(1) Existing federal law provides for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) , known in California as CalFresh, formerly the Food Stamp Program, under which supplemental nutrition assistance benefits allocated to the state by the federal government are distributed to eligible individuals by each county. Under existing law, households are eligible to receive CalFresh benefits to the extent permitted by federal law. Existing federal law provides that students who are enrolled in college or other institutions of higher education at least half time are not eligible for SNAP benefits unless they meet one of several specified exemptions, including participating in specified employment training programs. Existing state law provides that, for the purposes of determining eligibility, certain postsecondary educational programs, as determined by the State Department of Social Services, are considered employment training programs, thereby qualifying a student participating in one of those programs for an exemption, unless prohibited by federal law. Existing law expresses legislative intent to clarify educational policies for purposes of improving access for low-income students to the CalFresh program. Existing law also requires the Student Aid Commission to provide written notice to recipients of Cal Grant awards who qualify for participation in the CalFresh program under the federal regulation. This bill would additionally require the commission, to the extent that it possesses pertinent information, to provide written notice to students who qualify for a waiver of the community college enrollment fee that they qualify, or may qualify, for benefits under the CalFresh program. The bill would also require the commission to confer with legislative staff and advocates for students and for the CalFresh program on at least a quarterly basis to implement this provision and to continuously improve the process of securing CalFresh benefits for eligible students. (2) Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as one of the segments of public postsecondary education in this state. Existing law requires community college districts to charge students an enrollment fee of $46 per unit per semester, but provides that students meeting certain requirements qualify for a waiver of this fee. This bill would require the board of governors to adopt regulations so that a student who qualifies for this fee waiver, and whose household income is below 200% of the federal poverty level, may also qualify for CalFresh benefits to the maximum extent permitted by federal law. To the extent that this provision would impose new duties on community college districts to administer new regulations regarding waiver of the enrollment fee, it would constitute a state-mandated local program. (3) The bill would express the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation, through the annual Budget Act or another measure, to provide allocations to community college districts to provide incentives for their students to apply for, and receive, benefits under the CalFresh program. (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, 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.
Sponsored bills
This measure would designate the week of February 24, 2020, to March 1, 2020, as Eating Disorders Awareness Week.
Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations. The California Constitution authorizes the commission, among other things, to establish its own procedures, subject to statute and due process, and to fix rates and establish rules for all public utilities, subject to control by the Legislature. This bill would require the commission to evaluate financial performance-based incentives and performance-based metric tracking to identify mechanisms that may serve to better align electrical corporation operations, expenditures, and investments with public benefit goals, including safety, reliability, cost efficiency, and other state energy policies the commission believes may benefit from performance-based ratemaking. The bill would require the commission to report the results of the evaluation to the relevant policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature, as specified, by January 1, 2022.
Under the Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Local Government Reorganization Act of 2000, a city or district may only provide new or extended services by contract or agreement outside of its jurisdictional boundary if it requests and receives written approval, as provided, from the local agency formation commission in the county in which the extension of service is proposed. The act establishes a pilot program under which the commissions in the Counties of Napa and San Bernardino, upon making specified determinations at a noticed public hearing, may authorize a city or district to provide new or extended services outside its jurisdictional boundary and outside its sphere of influence to support existing or planned uses involving public or private properties, as provided. Existing law requires the Napa and San Bernardino commissions to submit a report to the Legislature on their participation in the pilot program, as specified, before January 1, 2020, and repeals the pilot program as of January 1, 2021. This bill would extend the January 1, 2021, repeal date with regard to the pilot program until January 1, 2026. The bill would also extend the January 1, 2020, deadline for the Napa and San Bernardino commissions to report to the Legislature to January 1, 2025, and revise the required contents of that report to include how many requests for extension of services were received on or after January 1, 2020, under these provisions. This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the Counties of Napa and San Bernardino.
The California Emergency Services Act establishes the Office of Emergency Services and provides that the office is responsible for the state's emergency and disaster response services and serves as the State Disaster Council for the purposes of the California Disaster and Civil Defense Master Mutual Aid Agreement. The act authorizes state agencies to provide mutual aid, including personnel, equipment, and other available resources, to assist political subdivisions during a local emergency or in accordance with mutual aid agreements or at the direction of the Governor. This bill would direct the Office of Emergency Services to establish and administer a grant program entitled the California Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (CA SAFER) , upon appropriation of sufficient funds by the Legislature, to augment California's firefighting mutual aid system.
This measure would recognize March 7, 2020, as California Arbor Day, and would urge California residents to observe the day with appropriate tree-planting activities and programs.
Existing federal law allows deductions from gross income for attorney fees and court costs in connection with an action involving a claim of specified provisions. The End Double Taxation of Successful Civil Claims Act would allow deductions from gross income for attorney fees and court costs in connection with any action. This measure would urge the Congress and the President of the United States to enact the End Double Taxation of Successful Civil Claims Act.
This measure would declare August 7, 2020, as Purple Heart Day in California.
Existing law, the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, which is administered by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, regulates the application, issuance, and suspension of alcoholic beverage licenses. Existing law generally prescribes the number of on-sale general licenses that the department may issue based on the population of the county in which the licensed premises are located, as provided. Existing law supplements these licenses by authorizing the department to issue additional on-sale general licenses in specified counties to bona fide public eating places based on seating capacity, among other things. In this regard, existing law authorizes the department to issue additional, new on-sale licenses in the County to bona fide public eating places that meet specified requirements. This bill would authorize the department, commencing January 1, 2021, to issue up to 10 additional new original on-sale general licenses per year to bona fide public eating places in the Napa County that have a seating capacity for 25 or more diners. The bill would limit this authorization to a 5-year period. For specified additional on-sale general licenses issued on and after January 1, 2021, in Napa County, the bill would prohibit their sale or transference for a price greater than the original fee paid by the seller or transferor. This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for County of Napa.