This measure would designate that January 16, 2012, be observed as the official memorial of the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birth, commemorate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Civil Rights Movement in changing public policy in California and in the United States of America.
Existing law establishes the offense of disorderly conduct to include specified invasions of privacy, and makes the offense a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding 6 months, or by a fine not exceeding $1,000, or by both that fine and imprisonment. This bill would, for those specified invasions of privacy, make a 2nd or subsequent violation, or for a first violation of these provisions if the victim of the violation was a minor, punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, or by a fine not exceeding $2,000, or by both that fine and imprisonment. By increasing the penalty for an existing 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.
(1) Existing law establishes various categorical education programs and appropriates the funding for those programs in the annual Budget Act. Existing law requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction, for the 2008–09 to 2014–15 fiscal years, inclusive, to apportion from the amounts provided in the annual Budget Act for specified categorical education programs an amount based on the same relative proportion that the local educational agency received in the 2008–09 fiscal year for those programs and authorizes school districts, for those fiscal years, to use these funds, with specified exceptions, for any educational purpose, to the extent permitted by federal law. Existing law requires, as a condition of receipt of the above-described funds for any educational purpose, the governing board of a school district or county office of education, as appropriate, to discuss, approve, or disapprove the proposed use of funding and to make explicit the purposes for which each item of appropriation for specified categorical education programs will be used at a regularly scheduled open public hearing. This bill would require that public hearing to be held prior to and independent of a meeting where the governing board of a school district or county office of education adopts a budget. The bill would also require the governing board to identify the program or programs to be closed before the public hearing, as specified. (2) Existing law authorizes the governing board of a school district maintaining an adult class to require an adult enrolled in the class to pay a fee and prohibits the governing board from imposing a charge for a class in English and citizenship for foreigners or a class in an elementary subject, except as specified. This bill would authorize the governing board of a school district to charge a fee for a class in English and citizenship until July 1, 2015.
Existing law creates the Pasadena Metro Blue Line Construction Authority for purposes relating to the development of a light rail project extending from the City of Los Angeles to the Cities of Pasadena and Claremont. Existing law provides that the authority shall be governed by a board consisting of 5 voting members and one nonvoting member and requires the authority to adopt a code of conduct for officers and board members of the authority that, among other things, specifies circumstances under which a board member shall be deemed to have a financial interest in a decision. This bill would redefine the authority as the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority for purposes of these provisions. The bill would provide that the board shall consist of 5 voting members and 3 nonvoting members, would require the additional 2 nonvoting members to be appointed by the City Councils of the Cities of Pasadena and South Pasadena, as specified, and would require each appointing authority to also appoint an alternate member, as specified. The bill would also specify circumstances under which board members and alternate members of the authority shall not be considered financially interested and may participate in decisions and agreements regarding the authority, any appointing authority, and any extension city, as defined. The bill would provide that a board member may simultaneously hold specified governmental positions without the holding of those positions constituting an incompatible office or activity, as specified. Because the bill would impose new duties on local agencies, the bill would create 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 these statutory provisions. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.
Existing law establishes the California Housing Finance Authority, administered by a board of directors, whose primary purpose is to meet the housing needs of persons and families of low- or moderate-income. Existing law requires that the board establish the compensation of the executive director of the agency and other key exempt management, not to exceed a specified amount, and that the agency conduct salary surveys to determine the compensation. This bill would instead require the board to conduct the surveys. Existing law imposes various conflict-of-interest requirements, including that a board member with a financial interest in any matter before the board for a decision must disclose the interest as a matter of official public record and the board member is prohibited from attempting to influence, participate in deliberations concerning, or vote as to the interested matter. Existing law also prohibits an employee of the agency from being employed by, holding any paid official relation to, or having any financial interest in, any housing sponsor or any housing development financed or assisted by the agency. This bill would specify that the conflict-of-interest provision is effective notwithstanding a provision of law that prohibits certain officials from having a financial interest in a contract entered into by the official in his or her official capacity or by the body or board of which they are members. This bill would extend the prohibition against being employed by, having a paid relation to, or having a financial interest in a housing sponsor or affordable housing to an officer of the agency, except for a member of the board of directors who is not an employee of the agency. This bill would change the term "housing development" to "affordable housing" in these provisions.
(1) Existing law establishes within the California Automobile Assigned Risk Plan a low-cost automobile insurance program in order to provide a means for eligible consumers to buy automobile insurance, as specified. This bill would authorize a California Automobile Assigned Risk Plan (plan) certified producer to accept and process an application to purchase low-cost automobile insurance policies through an Internet Web site, as provided. The bill would require the plan to coordinate with the Department of Insurance in order to develop a system for receiving and assigning policies issued through Internet Web sites, and would provide that the plan may request, and the department may include in its plan submitted to the Legislature the use of $50,000 from the department's existing consumer outreach fund for the sole purpose of implementing these provisions. The bill would require the plan, subject to the approval of the Insurance Commissioner, to establish and maintain, or contract with an entity, by way of an open bidding process, to establish and maintain, an Internet Web site to refer or assign, at the consumer's option, persons to certified agents or brokers, for the purchase of a low-cost automobile insurance policy. The bill would also provide that the plan may request and the department may include in its plan submitted to the Legislature, that up to $100,000 from the department's existing consumer outreach fund be made available for development of the Primary California Low-Cost Auto Web Site. This bill would prohibit a low-cost automobile insurance policy applicant from being required to provide a copy of his or her, or other household member's, driver's license, if the department finds another suitable means of verifying the driver's licensure. (2) Existing law requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to suspend, cancel, or revoke the registration of a vehicle if the financial responsibility requirements have not been met. Existing law requires the department, prior to suspending, canceling, or revoking the registration of a vehicle, to notify the vehicle owner of its intent to suspend, cancel, or revoke the registration, and to provide in the notification document in plain, boldface type not less than 12 point in size, and in both English and Spanish, a statement that a program offering affordable automobile insurance to low-income households has been established. This bill would revise this statement and rename the program as "California Low-Cost Auto Insurance" and would require that the statement include an Internet Web site address, a toll-free telephone number, and eligibility requirements for applicants.
This measure would recognize October 2011 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month and urge all Californians to take a stand against domestic violence.
This measure would proclaim September 4 through September 10, 2011, as Suicide Prevention Week.
This measure would urge the United States government to consider the California jobs and economic stimulus provided by the California floriculture industry when advancing free trade agreements, specifically with Colombia.
This measure would proclaim February 28, 2011, as Rare Disease Day.
