Existing law permits the Department of Toxic Substances Control or an agency authorized to implement and enforce certain laws relating to hazardous materials, known as a unified program agency, to enforce the Hazardous Waste Control Law. Existing law authorizes the department or a unified program agency to issue an order that requires a violation to be corrected and imposes an administrative penalty when there is a violation of the hazardous waste control laws, laws regulating hazardous substances, or any permit, rule, regulation, standard, or requirement issued or adopted pursuant to those laws. Under existing law, a person who does not comply with the order is subject to a civil penalty of not more than $25,000 for each day of noncompliance. In lieu of an administrative penalty, existing law makes any person who intentionally or negligently makes a false statement or representation for purposes of compliance with the hazardous waste control laws, violates a provision of the hazardous waste control laws, disposes or causes the disposal of a hazardous waste at an unauthorized site, or treats or stores a hazardous waste at an unauthorized site liable for a civil penalty not to exceed $25,000, as specified. This bill would increase these administrative and civil penalties to $70,000 and would make nonsubstantive changes in these provisions.
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Existing law provides that when there is reason to believe that a person arrested for a violation of specified controlled substance provisions may not be a citizen of the United States, the arresting agency shall notify the appropriate agency of the United States having charge of deportation matters. This bill would repeal those provisions. Existing law provides that whenever an individual who is a victim of or witness to a hate crime, or who otherwise can give evidence in a hate crime investigation, is not charged with or convicted of committing any crime under state law, a peace officer may not detain the individual exclusively for any actual or suspected immigration violation or report or turn the individual over to federal immigration authorities. This bill would, among other things and subject to exceptions, prohibit state and local law enforcement agencies, including school police and security departments, from using money or personnel to investigate, interrogate, detain, detect, or arrest persons for immigration enforcement purposes, as specified, and would, subject to exceptions, proscribe other activities or conduct in connection with immigration enforcement by law enforcement agencies. The bill would apply those provisions to the circumstances in which a law enforcement official has discretion to cooperate with immigration authorities. The bill would require, by October 1, 2018, the Attorney General, in consultation with the appropriate stakeholders, to publish model policies limiting assistance with immigration enforcement to the fullest extent possible for use by public schools, public libraries, health facilities operated by the state or a political subdivision of the state, and courthouses, among others. The bill would require, among others, all public schools, health facilities operated by the state or a political subdivision of the state, and courthouses to implement the model policy, or an equivalent policy. The bill would state that, among others, all other organizations and entities that provide services related to physical or mental health and wellness, education, or access to justice, including the University of California, are encouraged to adopt the model policy. The bill would require that a law enforcement agency that chooses to participate in a joint law enforcement task force, as defined, submit a report annually pertaining to task force operations to the Department of Justice, as specified. The bill would require the Attorney General, by March 1, 2019, and annually thereafter, to report on the types and frequency of joint law enforcement task forces, and other information, as specified, and to post those reports on the Attorney General's Internet Web site. The bill would require law enforcement agencies to report to the department annually regarding transfers of persons to immigration authorities. The bill would require the Attorney General to publish guidance, audit criteria, and training recommendations regarding state and local law enforcement databases, for purposes of limiting the availability of information for immigration enforcement, as specified. The bill would require the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to provide a specified written consent form in advance of any interview between a person in department custody and the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement regarding civil immigration violations. This bill would state findings and declarations of the Legislature relating to these provisions. By imposing additional duties on public schools and local law enforcement agencies, this 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.
(1) Existing law requires that suspension of a pupil be imposed only when other means of correction fail to bring about proper conduct. Existing law requires a suspension by the principal, the principal's designee, or the district superintendent of schools to be preceded by an informal conference conducted by the principal, the principal's designee, or the district superintendent of schools between the pupil and, whenever practicable, the teacher, supervisor, or school employee who referred the pupil to the principal, the principal's designee, or the district superintendent of schools. Existing law requires a pupil, at the conference, to be informed of the reason for the disciplinary action and the evidence against him or her, and given the opportunity to present his or her version and evidence in his or her defense. This bill would require a pupil, at the conference, to also be informed of the other means of correction that were attempted before the suspension. Because the bill would impose additional duties on school districts in regards to the suspension of a pupil, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (2) 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.
Existing federal law provides for the allocation of federal funds through the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant program to eligible states. Existing law provides for the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program under which, through a combination of state and county funds and federal funds received through the TANF program, each county provides cash assistance and other benefits to qualified low-income families. Under existing law, certain amounts are exempt from the calculation of family income for purposes of determining the amount of a grant under the CalWORKs program, including specified amounts of disability-based unearned income and earned income. This bill would exempt benefits and related allowances received through the United States Department of Veterans Affairs for education, training, vocation, or rehabilitation from consideration as income for purposes of determining eligibility for CalWORKs program benefits and calculating grant amounts for veterans and their spouses and dependents, under specified circumstances. By imposing additional duties on counties, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing law continuously appropriates moneys from the General Fund to defray a portion of county costs under the CalWORKs program. This bill would instead provide that the continuous appropriation would not be made for purposes of implementing the bill. 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.
The State Bar Act declares that it has been the tradition of those licensed to practice law in this state to provide voluntary pro bono legal services to those who cannot afford the help of a lawyer, and that, in view of their expertise in areas that critically affect the lives and well-being of members of the public, lawyers are uniquely situated to provide invaluable assistance in order to benefit those who might otherwise be unable to assert or protect their interests. This bill would require the State Bar of California to administer a program to coordinate pro bono civil legal assistance to veterans and their families who otherwise cannot afford legal services. The bill would also require the State Bar to provide resources and educational materials to attorneys and the public by, among other things, compiling a list of local bar associations, legal aid organizations, veterans service providers, and volunteer attorneys willing to provide pro bono legal services to veterans and posting the list on its Internet Web site, and by conducting a statewide survey of programs that provide civil legal assistance to veterans in order to identify whether and where there is a need for legal advice clinics, publishing a report and recommendations based upon its findings, and posting the report on its Internet Web site.
Existing federal law provides for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known in California as CalFresh, under which food assistance benefits are distributed to eligible individuals by the counties. Existing law authorizes counties to participate in the CalFresh Employment and Training Program (CalFresh E&T) , established by federal law, and requires participating counties to screen CalFresh work registrants to determine whether they will participate in, or be deferred from, the CalFresh E&T program. This bill would authorize the State Department of Social Services, to the extent permitted by federal law, to contract directly with an entity that provides services on a regional or statewide basis and that has expertise in, and secures funds for, CalFresh E&T program services. The bill would authorize the department to act as the state entity for receipt of federal reimbursement on behalf of the entity in certain circumstances and would require the department to seek any county consultation necessary to implement the contract. The bill would authorize a county to contract with an employment social enterprise or designated intermediary to provide services to its CalFresh E&T program participants and would require the department to issue guidance instructing counties that elect to participate in CalFresh E&T program services of any special considerations for partnering with employment social enterprises in the development or implementation of their county CalFresh E&T programs. The bill would also make legislative findings and declarations relating to California's employment social enterprises.
This measure would recognize September 11, 2017, as a day of solemn commemoration and extend the Legislature's deepest sympathies to the victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks.
This measure would urge the Congress of the United States to not enact S. 446, H.R. 38, or any other similar "concealed carry reciprocity" legislation that would require the State of California to recognize the concealed carry standards of every other state.
This measure would recognize the importance of civic engagement across the State of California.
This measure would proclaim the month of September 2017 as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and state the commitment of the Legislature to support efforts to find cures for, and achieve prevention of, childhood cancer.