authorizes local health officers to take specified actions to protect public health and establishes procedures for the remediation of certain contaminated properties. This bill would require the Department of Toxic Substances Control, in consultation with the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment and other relevant coordinating agencies, on or before December 31, 2028, to develop and adopt regulations pertaining to lead and asbestos testing, remediation, and restoration after a wildfire and, on or before December 31, 2029, to develop and publish guidance pertaining to specified other contaminants, as provided. The bill would require the State Air Resources Board, on or before December 31, 2028, to develop and publish guidance on indoor air contaminants following residential smoke damage from a wildfire, as provided. The bill would provide that, until the adoption of the regulations and guidance, specified lead and asbestos standards shall apply for wildfire-caused lead and asbestos remediation, as provided. The bill would require the department, in collaboration with the State Department of Education and other relevant state agencies, no later than July 1, 2028, to develop advisory, nonregulatory guidance for schools after a wildfire, as provided. The bill would exempt the regulations and guidance from the Administrative Procedure Act. The bill would become operative only if AB 1795 of the 2025–26 Regular Session is enacted and takes effect on or before January 1, 2027.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Passed Aug 30, 2026 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor SB 931
Passed · California Senate · Co-sponsor
Dolly Parton Day.

Existing law requires the Governor to proclaim various days as days of remembrance or recognition. This bill would require the Governor to annually proclaim September 25 as Dolly Parton Day. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

Passed Aug 30, 2026 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor SB 811
Passed · California Senate · Co-sponsor
Hazardous materials: metal shredding facilities.

Existing law authorizes the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) , in consultation with the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, the State Water Resources Control Board, and affected local air quality management districts, to adopt regulations to establish management standards for metal shredding facilities for hazardous waste management activities within the DTSC's jurisdiction, as provided. Existing law provides that treated metal shredder waste that is managed in accordance with those regulations is deemed to be solid waste, and not hazardous waste, as provided. This bill would repeal those provisions. The bill would establish a comprehensive scheme for the regulation of metal shredding facilities that would be administered by the DTSC pursuant to authority separate from laws governing the control of hazardous waste. The bill would prohibit an owner or operator from operating a metal shredding facility, as defined, in the state unless they have a permit from the DTSC or are deemed to have a permit. The bill would prescribe the requirements for obtaining a permit, for being deemed to have a permit, for operating a metal shredding facility, and for transporting certain materials related to metal shredding, as specified. The bill would require, before a decision is made to approve or deny a permit application, the DTSC to hold a public meeting, as provided. The bill would require the DTSC to take final action on a permit application by an existing facility within 3 years, as provided. The bill would require the DTSC to post on its internet website general information about each metal shredding facility that has applied for or obtained a permit, and to conduct at least one site visit to the applicant's facility after receipt of the permit application. The bill would provide that certain materials related to metal shredding are not hazardous waste if they meet specified requirements. The bill would require any report required to be submitted by a metal shredding facility pursuant to a permit issued to be signed by the owner or operator and certified under penalty of law, including criminal penalties, as specified. The bill would require the DTSC to have primary responsibility for enforcing these provisions, would require the DTSC to conduct an annual compliance evaluation inspection of each metal shredding facility, and would authorize the DTSC to refer violations to a district attorney or the Attorney General for prosecution. The bill would also require the DTSC to inform the local health officer and the director of environmental health of a county, city, or district within 15 days after the DTSC becomes aware of any unlawful disposal of materials, as provided, and of any enforcement action against a metal shredding facility as a result of that unlawful disposal. Because the bill would expand the scope of a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would require an owner or operator of a metal shredding facility to report to the DTSC certain emergency situations, as specified. The bill would require an owner or operator of a metal shredding facility to submit to the DTSC a closure plan and a cost estimate for closing the metal shredding facility, as specified. The bill would also require the owner or operator of a metal shredding facility to provide written notice to the DTSC at least 60 days before transferring