(1) Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations and gas corporations. Existing law authorizes the commission to fix just and reasonable rates and charges for public utilities. Existing law authorizes the commission to petition a court to appoint a receiver when the commission determines, after notice and hearing, that a water or sewer system corporation is unable or unwilling to adequately serve its ratepayers, has been actually or effectively abandoned by its owners, or is unresponsive to the commission's rules or orders. This bill would authorize the commission to petition a court to appoint a receiver to assume possession of Pacific Gas and Electric Company's property and to operate its electrical and gas systems if the commission determines in a proceeding that the appointment of a receiver is warranted pursuant to the processes or procedures set forth in a specified commission investigation. The bill would authorize a court to appoint such a receiver and would require the receiver to control and operate Pacific Gas and Electric Company upon such terms and conditions as the court prescribes. This bill would authorize the Governor, or the Governor's designee, to incorporate Golden State Energy as a nonprofit public benefit corporation for the purpose of owning, controlling, operating, or managing electrical and gas services for its ratepayers and for the benefit of all Californians. The bill would establish a 9-member board of directors for Golden State Energy and would provide for the appointment of the initial board members, as provided. The bill would require the initial board to amend Golden State Energy's bylaws to include procedures for the transition to a board consisting of 6 board members who are elected by Golden State Energy's customers, as specified, and 3 board members who are appointed, as provided. This bill would expressly provide that Golden State Energy is a nonprofit public benefit corporation, subject to all statutory provision and regulatory authority of the commission as an electrical corporation and gas corporation, except as specified. The bill would require the commission, upon a specified event occurring, to initiate a proceeding to modify the rules and processes that apply to Pacific Gas and Electric Company as necessary to reflect the differences in Golden State Energy's capital structure to ensure continued regulation of rates, electrical and gas safety, wildfire mitigation, climate change mitigation and adaption, public purpose programs, and any other commission requirements applicable to an electrical corporation or gas corporation. This bill would require Golden State Energy, in each general rate case or attrition year adjustment application, to apply for a revenue requirement sufficient to pay for operations and maintenance costs, pay for administrative and general expenses, service debt, pay the costs of commission approved capital expenditures not funded from debt, and fund and maintain necessary financial and operating reserves. The bill would require the commission, in each Golden State Energy general rate case or attrition year adjustment, to consider, modify if necessary, and adopt a general rate case revenue requirement adequate to furnish and maintain efficient, just and reasonable service, instrumentalities, equipment, and facilities to promote the safety, health, comfort, and convenience of Golden State Energy's customers, employees, and the public, and to authorize Golden State Energy to issue debt as necessary to maintain and operate its assets consistent with the applicable revenue requirement. Existing law authorizes a public utility to issue stocks and stock certificates or other evidence of interest or ownership, and bonds, notes, and other evidence of indebtedness for specified purposes, including for the acquisition of property. This bill would authorize Golden State Energy to additionally issue debt to facilitate the acquisition of the property, as defined, of Pacific Gas and Electric Company, as specified. Existing law prohibits electrical corporations and gas corporations from recovering fines and penalties through rates approved by the commission. This bill would exclude Golden State Energy from that prohibition. Existing law authorizes electrical corporations and gas corporations to use eminent domain to acquire any property necessary for the construction and maintenance of their electric or gas plants. This bill would authorize Golden State Energy to commence an eminent domain action to acquire Pacific Gas and Electric Company if the commission determines that Pacific Gas and Electric Company's certificate of public convenience and necessity for the provision of electrical or gas service should be revoked pursuant to any processes or procedures adopted by the commission in a specified commission investigation. The bill would authorize Golden State Energy to take possession of Pacific Gas and Electric Company upon deposit in court, and prompt release, of an amount determined by the court to be the probable amount of just compensation. Existing law provides mechanisms for electrical corporations to recover costs and expenses arising from covered wildfires, as defined, and establishes the Wildfire Fund to pay eligible claims arising from a covered wildfire. Existing law specifies the funding sources for the fund, which include, among other sources, contributions from electrical corporations and revenues generated from a specified charge imposed on the ratepayers of an electrical corporation. This bill would authorize Golden State Energy to similarly participate in the fund following the closing of its acquisition of Pacific Gas and Electric Company, as specified. The Bergeson-Peace Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank Act establishes the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (I-Bank) in the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development. Existing law, among other things, authorizes the I-Bank to make loans, issue bonds, and provide financial assistance for various types of projects that qualify as economic development or public development facilities. This bill would specify that the financing of energy and project costs on behalf of Golden State Energy is in the public interest and eligible for financing by the I-Bank or by a special purpose trust, as specified. The bill would authorize the I-Bank to issue bonds and loan the proceeds to Golden State Energy, as specified. The bill would specify that bonds or other indebtedness issued pursuant to this financing do not constitute a debt or liability of the state or of any political subdivision of the state other than the I-Bank or the special purpose trust, and are payable solely from the funds of, and any security provided by, Golden State Energy. This bill would provide that any and all Golden State Energy indebtedness, their transfer, and the payments or income therefrom are at all times free from income taxation of every kind by the state. Existing law prohibits a public utility from purchasing or acquiring, any part of the capital stock of any other public utility without having been first authorized to do so by the commission, as specified. Existing law prohibits a person or corporation from merging, acquiring, or controlling, either directly or indirectly, any public utility organized and doing business in this state without first securing authorization to do so from the commission. This bill would exempt the acquisition of Pacific Gas and Electric Company by Golden State Energy from the above prohibitions if Golden State Energy, or its subsidiary, agrees to assume, take assignment of, and be bound by all collective bargaining agreements and related obligations, assume any obligations for funding under pension plans then in effect, and, in the event the transfer is made as part of Pacific Gas and Electric Company's and PG&E Corporation's bankruptcy cases, adopt and be bound by the terms and provisions set forth in a specified reorganization plan. (2) Under existing law, a violation of the Public Utilities Act or any order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime. Because certain of the above requirements would be a part of the act, and because a violation of an action of the commission implementing the above requirements would be a crime, 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.
