Sen. Melissa A. Melendez

Existing provisions of the California Constitution authorize the Legislature or either house thereof to provide for the selection of committees necessary for the conduct of its business, including committees to ascertain facts and make recommendations to the Legislature on a subject within the scope of legislative control. This measure would enact the Legislative Transparency Act, which would require a standing committee to vote by roll call on each bill the committee hears regarding recommendation to the house, and would prohibit a standing committee from holding a bill in lieu of voting on recommendation to the house.

This measure would recognize the Lunar New Year Celebration.

Existing law provides for the placement of certain memorials on the grounds of the State Capitol, including a Firefighters' Memorial among others, and authorizes a task force to select the site for that memorial after consultation with the State Office of Historic Preservation and after consultation with, and approval of, the Department of General Services and the Historic State Capitol Commission. Subject to the approval of the Capitol Building and Planning Commission, existing law also requires the Department of Finance to acquire and do all acts necessary to erect and maintain other monuments on the grounds of the State Capitol. This bill would authorize the construction of a Bill of Rights Monument on the grounds of the State Capitol. The bill would require the State Office of Historic Preservation to select the site for the monument and would require the Department of General Services to approve construction of the monument. The bill would prohibit construction of the monument until the occurrence of specified approvals and would also prohibit state moneys from being used for this purpose.

This measure would proclaim the month of January 2018 as National Mentoring Month.

This measure would declare the week of January 7 to January 13, 2018, as California Fitness Week and would encourage Californians to enrich their lives through proper nutrition and exercise.

This measure would proclaim January 13, 2018, as Korean American Day.

This measure would honor the late Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

This measure would designate the month of January 2018 as Gang Awareness and Prevention Month in the State of California and would encourage cities and constituents across the state to observe the month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities to prevent future gang activity and honor those who lost their lives due to gang activity.

Existing law generally protects employees who disclose illegal or improper workplace activities by prohibiting interference with, and retaliation for, making such disclosures. Existing law provides procedures for a person to file a complaint alleging violations of legislative ethics. Existing law also authorizes each house of the Legislature to adopt rules for its proceedings and to select committees necessary for the conduct of its business. This bill would impose criminal and civil liability on a Member of the Legislature or legislative employee, as defined, who interferes with, or retaliates against, a legislative employee's exercise of the right to make a protected disclosure, which is defined as a good faith allegation made by a legislative employee to specified entities that a Member of the Legislature or a legislative employee has engaged in, or will engage in, activity that may constitute a violation of law, including sexual harassment, or a violation of a legislative standard of conduct. The bill would also impose civil liability on an entity that interferes with, or retaliates against, a legislative employee's exercise of the right to make a protected disclosure, as specified. By creating new crimes, 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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

Existing law provides that the expiration date for an original driver's license or a driver's license renewal is the 5th birthday of the applicant following the date of the application for the license. Existing law authorizes a program for renewal of driver's licenses by mail. Existing law prohibits renewal of a driver's license by mail if the licensee is 70 years of age or older, and prohibits renewal of a driver's license by mail more than 2 consecutive times. This bill would provide that, for an applicant who is at least 25 years of age, but under 70 years of age, at the time of the application for an original driver's license, or at the time of expiration of an original driver's license or a renewed license, the original driver's license or a driver's license renewal will expire on the 8th birthday of the applicant following the date of the application for the license. The bill would prohibit renewal of a driver's license by mail 2 consecutive times. The bill would make other, conforming changes.