The Personal Income Tax Law provides various exclusions from gross income in determining tax liability, including an exclusion for combat-related special compensation and death benefit payments received by a surviving spouse or other beneficiary designated by a military veteran, as prescribed, who dies or is killed in the performance of duty, as provided. This bill, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2018, and before January 1, 2023, would exclude from gross income specified percentages of retirement pay received by a taxpayer with gross income that, excluding that retirement pay, does not exceed $50,000, from the federal government for military service performed in the Armed Forces of the United States, the reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States, or the National Guard. This bill would take effect immediately as a tax levy.
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This measure would urge the United States Congress to act swiftly to reauthorize the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for at least 5 years, as specified.
(1) Existing law, the Brady-Jared Teen Driver Safety Act of 1997, establishes a provisional licensing program and generally requires that a driver's license issued to a person at least 16 years of age but under 18 years of age be issued pursuant to that provisional licensing program. Existing law requires a person to hold an instruction permit for not less than 6 months prior to applying for a provisional license. During the first 12 months after issuance of a provisional license, existing law prohibits the licensee from driving between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. and transporting passengers who are under 20 years of age, unless he or she is accompanied and supervised by a licensed driver, as specified, or a licensed or certified driving instructor. Existing law provides limited exceptions to these restrictions under which a licensee is authorized to drive under specified circumstances, including a school or school-authorized activity or an employment necessity, and requires the licensee to keep certain supporting documentation in his or her possession. Existing law requires a person to complete 50 hours of supervised driving practice prior to the issuance of a provisional license, as specified, and requires the person to submit to the Department of Motor Vehicles the certification of a parent, spouse, guardian, or licensed or certified driving instructor that the applicant has completed the required amount of driving practice and is prepared to take the department's driving test. Existing law allows a person without a parent, spouse, guardian, or who is an emancipated minor, to have a licensed driver 25 years of age or older or a licensed or certified driving instructor complete the certification. A violation of these provisions is punishable as an infraction. This bill would, commencing January 1, 2020, expand the scope of the provisional licensing program by extending the applicable age range for the program to 16 to under 21 years of age. The bill would exempt active duty members of the California National Guard, the State Military Reserve, or the United States Armed Forces who are at least 18 years of age from the program. The bill would also exempt a person who is at least 18 years of age and possesses an ambulance driver certificate, a certificate to drive other specified vehicles, including school buses, or a commercial driver's license from the program. The bill would, commencing January 1, 2020, apply the requirement to hold an instruction permit for not less than 6 months only to persons under 18 years of age, and would reduce that time period to not less than 60 days for persons at least 18 years of age, but under 21 years of age. The bill also would, commencing January 1, 2020, authorize persons at least 18 years of age, but under 21 years of age, to have a driving practice certification completed by a licensed driver or certified driving instructor, as specified. By expanding the scope of the provisional licensing program, the violation of which constitutes an infraction, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would, commencing January 1, 2020, authorize a licensee who is 18, 19, or 20 years of age to keep in his or her possession a copy of his or her class schedule or work schedule as documentation to satisfy the exceptions for a school or school-authorized activity and employment necessity, respectively, and would provide that a signed statement by a parent or legal guardian is not required if reasonable transportation facilities are inadequate and the operation of a vehicle by a licensee who is 18, 19, or 20 years of age is necessary to transport the licensee or the licensee's immediate family member. The bill would, commencing January 1, 2020, make other technical and conforming changes, including changes to age restriction provisions for the issuance of an M1 or M2 motorcycle license. The bill would also include specified findings and declarations. (2) Existing law generally authorizes the Department of Motor Vehicles, for good cause, to issue an instruction permit to any physically and mentally qualified person who applies to the department for an instruction permit and who meets any one of 5 specified requirements, including that the person is 17 years and 6 months of age or older. This bill would, commencing January 1, 2020, raise the age for the above requirement to 20 years and 6 months. Existing law provides that a person, while having in his or her immediate possession a valid permit issued pursuant to the above provisions, may operate a motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, motorized