Sen. Steve Bradford

This measure would designate November 2012 as California Sikh American Awareness and Appreciation Month. It would recognize and acknowledge the significant contributions made by Californians of Sikh heritage to the state and afford all Californians the opportunity to understand, recognize, and appreciate the rich history and shared principles of Sikh Americans.

This measure would declare May 2012 to be American Stroke Month in California.

This measure would call on the United States Congress to pass the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2011, Senate Bill No. 1925, authored by Senators Leahy and Crapo, and ensure the sustainability of vital programs designed to keep women and families safe from violence and abuse.

Existing law generally requires a person who reasonably believes that he or she has observed the commission of a lewd or lascivious act on a child who is under 14 years of age by use of force, violence, duress, menace, or fear of immediate and unlawful bodily injury to notify a peace officer. A failure to report pursuant to those provisions is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $1,500, by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than six months, or by both that fine and imprisonment. This bill would require a person to notify a peace officer when the person believes that he or she has observed the commission of a lewd and lascivious act on a child under 14 years of age, regardless of whether force, violence, duress, menace, or fear of immediate and lawful bodily injury is used. By expanding the scope of 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.

Existing law requires the governing board of a school district, at the beginning of the first semester or quarter of each school year, to notify parents or guardians of minor pupils of specified rights and responsibilities of the parent or guardian and of specified school district policies and procedures. Existing law provides that the notice may be sent by regular mail or by any other method normally used to communicate with parents or guardians in writing. Existing law requires the notice to be signed by the parent or guardian and returned to the school. Existing law requires that, if 15% or more of the pupils enrolled in a public school speak a single primary language other than English, all notices, reports, statements, or records sent to the parent or guardian of such pupil be written in English and that primary language, as specified. This bill would authorize the governing board of a school district to provide this notification to a parent or guardian who requests to receive the notice in electronic format by providing access to the notice electronically, and would require the notice provided in electronic format to conform to the primary language requirements described above. The bill would also require the parent or guardian, if the notice is provided in electronic format, to submit to the school a signed acknowledgment of receipt of the notice.

This measure would declare April 22 through April 28, 2012, as West Nile Virus and Mosquito and Vector Control Awareness Week.

This measure would recognize the week of March 4, 2012, to March 10, 2012, inclusive, as National Agriculture Week, and would designate March 21, 2012, as California Agriculture Day.

This measure would recognize March 2, 2012, as Read Across America Day.