Existing law requires each county to provide cash assistance and other social services to needy families through the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program using federal, state, and county funds. Under existing law, a recipient of CalWORKs is required to participate in welfare-to-work activities for a specified number of hours each week as a condition of eligibility for aid. Existing law authorizes certain welfare-to-work participants to engage in adult basic education in satisfaction of these work requirements. Existing law establishes the Cal-Learn Program, under which a recipient of CalWORKs aid who is under 19 years of age and who does not have a high school diploma or its equivalent is required to participate in the program as a student attending school on a full-time basis. Existing law provides for a supplement to, or a reduction in, a Cal-Learn participant's aid grant based on his or her performance in school. This bill would create the CalWORKs Educational Opportunity and Attainment Program to provide CalWORKs recipients with a monthly education incentive grant of $100 for attainment of a high school diploma or its equivalent, $200 for attainment of an associate's degree or career technical education program, or $300 for attainment of a bachelor's degree, if the educational program was completed while the recipient was receiving CalWORKs assistance. The bill would require the education incentive grant to be provided on an ongoing basis if the recipient meets certain eligibility criteria. The bill would require a recipient, when applying for an education bonus, to submit evidence of completion of the educational program to the county. The bill would require the county, upon verification of completion of the educational program, to certify that the recipient is eligible for an education incentive grant and ensure that the recipient's monthly cash grant is increased. By imposing additional administrative duties on counties, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing law establishes the CalWORKs Recipients Education Program in the California Community Colleges. Existing law requires, to the extent that funding is provided in the annual Budget Act, a community college district to receive funding for purposes of providing special services for CalWORKs recipients, including job placement and workstudy. This bill would appropriate $20,000,000 from the General Fund to the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges to fund services provided under that 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.
Sponsored bills
(1) Under existing law, a hunting license grants the privilege to take birds and mammals. Existing law requires the Department of Fish and Wildlife to issue a hunting license for a term of one year, as provided, upon payment of a fee, to eligible residents and nonresidents. Existing law requires the department to issue a reduced fee hunting license for a term of one year, as provided, upon payment of a reduced fee, to a disabled veteran or recovering service member, as specified. Existing law requires these fees to be adjusted annually according to a specified index. Under existing law, the department issues tags, validations, and other entitlements upon payment of specified fees that are required in addition to a valid hunting license to take specified birds and mammals for purposes other than commercial purposes. This bill would instead require the department to issue a free hunting license, upon application to the department, to a disabled veteran or recovering service member and would require the department to issue a reduced fee hunting license, upon application and payment of a fee of $5, to a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States who was honorably discharged. The bill would prohibit the reduced hunting license fee from being adjusted pursuant to the specified index. The bill would require the department to reduce the fee required for a tag, validation, or other entitlement by 50% for a person who receives a reduced fee hunting license for veterans and would prohibit the department from charging a person who receives a free hunting license for disabled veterans or recovering service members a fee for these entitlements. (2) Existing law requires every person 16 years of age or older who takes any fish, reptile, or amphibian for any purpose other than profit to first obtain a sport fishing license for that purpose and to have that license on his or her person or in his or her immediate possession when engaged in carrying out any activity authorized by the license. Existing law requires the department to issue a sport fishing license for the period of a calendar year, as provided, upon payment of a specified fee, to eligible residents and nonresidents. Existing law requires the department to issue a reduced fee sport fishing license for the period of a calendar year upon payment of a reduced fee to a disabled veteran or recovering service member, as specified. Existing law requires these fees to be adjusted annually according to a specified index. Under existing law, the department issues sport fishing report cards and validations upon payment of specified fees that authorize various activities relating to the taking and possession of amphibians, reptiles, and fish for purposes other than profit. This bill would instead require the department to issue a free sport fishing license, upon application to the department, to a disabled veteran or recovering service member and would require the department to issue a reduced fee sport fishing license, upon application and payment of a fee of $5, to a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States who was honorably discharged. The bill would prohibit this reduced fishing license fee from being adjusted pursuant to the specified index. The bill would require the department to reduce the fee required to obtain a sport fishing report card, validation, or other entitlement by 50% for a person who receives a reduced fee sport fishing license for veterans and would prohibit the department from charging a person who receives a free sport fishing license for disabled veterans or recovering service members a fee for these entitlements.