ownership or operation of the facility. The bill would authorize the DTSC to enforce these provisions by revoking permits and by other specified means. The bill would authorize the DTSC to adopt regulations for the operation of metal shredding facilities as necessary to implement the requirements of the bill. The bill would require the DTSC to post information provided by owners and operators regarding a metal shredding facility on the DTSC's internet website in a manner that is readily accessible to the public, except as otherwise required pursuant to existing law. Existing law authorizes the DTSC to collect an annual fee from all metal shredding facilities subject to the requirements of hazardous waste control laws or the DTSC's management standards for metal shredding facilities, as provided. Existing law requires the DTSC to adopt regulations necessary to administer the fee and authorizes the DTSC to adopt those regulations using emergency procedures, as provided. Existing law requires the Controller to establish a separate subaccount in the Hazardous Waste Control Account and for all fees collected to be placed into that subaccount, to be available for expenditure by the DTSC upon appropriation by the Legislature. This bill would make the requirement to collect an annual fee inoperative on July 1, 2027, and would repeal it as of January 1, 2028. This bill would instead require the DTSC to impose an annual fee on all metal shredding facilities subject to the provisions of the bill, as specified. The bill would require, beginning in the 2027–28 fiscal year, the rates established by the DTSC to be reviewed and increased or decreased annually, as provided. The bill would require the DTSC to adopt regulations necessary to administer the fee and would authorize the DTSC to adopt the regulations using emergency procedures, as specified. The bill would require a person who applies for a metal shredding facility permit to enter into a written agreement with the DTSC pursuant to which that person would be required to reimburse the DTSC for the direct costs reasonably incurred by the DTSC in processing the application, as provided. The bill would require the Controller to establish a new and separate Metal Shredding Facility Subaccount to be administered by the Director of Toxic Substances Control and would require all fees collected to be placed into that subaccount and made available for expenditure by the DTSC solely for the purpose of implementation and administration of these provisions, upon appropriation by the Legislature. Existing law establishes the Board of Environmental Safety in the Department of Toxic Substances Control with specified duties. This bill would require, on or before July 1, 2030, the Board of Environmental Safety, at a specially scheduled public meeting, to hear from the DTSC and receive input from the public, metal shredding facilities, and other stakeholders about the implementation of the bill, as provided. The bill would require the fees established pursuant to the bill to be sufficient to cover the reasonable costs incurred by the Board of Environmental Safety in administering and implementing its duties and responsibilities established by the bill. Existing law requires the DTSC to require metal shredding facilities to monitor hazardous waste constituents requested by the DTSC and to report the results of that monitoring to the DTSC. Existing law also requires the DTSC to collect and analyze light fibrous material at the fence lines to determine the potential for release of hazardous waste. Existing law requires, on or before July 1, 2027, the DTSC to develop a procedure for community notification of the public for the area in which the metal shredding facility is located if that monitoring indicates any release of light fibrous material. In addition, existing law requires, on or before January 1, 2027, an air pollution control district or an air quality management district the jurisdiction of which includes metal shredding facilities, in consultation with the DTSC and the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) , to develop requirements for facilitywide fence-line air quality monitoring at metal shredding facilities. Existing law authorizes any reasonable regulatory costs incurred by the DTSC in implementing, and requires that the OEHHA's costs to implement, the above-described duties be reimbursed from a subaccount established in the Hazardous Waste Control Account for the deposit of fees from metal shredding facilities. This bill would limit the scope of those provisions to metal shredding facilities that are subject to the other provisions of the bill and would provide for the reimbursement of those costs from the Metal Shredding Facility Subaccount. Existing law establishes in the General Fund the Toxic Substances Control Account for specified purposes, including the removal or remediation of toxic substances. This bill would require the DTSC to deposit all penalties collected pursuant to the provisions of the bill into the Toxic Substances Control Account. The bill would include findings that changes proposed by this bill address a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair and, therefore, apply to all cities, including charter cities. 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.

Passed Aug 30, 2026 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor SB 222
Passed · California Senate · Co-sponsor
Residential heat pump water heater or heat pump HVAC systems.