scooter, or a motorized bicycle, when accompanied by, and under the immediate supervision of, a California-licensed driver with a valid license of the appropriate class, 18 years of age or over whose driving privilege is not on probation, as specified. A violation of this provision is punishable as an infraction. This bill would, commencing January 1, 2020, raise the required age of the California-licensed driver to 21 years of age. By changing the definition of an existing infraction, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (3) Existing law prohibits a person from owning or operating a driving school or giving driving instruction for compensation without a license issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles. This bill would require an owner or operator of a driving school or an independent driving instructor, as a condition to obtain a new license or renewed license from the department on and after January 1, 2018, to offer and accept installment payments, as specified, for the compensation to provide the instruction required by the Brady-Jared Teen Driver Safety Act of 1997. The bill would also authorize the Department of Motor Vehicles to charge a driving school, as specified, a fee not to exceed $1 for each driver education or driver training certificate of completion furnished by the department and issued to a person who has demonstrated satisfactory completion of a certified driver education and driver training course, in order to recover the department's reasonable costs in administering the provisional licensing program. The bill would prohibit a driving school from charging an applicant a fee for a certificate of completion that exceeds the fee the department charges the school. (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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Existing property tax law establishes a veterans' organization exemption under which property is exempt from taxation if, among other things, that property is used exclusively for charitable purposes and is owned by a veterans' organization. This bill would provide that the veterans' organization exemption shall not be denied to a property on the basis that the property is used for fraternal, lodge, or social club purposes, and would make specific findings and declarations in that regard. The bill would also provide that the exemption shall not apply to any portion of a property that consists of a bar where alcoholic beverages are served. Existing law requires the state to reimburse local agencies annually for certain property tax revenues lost as a result of any exemption or classification of property for purposes of ad valorem property taxation. This bill would provide that, notwithstanding those provisions, no appropriation is made and the state shall not reimburse local agencies for property tax revenues lost by them pursuant to the bill. This bill would take effect immediately as a tax levy.
Existing law establishes a specialized license plate program and requires the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to issue specialized license plates on behalf of a sponsoring state agency that meets certain requirements. Existing law requires that the DMV charge specified additional fees for the issuance, renewal, or transfer of specialized license plates, and requires the DMV to deposit the fees, less the DMV's costs, into the Specialized License Plate Fund. Existing law requires that moneys in the fund be allocated, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to each sponsoring agency in proportion to the amount that is attributable to the agency's specialized license plate program. Existing law requires the sponsoring state agency to use these moneys to fund projects and programs that promote the state agency's official policy, mission, or work. Existing law requires the DMV to deposit fees for the issuance, renewal, or transfer of the Pet Lover's specialized license plates, less the DMV's costs, into the Pet Lover's Fund in the Specialized License Plate Fund, for the deposit of revenue derived from these specialized license plates. Existing law requires that these funds be allocated, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Veterinary Medical Board for disbursement by a nonprofit organization selected by the board to fund grants to providers of no-cost or low-cost animal sterilization services. Existing law requires the board to determine eligibility requirements for the grants, establish the grant application process, and develop program specifics. Existing law authorizes the board to contract with an entity, including a nonprofit organization, to provide advice, consultation, and administrative services for purposes of implementing and administering the grant program. Existing law requires the board to provide oversight for the disbursal of grant funds under the grant program. This bill would revise and recast those provisions by, among other things, substituting the Department of Food and Agriculture for the Veterinary Medical Board for those purposes. The bill would require the department to allocate the grant funds, as specified, to eligible veterinary facilities, as defined, that offer low-cost or no-cost animal sterilization services. The bill would authorize the department to contract with an eligible nonprofit organization, as defined, to perform marketing and promotional activities. The bill would also require the department to administer and oversee the grant program, and would require the department to collaborate with an eligible nonprofit organization to provide advice and consultation for the purposes of developing and implementing the program.
