Sen. Carol Liu

The Personal Income Tax Law allows taxpayers, until January 1, 2014, to designate on their tax returns that a specified amount in excess of their tax liability be contributed to the Emergency Food Assistance Program, unless repealed earlier for failure to meet annual minimum contribution amounts. This bill would extend the operation of these provisions until January 1, 2019.

Existing law requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to issue, for fees in specified amounts, a special interest license plate bearing a full-plate graphic design that depicts a significant feature or quality of the State of California and is approved by the department in consultation with the California Arts Council. Existing law requires the California Arts Council to use the revenue derived from fee increases authorized during the 2003–04 Regular Session exclusively for arts education and local arts programming, and prohibits the council from using this revenue for administrative costs. This bill would delete the provision prohibiting the California Arts Council from using this revenue for administrative costs.

This measure would designate Monday, May 6, 2013, as California Peace Officers' Memorial Day, urge all Californians to use that day to honor California peace officers, and recognize specified California peace officers who were killed in defense of their communities.

Existing law provides that the costs incurred by a qualified health care professional, hospital, or other emergency medical facility for the examination of the victim of a sexual assault for the purposes of gathering evidence for possible prosecution shall be charged to the local law enforcement agency in whose jurisdiction the alleged offense occurred. Existing law authorizes the local law enforcement agency to seek reimbursement from the California Emergency Management Agency or its successor, the Office of Emergency Services, for the costs of those examinations, as specified, in those cases in which the victim does not participate in the criminal justice system and authorizes, until January 1, 2014, the California Emergency Management Agency or the Office of Emergency Services to utilize certain federal grant moneys to provide that reimbursement. This bill would extend indefinitely the authorization to utilize those federal grant moneys to provide that reimbursement.

Existing law imposes a fee of $500 on every person who is granted probation for a crime of domestic violence. Two-thirds of the fee is deposited in the county's domestic violence programs special fund to be expended in support of domestic violence shelter programs, as specified. Existing law authorizes fines to be reduced, as specified, for time served. This bill would clarify that the $500 payment is a fee, not a fine, and that the fee is not subject to reduction for time served. The bill would also authorize 8% of the moneys deposited in the county domestic violence programs special fund to be used for administrative costs and would authorize the collection of the fee by the collecting agency or the agency's designee after the termination of the period of probation, whether probation is terminated by revocation or by completion of the term. The bill would provide that a county board of supervisors may request, on not more than a quarterly basis, an accounting of the special fund, as specified. The bill would also make related findings and declarations.

This measure would declare the week of August 4, 2013, to August 10, 2013, inclusive, to be Dropout Recovery Week, and would state the Legislature's intent to encourage the support of dropout recovery high schools with creative teaching strategies, alternative assessments, and adequate resources.

This measure would urge the President and Congress of the United States to develop a comprehensive federal approach to reducing and preventing gun violence, promptly place assault weapons and high-capacity assault magazines under the scope of the National Firearms Act, and require a universal background check through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) for the transfer of all firearms. This measure would additionally urge the President to take steps to ensure that all states and applicable federal agencies are reporting all necessary records to the NICS.

This measure would designate the month of November 2013 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 urge the California State Legislature and the Governor to restore budget funding to early care and education programs and to support efforts to fund and implement the Quality Rating and Improvement System and other programs that support early care and education. The measure would also urge the California State Legislature to commit to improving the public's understanding of the role that early care and education plays in securing an educated, nimble, and stable workforce to help keep California's economy vibrant and strong for years to come.

This measure would recognize September 2013 as Pain Awareness Month and call upon all Californians to observe that month by learning how to improve the quality of life of Californians suffering from pain. This measure would also recognize September 13, 2013, as Women In Pain Awareness Day to draw public attention to gender disparity in pain assessment and treatment in the United States.