(1) Existing law establishes the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission and prescribes the authorities, duties, and responsibilities of the commission pertaining to energy matters. Existing law requires the commission, on or before January 1, 2019, in consultation with the Contractors State License Board, local building officials, and other stakeholders, to approve a plan that promotes compliance with specified regulations relating to building energy efficiency standards in the installation of central air-conditioning and heat pumps, as specified. Existing law authorizes the commission to adopt regulations to increase compliance with permitting and inspection requirements for central air-conditioning and heat pumps, and associated sales and installations, consistent with the above-described plan. This bill would establish various requirements and authorizations for the installation of a residential heat pump water heater or heat pump HVAC system, as defined, by, among other things, requiring a city, county, or city and county, beginning July 1, 2027, to adopt and offer asynchronous inspections for installations that do not require a licensed contractor and building inspector to be simultaneously present during the inspection. The bill would additionally require a city, county, or city and county, except as specified, to post specific information online, and on or before July 1, 2028, to implement an online automated permitting process for the installation of a residential heat pump water heater or heat pump HVAC system that issues permits in real time to a licensed contractor that meets certain criteria. The bill would require the criteria to include, among others, that the licensed contractor certify under penalty of perjury that they have performed a load calculation to properly size the new equipment, as specified. By expanding the crime of perjury, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. By imposing these various new duties on the described local entities, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would authorize a city, county, or city and county, except as specified, to require up to one nondiscretionary permit per installation of a residential heat pump water heater or heat pump HVAC system in which the local entity administratively approves an application to install the residential heat pump water heater or heat pump HVAC system. The bill would additionally authorize a city, county, or city and county to apply only certain planning or zoning or workforce labor standards on the installation of a residential heat pump water heater or heat pump HVAC system that are in addition to any state-level requirements. The bill would prohibit a local entity described above from requiring a permit or inspection for plug-in ready window air-conditioner or window heat pump HVAC systems, provided that certain requirements are met, including that the appliance has a voltage rating of 120 volts or less and the appliance is a self-contained unit. The bill would limit the amount a city, county, or city and county may charge as a permit fee for a residential heat pump water heater or heat pump HVAC system, as specified. The bill would require a local entity described above that applies to receive any funding from the commission to self-certify to the commission its compliance with any applicable portions of the bill's provisions. The above provisions would not apply to new residential construction. The bill would include findings and declarations related to these provisions. (2) Existing law, the Davis-Stirling Common Interest Development Act, defines and regulates common interest developments. Among other things, the act makes a provision of the governing document or architectural or landscaping guidelines or policies void and unenforceable if, among other things, the provision prohibits, or includes conditions that have the effect of prohibiting, the use of low water-using plants as a group or as a replacement of existing turf. This bill would additionally make any provision of the governing documents, architectural guidelines, or policies void and unenforceable if the provision prevents the replacement of a fuel-gas-burning appliance with an electric appliance. The bill would also make any covenant, restriction, or condition contained in any, among other specified agreements, deed, and any provision of a governing document, that effectively prohibits or restricts the installation or use of a residential heat pump water heater or heat pump HVAC system, void and unenforceable. The bill would prohibit an association, among other things, from prohibiting or restricting a member from installing, upgrading, replacing, or using a residential heat pump water heater or heat pump HVAC system in the member's separate interest, except as specified. (3) The bill would include findings that changes proposed by this bill address a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair and, therefore, apply to all cities, including charter cities. (4) 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, with regard to certain mandates, no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Passed Aug 30, 2026 1 co-sponsor
Primary SB 501
Passed · California Senate · Lead sponsor
Responsible Battery Recycling Act of 2022: covered batteries.

Existing law, the Responsible Battery Recycling Act of 2022, establishes a stewardship program, administered by the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, with the Department of Toxic Substances Control, as provided, for the collection, transportation, and recycling, and the safe and proper management, of covered batteries in the state in an economically efficient and practical manner. The act defines a "covered battery" to mean a device consisting of one or more electrically connected electrochemical cells designed to receive, store, and deliver electric energy. Existing law defines a "covered battery" to include a loose battery that is designed to be easily removed from a product by the user of the product with no more than common household tools. Existing law excludes from the definition of a covered battery a primary battery weighing over 2 kilograms. Existing law defines a "primary battery" for this purpose to mean a nonrechargeable battery, including, but not limited to, alkaline, carbon-zinc, and lithium metal batteries. Existing law also excludes