Existing law authorizes individuals to contribute amounts in excess of their personal income tax liability for the support of specified funds, including the Emergency Food Assistance Program Fund. Existing law also has general administrative provisions applicable to voluntary contributions. Existing law provides for any new or extended voluntary contribution fund, to include the words "voluntary tax contribution" in the name of the fund, require the administering agency to include specified information about the fund on its Internet Web site, continuously appropriate from the fund the contributions made to the administering agency, and set a minimum contribution amount for the continuation of any voluntary tax contribution on the tax return form and include a generally applicable repeal date for a voluntary tax contribution. Existing law requires that the Emergency Food Assistance Program Fund equal or exceed a minimum contribution amount, which initially was $250,000 and which was required to be and has been adjusted for inflation. This bill would change the name of the Emergency Food Assistance Program Fund to the Emergency Food for Families Voluntary Tax Contribution Fund, would provide that the required calendar year minimum contribution amount for the fund to continue appearing on the return is an unadjusted $250,000, and would extend the provisions that apply to that voluntary contribution fund to January 1, 2026. The bill would make a continuous appropriation from the Emergency Food for Families Voluntary Tax Contribution Fund to the Franchise Tax Board and the Controller for reimbursement of all costs incurred in the administration of these provisions and to the State Department of Social Services for allocation to the Emergency Food Assistance Program. The bill would also make additional changes to conform to the provisions described above.
Existing law, until July 1, 2018, establishes the Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree Pilot Program, under which the California State University is authorized to establish a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree pilot program at 3 campuses to award Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees, subject to specified program and enrollment requirements. This bill would repeal those provisions and would authorize the California State University to establish Doctor of Nursing Practice degree programs that offer Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees, subject to specified program and enrollment requirements. The bill would require the California State University to provide initial funding from within existing budgets, as specified, and would express the Legislature's intent that the California State University seek private donations or other nonstate funds to fund startup costs for the programs.
(1) Existing law provides that the board of supervisors of any county may authorize the correctional administrator to offer a program under which inmates committed to a county jail or other county correctional facility or granted probation, or inmates participating in a work furlough program, may voluntarily participate or involuntarily be placed in a home detention program during their sentence in lieu of confinement in a county jail or other county correctional facility or program. Existing law authorizes the board of supervisors to prescribe a program administrative fee and an application fee for this program. This bill would make those fees payable only by adult participants of that home detention program who are over 21 years of age and under the jurisdiction of the criminal court. (2) Existing law provides that upon conviction of certain offenses involving controlled substances, or upon a finding that a minor is subject to the jurisdiction of the juvenile court by reason of committing one of those certain offenses, the court, when recommended by the probation officer, shall require, as a condition of probation, that the defendant or the minor not use or be under the influence of any controlled substance and submit to drug and substance abuse testing as directed by the probation officer, unless the court makes a finding that this condition would not serve the interests of justice. Existing law requires the court to order the defendant or the minor to pay a reasonable fee, not to exceed the actual cost of the testing, if the defendant or the minor is required to submit to testing and has the financial ability to pay all or part of those costs. This bill would instead require the court to order a defendant to pay that reasonable fee only if the defendant is an adult who is over 21 years of age and under the jurisdiction of the criminal court. The bill would also delete the provision requiring the court to charge the minor that reasonable fee. (3) Existing law requires specified orders providing for the care and custody of a ward, dependent child, or other minor person, as specified, to direct that the whole expense of support and maintenance of the minor, up to the amount of $20 per month, be paid from the county treasury. Existing law authorizes the board of supervisors of each county to establish a maximum amount that the court may order the county to pay for that support and maintenance and authorizes the court to direct that an amount up to that maximum amount be paid. This bill, for purposes of a ward, a minor person concerning whom a petition has been filed to declare the person a ward of the juvenile court, or a minor who is the subject of a certain program of supervision undertaken by the probation department and who is temporarily placed out of his or her home, as specified, would delete the $20 maximum on support and maintenance payments and delete the authorization of the county board of supervisors to establish a maximum amount that the court may order the county to pay. (4) Existing law generally imposes liability on a parent, spouse, or other person liable for the support of a ward, dependent child, or other minor person, as applicable, for certain costs, including the reasonable costs of transporting the minor to a juvenile facility and for the costs of the minor's food, shelter, and care at the juvenile facility when the minor has been held in temporary custody, as specified, and certain other circumstances are applicable; the