Sen. Norma Torres

The Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor Act authorizes the Governor to annually award and present in the name of the State of California a Medal of Valor to one public safety officer, as defined, who is cited by the Attorney General, upon the recommendation of the board, for extraordinary valor above and beyond the call of duty. This bill would require the Governor to additionally annually award and present in the name of the State of California a Golden Shield Award to the next of kin of, or immediate family members of, every public safety officer who, while serving in any capacity under competent authority, has been killed in the line of duty.

Existing law specifies the membership of the state central committee for the Democratic Party of California and establishes procedures for the conduct of the committee's meetings and other practices. This bill would repeal those provisions and would, instead, specify that the elements and practices of the committee be the same as set forth in the standing rules and bylaws of the Democratic Party of California. The bill would require the party to post its standing rules and bylaws on its Internet Web site.

This measure would recognize the pioneering work of promotores and community health workers in delivering vital and cost-effective health care services in communities throughout California and declare October 2009 as California Promotores Month.

This measure would make various statements regarding the importance of New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc. (NUMMI) to the California economy and would declare the necessity for the Legislature to utilize its vested powers to keep NUMMI in California.

This measure would proclaim October 23 to October 31, 2009, inclusive, as Red Ribbon Week, and would encourage all Californians to help build drug-free communities and participate in drug prevention activities.

This measure would recognize the importance of California Native American Day, celebrated this year on September 25, 2009, and the concurrent California Indian Cultural Awareness Conference to the enhancement of awareness of California Indian culture.

This measure would designate the month of October 2009, and every October thereafter, as Italian American Heritage Month. This measure would encourage public schools to highlight and include Italian American achievements and contributions to the culture of California and to take steps to promote the inclusion of the role and contributions of Italian Americans to the culture and history of California and the United States in elementary and secondary social science textbooks during the revision process for those textbooks.

This measure would urge the State Air Resources Board to meet the statutory requirements of the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 by ensuring that its analysis of specified emission reduction measures include prescribed components.

This measure would designate specified portions of State Highway Route 60 and corresponding on ramps and off ramps as the CHP Officer Joseph P. Sanders Memorial Highway.

This measure would acknowledge December 17 each year as an annual "Day of Inclusion" in recognition and appreciation of the priceless contributions of all immigrants to the greatness of the United States and California.