from the definition of a covered battery a rechargeable battery weighing over 5 kilograms and having a watthour rating of more than 300 watthours. This bill would revise the description of a loose battery, for purposes of the definition of a covered battery, by providing that a key, application, or other locking device provided to the consumer by the producer of the product or battery that is warranted by the producer of the product or battery to serve solely to prevent theft of the battery or tampering by persons other than the consumer and not to inhibit the consumer's ability to remove, replace, or recycle the battery would not prevent a battery from being considered designed to be easily removed from a product by the user of the product with no more than common household tools. The bill would remove the exclusions from the definition of a covered battery for a primary battery and a rechargeable battery, described above. The bill would categorize all covered batteries as either a small format battery or a medium format battery. The bill would define a "small format battery" to include a rechargeable battery weighing no more than 11 pounds with a rating of no more than 300 watthours and a nonrechargeable battery weighing no more than 4.4 pounds. The bill would define a "medium format battery" to include a rechargeable battery that weighs more than 11 pounds or that has a rating of more than 300 watthours, or both, but that does not weigh more than 25 pounds or have a rating more than 2,000 watthours, and a nonrechargeable battery weighing more than 4.4 pounds but fewer than 25 pounds. The act requires a producer of covered batteries, individually or through a stewardship organization, to develop and implement a stewardship plan for the collection, transportation, and recycling, and the safe and proper management, of covered batteries in the state. The act requires the stewardship plan to describe how the producer or stewardship organization will provide a certain number of collection sites for covered batteries in each county, as provided. This bill would instead require the stewardship plan to describe how the producer or stewardship organization will provide a certain number of collection sites for small format batteries and medium format batteries, as specified. The act requires a stewardship plan to include, among other things, consultation with the California Environmental Protection Agency's Environmental Justice Task Force and coordination with certain entities, including, but not limited to, other program operators, as provided. This bill would require a stewardship plan to include consultation with the department's Office of Environmental Justice, Tribal Relations, Education and Outreach instead of the Environmental Justice Task Force. The bill would require the stewardship to additionally include coordination with California Native American Tribes. The bill would require a stewardship plan to demonstrate that the stewardship organization has adequate financial responsibility and financial controls in place to ensure proper management of funds. The act requires the program operator to retain an independent public accountant to annually audit the accounting books for the program operator. This bill would require the annual audit to be prepared in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board's accounting standards codification. The bill would require a program operator to annually demonstrate achievement of minimum recycling rates for rechargeable, nonrechargeable, and primary batteries. This bill would authorize the Department of Toxic Substances Control and certain local officers and agencies to enter and inspect any collection site, establishment, or any other place or environment, where hazardous wastes are stored, handled, processed, disposed of, or being treated to recover resources, as a result of the requirements of the act, as specified. The bill would, to ensure compliance with the act, authorize the department to inspect and investigate producers, program operators, stewardship organizations, manufacturers, distributors, retailers, importers, recyclers, and collection sites. The act requires records required by the act to be maintained and accessible to the department for 3 years. The act requires all reports and records provided to the department to be provided under penalty of perjury. This bill would require records required by the act to be maintained and accessible to the department for 5 years. By expanding the document retention period and by expanding the scope of the act, the bill would expand the scope of the crime of perjury, thereby imposing 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.

Passed Aug 30, 2026 0 co-sponsors
Primary SB 715
Passed · California Senate · Lead sponsor
Elections.

Existing law requires the Secretary of State to transmit a certified list of candidates for partisan and voter-nominated offices eligible to be voted on within each county to the county elections official at least 68 days before a primary or general election. Existing law also requires the Secretary of State to notify the candidates for partisan and voter-nominated offices of the names, addresses, offices, occupations, and party preferences of all other candidates for the same office at least 73 days before the election. Existing law imposes various deadlines pertaining to candidates and elections. Existing law requires a candidate who submits a ballot designation to file a ballot designation worksheet, as specified. This bill would move the deadline to notify candidates of the other candidates for the same office to at least 78 days before the election. The bill would move other specified deadlines earlier, including the deadline for the Secretary of State to publicly announce a list of candidates and the availability of specified forms and documents. The bill would require a candidate to certify, under penalty of perjury, the truth and accuracy of the content of the ballot designation worksheet. By expanding the crime of perjury, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 13307 of the Elections Code proposed by SB 1360 to be operative only if this bill and SB 1360 are enacted and this bill is enacted last. 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.

Passed Aug 30, 2026 0 co-sponsors
Primary SB 615
Passed · California Senate · Lead sponsor
Vehicle traction batteries.