Sponsored bills
Existing law, the California Emergency Services Act, authorizes the Governor to proclaim a state of emergency, and local officials and local governments to proclaim a local emergency, when specified conditions of disaster or extreme peril to the safety of persons and property exist, and authorizes the Governor or the appropriate local government to exercise certain powers in response to that emergency. Existing law defines the terms "state of emergency" and "local emergency" to mean a duly proclaimed existence of conditions of disaster or of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property within the state caused by, among other things, fire, storm, or riot. This bill would additionally include a deenergization event, as defined, within a sudden and severe energy shortage constituting a state of emergency and a local emergency. Existing law requires each electrical corporation to annually prepare a wildfire mitigation plan and to submit its plan to the Public Utilities Commission for review and approval, as specified. Following approval, the commission is required to oversee compliance with the plan. Existing law requires a wildfire mitigation plan of an electrical corporation to include, among other things, protocols for deenergizing portions of the electrical distribution system that consider the associated impacts on public safety, and protocols related to mitigating the public safety impacts of those protocols, including impacts on customers who receive medical baseline allowances. This bill would require an electrical corporation, as a part of its public safety mitigation protocols, to include protocols that deal specifically with access and functional needs individuals, as defined. The bill would require an electrical corporation to coordinate with local governments in its service territory to identify sites within those jurisdictions where community resource centers can be established and operated during a deenergization event and the level of services that will be available at those centers, as those terms are defined. The bill would require the electrical corporation to perform additional duties in coordination with local governments, including performing any necessary electrical upgrades to ensure that a mobile backup generator can be located at, and provide the necessary electricity for, the community resource center during a deenergization event. Under existing law, a violation of any order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime. Because this bill would add additional requirements to an electrical corporation's wildfire mitigation plan that would be approved and overseen by the commission and because a violation by an electrical corporation of an order or decision of the commission implementing these requirements would be a crime, 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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
This measure would proclaim the week of March 1, 2020, to March 7, 2020, inclusive, as Women in Construction Week.
The California Constitution prohibits various gaming activities within the state, including casino-style gambling, but authorizes the Governor, subject to ratification by the Legislature, to negotiate and conclude compacts for the operation of slot machines and the conduct of lottery games and banking and percentage card games by federally recognized Indian tribes on Indian lands in California in accordance with federal law. The California Constitution also authorizes the Legislature to provide for the regulation of horse racing, charitable bingo games, the California State Lottery, and charitable raffles. This measure would authorize regulated and taxed sports wagering, including online or mobile sports wagering, operated by horse race tracks and federally recognized Indian tribes, as specified. This measure would also authorize the Governor to negotiate and conclude compacts for sports wagering and for all banking and percentage games by federally recognized Indian tribes on Indian lands in California, which would include dice and roulette games. Existing law, the Gambling Control Act, provides for the licensure and regulation of various legalized gambling activities and establishments by the California Gambling Control Commission and the investigation and enforcement of those activities and establishments by the Department of Justice. This measure would incorporate into the California Constitution the authority of a licensed gambling establishment to offer games played onsite with cards or tiles in which participants wager against each other, including games in which a participant known as the player-dealer wagers against the other participants, and would clarify that games played in this manner at a licensed gambling establishment are not banking or percentage games.