reasonable costs of supporting the minor when he or she is placed, detained in, or committed to, any institution or other place pursuant to specified provisions of law or pursuant to an order of the juvenile court; the cost of an alcohol or drug education program as designated by the court; the cost, to the county or the court, of the legal services rendered to the minor by an attorney pursuant to an order of the juvenile court; the cost of probation supervision, home supervision, or electronic surveillance of the minor, pursuant to the order of the juvenile court; the cost of a service program administered by an agency upon delivery or referral of the minor by an officer; the cost of specified services rendered to the minor in lieu of a petition being filed to adjudge the minor a ward of the juvenile court; and other related costs. Existing law authorizes the probation department and the child welfare services department in a county to create a jointly written protocol, as specified, to allow the 2 departments to jointly assess and produce a recommendation that the child be designated as a dual status child, allowing the child to be simultaneously a dependent child and a ward of the court. This bill, for purposes of a minor who is adjudged a ward of the juvenile court, who is placed on probation without being adjudged a ward, who is the subject of a petition that has been filed to adjudge the minor a ward, or who is the subject of a certain program of supervision undertaken by the probation department, as applicable, would repeal the above-described provisions imposing liability for the specified costs and would make other conforming changes. The bill would specify that those provisions apply to a minor who is designated as a dual status child, for purposes of the dependency jurisdiction only and not for purposes of the delinquency jurisdiction. (5) Existing law makes it a misdemeanor for a minor who, while under the supervision of a probation officer, removes his or her electronic monitor without authority and who, for more than 48 hours, violates the terms and conditions of his or her probation relating to the proper use of the electronic monitor. Existing law provides, if an electronic monitor is damaged or discarded while in the possession of the minor, that restitution for the cost of replacing the unit may be ordered as part of the punishment. Existing law requires that this liability be limited by the financial ability of the person or persons ordered to pay the restitution and requires that the person or persons, upon request, be entitled to an evaluation and determination of ability to pay under specified provisions. This bill would remove the requirement that a request be made in order for the person or persons to be entitled to the evaluation and determination described above. (6) This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 903.45 of the Welfare and Institutions Code proposed by AB 976 to be operative only if this bill and AB 976 are enacted and this bill is enacted last.
Under the existing Swimming Pool Safety Act, upon the issuance of a building permit for construction of a new swimming pool or spa, or the remodeling of an existing pool or spa, at a private, single-family home, the pool or spa is required to be equipped with at least one of 7 drowning prevention safety features. The existing act requires the local building code official to inspect and approve the drowning safety prevention devices before the issuance of a final approval for the completion of permitted construction or remodeling work. The existing act does not apply to any pool within the jurisdiction of any political subdivision that adopts an ordinance for swimming pools, as specified. This bill would instead require, when a building permit is issued, that the pool or spa be equipped with at least 2 of 7 specified drowning prevention safety features. The bill would revise the characteristics of some of those safety features. The bill would also delete the exemption from the act of political subdivisions that adopt ordinances for swimming pools. By imposing additional duties on local officials, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing law defines terms related to paid home inspections in connection with the transfer of real property, establishes a standard of care for home inspectors, and prohibits certain inspections in which the inspector or the inspector's employer, as specified, has a financial interest. This bill would, as part of the definition of home inspection for the transfer of real property, specify that an appropriate inspection of real property with a swimming pool or spa would include noninvasive physical examination of the pool or spa and dwelling for the purpose of identifying which, if any, of the 7 specified drowning prevention safety features the pool or spa is equipped. The bill would also require that the information be included in the home inspection report, as specified. 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 law establishes the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and charges it with certain duties and powers, including, among others, the operation of state prisons. Existing law establishes the Department of Veterans Affairs, which is responsible for administering various programs and services for the benefit of veterans. This bill would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide one employee for every 5 state prisons, who is trained and accredited by the department, to assist incarcerated veterans in applying for and receiving any federal or other veterans' benefits for which they or their families may be eligible. The bill would require the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to give the Department of Veterans Affairs' employees access to the hardware, software, and those computer networks as are reasonably necessary to perform their duties while at the prison, while taking all necessary safety precautions. The bill would also require the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to cooperate and collaborate to ensure that the Department of Veterans Affairs' employees have the greatest access and effectiveness practicable, while taking all necessary safety precautions, in order to assist veterans incarcerated within the state prisons.