Existing law requires the Secretary for Environmental Protection to convene the Lithium-Ion Car Battery Recycling Advisory Group to review, and advise the Legislature on, policies pertaining to the recovery and recycling of lithium-ion vehicle batteries sold with motor vehicles in the state. Existing law also requires the advisory group to submit policy recommendations to the Legislature aimed at ensuring that as close to 100% as possible of lithium-ion vehicle batteries in the state are reused or recycled at end of life in a safe and cost-effective manner. Existing law designates the State Air Resources Board as the state agency charged with coordinating efforts to attain and maintain ambient air quality standards and to regulate emissions from motor vehicles. Existing state board regulations require certain new motor vehicles to be equipped with specified traction battery labels. This bill would require, commencing July 1, 2028, a battery supplier, as defined, to equip a new vehicle traction battery sold in the state with a permanent label containing only specified information, as provided. The bill would require a remanufacturer to rebrand and relabel a remanufactured vehicle traction battery, as provided. The bill would require each battery supplier and remanufacturer, no later than 90 days after the chaptering of the act, to register with the state board and provide the state board with specified information. The bill would require those entities to update that registration and information annually and upon request of the board, as provided. The bill would require the state board to adopt regulations no later than July 1, 2031, to implement and enforce these provisions and would require the state board to determine the most cost-effective means to accept required electronic submissions, as provided. This bill would require battery suppliers, beginning July 1, 2029, and annually thereafter, to pay the state board a fee sufficient to cover the state board's full personnel, administrative, regulatory, and loan and interest costs related to implementing and enforcing these provisions. The bill would require the state board to create a tiered fee schedule based on each battery supplier's share of total in-state vehicle registrations with vehicle traction batteries 10 years prior, and would exempt establishment of and updates to that schedule from the Administrative Procedure Act. The bill would establish the Vehicle Traction Battery Recovery Fund (fund) in the State Treasury and would require the state board to deposit all fee moneys into the fund, as specified. Moneys in the fund would be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, only to implement and enforce these provisions, and to reimburse specified loans and interest. The bill would authorize, upon appropriation by the Legislature, the Director of Finance to make a loan from an unspecified fund to the fund to meet regulatory and startup costs of the state board's activities pursuant to these provisions. The state board's duties under the bill would be contingent upon an appropriation for these purposes.

Passed Aug 30, 2026 0 co-sponsors
Co-sponsor SB 577
Passed · California Senate · Co-sponsor
Public entities.

(1) Existing law requires that specified actions for recovery of damages suffered as a result of childhood sexual assault that occurred before January 1, 2024, be commenced within 22 years of the date the plaintiff attains the age of majority or within 5 years of the date the plaintiff discovers or reasonably should have discovered that psychological injury or illness occurring after the age of majority was caused by the sexual assault, whichever period expires later. Existing law prohibits a plaintiff from commencing specified actions against a person or entity who did not commit the act of childhood sexual assault on or after the plaintiff's 40th birthday unless the offending person or entity knew or had reason to know of any misconduct that created a risk of childhood sexual assault by an employee, volunteer, representative, or agent, or the person or entity failed to take reasonable steps or to implement reasonable safeguards to avoid acts of childhood sexual assault. Existing law provides that there is no time limit for commencement of actions for recovery of damages suffered as a result of childhood sexual assault which occurred on or after January 1, 2024. Actions subject to these time limits include actions for liability against any person or entity who owed a duty of care to the plaintiff and an action for liability against any person or entity for an intentional act that was the legal cause of the childhood sexual assault. Existing law provides that in actions against entities for violation of a duty of care, the plaintiff must establish that the entity acted wrongfully or negligently. This bill would shorten the amount of time a victim of childhood sexual assault that occurred before January 1, 2024, would have to file a specified action to 22 years from the date the plaintiff attains the age of majority or within 3 years of the date the plaintiff discovers or reasonably should have discovered that psychological injury or illness occurring after the age of majority was caused by the sexual assault, whichever period expires later. The bill would, for actions seeking damages for childhood sexual assault that occurred before January 1, 2024, and filed on or after January 1, 2026, against a public entity, or one of its employees or agents, by a plaintiff who is 40 years of age or older, require the plaintiff to prove by clear and convincing evidence that the public entity knew of misconduct that resulted in childhood sexual assault and failed to take reasonable steps or implement safeguards to avoid it, as specified, and that the public entity negligently discharged a mandatory duty. For these cases, the bill would also require the court to review specified factors when adjudicating motions for remittitur and would authorize a court to structure judgments against public entities so that they could be paid over time. (2) For actions for recovery of damages suffered as a result of childhood sexual assault, existing law requires a plaintiff 40 years of age or older at the time the action