Existing federal law provides for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) , known in California as CalFresh, under which supplemental nutrition assistance benefits allocated to the state by the federal government are distributed to eligible individuals by each county. Existing law requires the State Department of Social Services, in conjunction with the State Department of Public Health and appropriate stakeholders, to develop and submit to the Legislature a community outreach and education campaign to help families learn about, and apply for, CalFresh. This bill would require the State Department of Social Services, in order to increase client access and retention within CalFresh, to participate in the Elderly Simplified Application Project, a demonstration project operated by the United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service. As part of this participation, the bill would require the department to develop a CalFresh user-centered application for seniors that minimizes the burdens of the overall enrollment process and to waive the semiannual reporting requirements under CalFresh for households enrolled under the Elderly Simplified Application Project. Existing law requires each county welfare department, to the extent permitted by federal law, to exempt a household from complying with face-to-face interview requirements for the purpose of determining eligibility at initial application and recertification. This bill would, to the extent permitted by federal law, give an individual the option to apply, report, and recertify for CalFresh in person, by mail, online, or by telephone, and permit an individual to complete the interview requirement and client signature by telephone. The bill would authorize counties to implement any method of telephonic or electronic signature that is supported by county business practice and technology. The bill would require the department, with the input of stakeholders, to develop and execute a plan of support for counties that have not already implemented a telephone-based application and renewal process and to provide technical assistance and resources. The bill would require the application process to satisfy specified criteria, including simple, user-friendly language and instructions. The bill would require certain counties to comply with these provisions beginning on or before January 1, 2022, and require the remaining counties to comply with the provisions beginning on or before January 1, 2023. By imposing new duties on counties, 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.
This measure would designate Monday, May 4, 2020, 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.
The California Constitution prohibits various gambling activities within the state, including casino-style gaming, but authorizes the Governor, subject to ratification by the Legislature, to negotiate and conclude compacts for the operation of slot machines and the conduct of lottery games and banking and percentage card games by federally recognized Indian tribes on Indian lands in California in accordance with federal law. The California Constitution also authorizes the Legislature to provide for the regulation of horse racing, charitable bingo games, the California State Lottery, and charitable raffles. This measure would authorize the Legislature by statute to authorize and provide for the regulation of sports wagering.
Existing law authorizes the state, a local or regional public fire agency, or a local or regional law enforcement agency to establish a peer support and crisis referral program to provide a network of peers available to aid fellow emergency services or law enforcement personnel on emotional or professional issues. Existing law authorizes emergency services or law enforcement personnel to refuse to disclose, and to prevent another from disclosing, a confidential communication between them and a peer support team member, crisis hotline staff member, or crisis referral service, except under limited circumstances, including in a criminal proceeding. Under existing law, a person providing peer support services, as specified, and the agency that employs that person are not liable for damages, except in an action for medical malpractice, relating to an act, error, or omission in performing peer support services, unless the act, error, or omission constitutes gross negligence or intentional misconduct. This bill would authorize the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to establish a peer support and crisis referral program until January 1, 2024. The bill would extend the above-described confidentiality protections to correctional personnel who participate in a peer support and crisis referral program and would extend the above-described liability protections to the department and correctional employees who are peer support team members. The bill would require the department to establish a peer support advisory committee to advise, assist, support, and advocate for the program, and to establish a selection panel to screen and process applications, interviews, and member selection for the committee.
Existing law establishes the Strategic Growth Council in state government consisting of various state agency heads and 3 public members. Existing law assigns to the council various duties, including managing and awarding grants and loans to support the planning and development of sustainable communities, as provided. This bill, the Community Energy Resilience Act of 2020, would require the council to develop and implement a grant program for local governments to develop community energy resilience plans. The bill would set forth guiding principles for plan development, including equitable access to reliable energy, as provided, and integration with other existing local planning documents. The bill would require a plan to, among other things, ensure a reliable electricity supply is maintained at critical facilities and identify areas most likely to experience a loss of electrical service. The bill would require the council to establish a stakeholder review board to provide statewide oversight for purposes of the grant program. The bill would require a local government, as a condition of receiving grant funding, to submit its plan and a report of project expenditures to the stakeholder review board within 6 months of completing the plan. The bill would require the stakeholder review board to annually report specified information about the grant program to the Legislature.
The California Toll Bridge Authority Act makes the California Transportation Commission, together with the Department of Transportation, responsible for building and acquiring toll facilities and related transportation facilities. This bill would require an unspecified authority, on behalf of the state, to operate and maintain tolling infrastructure, including by installing toll facilities, and charge and collect tolls for the use of the Sonoma Creek Bridge, and to be responsible for the design and construction of improvements on the bridge and a segment of State Route 37 between its intersections with Route 121 in the County of Sonoma and Walnut Avenue in the County of Solano in accordance with programming and scheduling requirements adopted by the authority. The bill would authorize the authority to issue bonds payable from the revenues derived from those tolls. The bill would authorize those toll and bond revenues to be used for specified purposes, including near-term and long-term improvements to the segment of State Route 37 and the bridge to improve the roadway's mobility, safety, and long-term resiliency to sea level rise and flooding. The bill would require the authority to update and approve an expenditure plan for those toll and bond revenues on an annual basis beginning on July 1 following implementation of a toll. The bill would require the authority to develop and implement an equity program for the toll bridge to reduce the impact of the toll on low-income drivers. This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for State Route 37 and the Sonoma Creek Bridge. 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.