is filed to file certificates of merit executed by the plaintiff's attorney and a mental health practitioner setting forth specified information. Existing law provides that the failure to file certificates in accordance with these provisions is grounds for a demurrer. This bill would instead require the certificates to be filed concurrently with the complaint and would prohibit a court clerk from accepting the filing of a complaint that lacks the certificates, except as specified. Additionally, the bill would require the certificates of merit to declare that the plaintiff's attorney is licensed to practice law in California and is in good standing with the State Bar. (3) Existing law authorizes a victim of childhood sexual assault who proves it was as the result of a cover up, as defined, to recover up to treble damages against the defendant who is found to have covered up the sexual assault, unless prohibited by another law. This bill would prohibit such treble damages from being imposed against a defendant that is a public entity. (4) Existing law prescribes the powers and duties of local legislative bodies. Under existing law, if a statute requires a local agency to take legislative action by resolution, and the local agency's charter requires it to take legislative action by ordinance, action by ordinance is compliant with the statute for all purposes. On or before December 1, 2027, this bill would require a local governmental body and a local educational agency, as those terms are defined, to each adopt codes of conduct and a sexual assault prevention plan that promote a safe environment for minors, as specified. The bill would require a local governmental body and a local educational agency to each adopt written policies, plans, or specifications regarding how grooming and sexual abuse concerns and risks will be reported. The bill would require a local governmental body to submit a copy of its adopted codes of conduct to the Attorney General on or before January 1, 2028, and would require the Attorney General to issue a report to the relevant policy committees of the Legislature on or before January 1, 2029, that lists, among other things, each local governmental body or local educational agency that has or has not complied with the requirements prescribed by this bill. The bill would provide that if a local governmental body or local educational agency is licensed or certified by a state agency to provide care or services to minors, the codes of conduct the agency must draft may not supersede the state laws or regulations enforced by the licensing or certifying agency. By imposing new duties on local governments, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (5) The State Bar Act provides for the licensure and regulation of attorneys by the State Bar of California (State Bar) , a public corporation governed by a board of trustees. Existing law subjects an attorney to discipline by the State Bar for violating the rules of professional conduct, among other acts, and it also subjects an attorney to civil penalties or criminal sanctions, including for unlawful solicitation, as specified. This bill would subject an attorney who brings a civil claim alleging childhood sexual assault in bad faith, as defined, to a civil penalty of $25,000 per violation. The bill would additionally authorize the Attorney General, a city attorney, or a county counsel to enforce those provisions. The bill would entitle a prevailing plaintiff in an action seeking this civil penalty to an award of reasonable attorney's fees and costs. (6) Existing law makes the personnel records of peace officers and custodial officers confidential and not disclosable in any criminal or civil proceeding except through discovery, as specified. This limitation does not apply to investigations or proceedings concerning the conduct of such officers that are conducted by specified entities, such as a grand jury, a district attorney, or the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training. Beginning January 1, 2028, this bill would also exclude an investigation or proceeding conducted by the Division of the Ombudsperson of the Office of Youth and Community Restoration from this limitation. (7) In a civil action for personal injury, property damage, or wrongful death, existing law prohibits the joint liability of each defendant for noneconomic damages, as defined. Existing law requires each defendant in such an action to be liable only for the amount of noneconomic damages allocated to that defendant in direct proportion to that defendant's percentage of fault. In a civil action filed on or after January 1, 2027, alleging personal injury, property damage, or wrongful death against a public entity, this bill would also prohibit the joint liability of each public entity defendant for economic damages, as defined, unless the public entity is found to be more than 15% at fault. (8) Under existing law, bonds, warrants, contracts, obligations, and evidences of indebtedness, for the purpose of validating proceedings, are deemed to be in existence upon their authorization, as specified. This bill would provide that, for purposes of determining the validity of refunding bonds to refund a tort action judgment entered against a public agency, as specified, indebtedness is deemed to be in existence on the date of adoption by the governing body of the public agency of a resolution or ordinance, as specified. (9) Existing law permits a defendant or a cross-defendant in a civil proceeding under the Government Claims Act, or in any civil action for indemnity or contribution, to seek from the court, at the time of the granting of a motion for summary judgment, directed verdict, motion for judgment in a nonjury trial, or nonsuit dismissing the moving party other than the plaintiff, petitioner, cross-complainant, or intervenor, a determination of whether the plaintiff, petitioner, cross-complainant, or intervenor brought their proceeding in good faith and with reasonable cause. If the court determines that the proceeding was not brought in good faith or with reasonable cause, existing law requires the court to decide the reasonable and necessary defense costs incurred by the party opposing the proceeding and to render judgment in favor of that party. Existing law applies these provisions only if the defendant or cross-defendant has made a motion for summary judgment, a motion for directed verdict, a motion for judgment in a nonjury trial, or nonsuit. This bill would expand the above provision to apply to a motion for judgment on the pleadings or a demurrer brought by a defendant or cross-defendant. The bill would require a motion brought by a defendant or cross-defendant to identify the specific plaintiffs for which the court's determination, as described above, is sought. The bill would also prohibit an award of defense costs under these provisions against an attorney from being passed on to a client as a litigation cost. (10) Existing law, the California School Finance Authority Act, authorizes a participating party, as defined, in connection with securing financing or refinancing of a project, or working capital, as defined, to elect to provide for funding payments of bonds issued by the California School Finance Authority and related obligations by electing to participate in a state or local intercept, or both, by an action of its governing board. Existing law requires the Controller, the county treasurer, or other appropriate county fiscal officer, as applicable, upon receipt of written notice provided by the participating party, to make an apportionment or revenue transfer from specified moneys designated for apportionment to the participating party. This bill would provide a similar authorization to a participating party, as defined, in connection with securing financing, refinancing, or refunding of a public debt obligation, as defined, to elect to provide for funding payments of the public debt obligation by electing to participate in a state or local intercept, or both, by an action of its governing board. The bill would require the Controller, the county treasurer, or other appropriate county fiscal officer, as applicable, upon receipt of written notice provided by the participating party, to make an apportionment or revenue transfer from specified moneys designated for apportionment to the participating party, as provided. The bill would authorize, and not require, a county to participate in local intercepts under these provisions. The bill would require a participating party to certify the payment schedule, as specified. By expanding the crime of perjury, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (11) Existing law authorizes the governing board of a school district that determines during a fiscal year that its revenues are less than the amount necessary to meet its current year expenditure obligations to request an emergency apportionment through the Superintendent of Public Instruction, subject to specified requirements. Existing law prescribes the financing conditions on emergency apportionments, including a requirement for a school district to develop a schedule to repay the emergency loan, which the county superintendent of schools is required to review, comment on, and submit to the Superintendent for approval. Existing law authorizes emergency apportionments to be provided through an interim loan from the General Fund and lease financing to be made available by the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank, which is authorized to issue bonds for purposes of the emergency apportionments and related costs. Existing law prohibits the term of the lease from exceeding 20 years, except as specified. Existing law authorizes, as an alternative to lease financing, emergency apportionments to be provided from the General Fund. Existing law requires the emergency apportionment to be repaid within 20 years. This bill would require the school district to consult the county superintendent of schools and the County Office Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team in developing the repayment schedule and would require the county superintendent of schools to submit the repayment schedule to the Department of Finance, instead of the Superintendent, for approval. The bill would extend the maximum term of a lease or for repayment of an emergency apportionment to 30 years. The bill would require the determination of the term to be made by the Department of Finance, in consultation with the school district, the county superintendent of schools, the Superintendent, and the County Office Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team and would require the determination to take into consideration specified factors. To the extent the bill imposes new duties on county superintendents of schools, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (12) Existing law allows the Attorney General to assign an investigator upon request of a district attorney, sheriff, or chief of police, in any crime of statewide importance. This bill would require the Attorney General to investigate claims of systemic and longstanding sexual abuse of minors in specified juvenile detention centers operated by the County of Los Angeles and reports of fraudulent claims of sexual abuse of minors in, among others, the County of Los Angeles and the City of Santa Monica. The bill would require the Attorney General, by June 30, 2029, to prepare and submit a report to the Legislature summarizing their investigative findings pursuant to these provisions. The bill would make these reporting provisions inoperative on January 1, 2031. (13) Existing law, the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act, establishes procedures for the reporting and investigation of suspected child abuse or neglect. The act requires certain professionals, including specified health practitioners and social workers, known as "mandated reporters," to report known or reasonably suspected child abuse or neglect to a local law enforcement agency or a county welfare or probation department, as specified. Failure by a mandated reporter to report an incident of known or reasonably suspected child abuse or neglect is a misdemeanor. Existing law strongly encourages an employer of specific types of mandated reporters, and requires an employer of other types of mandated reporters, including an adult person whose duties require direct contact with and supervision of minors in performance of the minors' duties in the workplace, as specified, to provide their employees who are mandated reporters with training about their duties as a mandated reporter. Existing law requires that training to include training in child abuse and neglect identification. This bill would expand the list of employers that are required to provide this training to include those who employ, among others, peace officers, probation officers, and social workers, and would require that training to also include grooming behavior and sexual abuse risks. The bill would define "grooming behavior" for these purposes to mean a behavior that seeks to prepare, induce, or persuade a minor to engage in sexual activity or another form of exploitation. The bill would require an employer who is required to provide their employees with this training to ensure the employees take the training at least once every 2 years. By imposing new training requirements on local employees, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (14) Existing law establishes the California Child Welfare Council to serve as an advisory body responsible for improving the collaboration and processes of the multiple agencies and the courts that serve the children and youth in the child welfare and foster care systems. Existing law requires the council to monitor and report the extent to which child welfare and foster care programs and the courts are responsive to the needs of children in their joint care and issue advisory reports, no less frequently than annually, to the Governor, the Legislature, the Judicial Council, and the public. This bill would require the council, on or before July 1, 2028, to issue an advisory report that includes recommendations for policy changes that could aid in the prevention of sexual assault of minors in the custody or temporary care of public agencies or their contracted caregivers. The bill would require the council to transmit that report to the Governor and the Legislature, and make the report publicly available on a public-facing internet website. This bill would make these provisions inoperative on December 1, 2028, and would repeal those provisions as of January 1, 2029. (15) Existing law establishes the Office of the State Foster Care Ombudsperson within the State Department of Social Services, and prescribes certain powers for the office relating to the management of foster children, including receiving complaints made by or on the behalf of children in foster care and the dissemination of information on the rights of children and youth in foster care. Existing law requires the office to compile and make available to the Legislature all specified data collected over the course of the year, including the number, type, and source of complaints made. This bill would require the office, on or before July 1, 2028, to develop a specified plan to strengthen independent oversight, monitoring, safety, and rights protections for children and nonminor dependents in foster care who are at risk of sexual abuse, grooming, exploitation, trafficking, or retaliation. The bill would require the office to submit a report, as specified, to the Legislature, by February 1, 2029, and publish the report on its internet website. This bill would require the department, on or before March 1, 2028, to issue guidance to children's residential facilities that identifies best practices for preventing sexual abuse in such facilities. The bill would require all such facilities, on or before July 1, 2029, to have program statements that address responses to reports of sexual abuse, grooming, sexual exploitation, trafficking, retaliation, or interference when sexual abuse is alleged or suspected. (16) Existing law authorizes the State Department of Social Services to establish regulations for periodic inspections for various facilities, including foster family homes or certified family homes. Existing law specifies that every licensed community care facility, except for foster family homes, is subject to unannounced inspections by the department. This bill would require the department to place a children's residential facility, as defined, on enhanced monitoring, as specified, for not less than 12 months if 2 or more credible allegations within a 12-month period or 1 substantiated allegation are made involving certain conduct, including sexual abuse, grooming, sexual exploitation, or retaliation. The bill would require the department to, by January 10, 2028, and each year thereafter, update the Legislature regarding sexual safety in children's residential facilities. The bill would require the department to make these annual reports available on its public internet website. (17) Existing law establishes the Office of Youth and Community Restoration within the California Health and Human Services Agency. The office's mission is to promote trauma responsive, culturally informed services for youth involved in the juvenile justice system that support the youths' successful transition into adulthood and help them become responsible, thriving, and engaged members of their communities. Existing law establishes the Board of State and Community Corrections to provide statewide leadership, coordination, and technical assistance to promote effective state and local efforts and partnerships in California's adult and juvenile criminal justice system. This bill would require the office and the board to develop a plan to establish an oversight structure that ensures protections for youth in juvenile halls, camps, secure youth treatment facilities and other juvenile justice settings that are comparable to youth placed in licensed children's residential facilities. The bill would require the office and board to submit the plan to the Legislature on or before July 1, 2028, and to implement the plan on or before July 1, 2030. This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the County of Los Angeles. This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 11165.7 of the Penal Code proposed by AB 2478 to be operative only if this bill and AB 2478 are enacted and this bill is enacted last. 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.

Passed Aug 30, 2026 1 co-sponsor
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