Existing law, the Administrative Procedure Act, governs the procedures for the adoption, amendment, or repeal of regulations by state agencies and requires, among other things, that a state agency make available to the public facts, evidence, documents, testimony, or other evidence on which the state agency relies to support the agency's determination that the proposed action will not have a significant adverse impact on business. Existing law establishes the Office of Small Business Advocate, within the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development, and establishes the duties and functions of the Director of the Office of Small Business Advocate including, among other duties, representing the views and interests of small businesses before other state agencies whose policies and activities may affect small businesses. Existing law requires each state agency that significantly regulates small business or that significantly impacts small business to designate at least one person who is required to serve as a small business liaison. This bill would require a state agency to assist a small business, as defined, in complying with all statutes and regulations administered by the state agency and in any enforcement action by the state agency. The bill would, not later than December 31, 2017, require a state agency to create a policy, as specified, that provides for the reduction, and under certain circumstances waiver, of civil penalties for a small business based upon mitigating factors including, but not limited to, that the violation by the small business did not pose an imminent health, safety, or environmental threat.
Existing law authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs to assist a veteran and his or her dependents or survivors to make a claim against the United States arising out of military service and establishing a right to a privilege, preference, care, or compensation. Existing law authorizes the department to cooperate and, with approval of the Department of Finance, contract with any veterans service organization for the purpose of assisting veterans in their claims. Existing law defines veterans service organization for these purposes. This bill would appropriate $3,000,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Veterans Affairs for the purpose of grants to veterans service organizations. The bill would require the department to establish criteria, regulations, and reporting requirements for any organization it contracts with pursuant to these provisions. The bill would additionally require a veterans service organization that contracts with the department to have a presence in this state and be registered with both the Secretary of State and Attorney General.
Existing property tax law provides, pursuant to the authorization of the California Constitution, a disabled veterans' property tax exemption for the principal place of residence of a veteran or a veteran's spouse, including an unmarried surviving spouse, if the veteran, because of injury incurred in military service, is blind in both eyes, has lost the use of 2 or more limbs, or is totally disabled, as those terms are defined, or if the veteran has, as a result of a service-connected injury or disease, died while on active duty in military service. Existing law exempts that part of the full value of the residence that does not exceed $100,000, or $150,000, if the veteran's household income does not exceed $40,000, adjusted annually for inflation, as specified. This bill, commencing with the lien date for the 2017–18 fiscal year, would instead exempt that portion of the full value of the principal place of residence of a veteran or veteran's spouse that does not exceed $2,100,000, adjusted annually for inflation, as specified. The bill would also define the term "blind in both eyes" to mean that the veteran is a blind person, as defined in a specific statute. The bill would also specify that a "totally disabled" veteran includes a veteran so severely disabled as to be unable to move without the aid of an assistive device. The bill would make other technical and conforming changes to the disabled veterans' property tax exemption. The bill would repeal these provisions on the earlier of January 1, 2020, or the first property tax lien date following a determination by the Commission on State Mandates that these provisions impose reimbursable costs mandated by the state that are payable from the General Fund. By changing the manner in which local tax officials administer the disabled veterans' property tax exemption, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Section 2229 of the Revenue and Taxation Code requires the Legislature to reimburse local agencies annually for certain property tax revenues lost as a result of any exemption or classification of property for purposes of ad valorem property taxation. This bill would provide that, notwithstanding Section 2229 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, no appropriation is made and the state shall not reimburse local agencies for property tax revenues lost by them pursuant to the bill. 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 take effect immediately as a tax levy.
The Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act requires a law enforcement agency that receives a report of child abuse to report to an appropriate licensing agency every known or suspected instance of child abuse or neglect that occurs while the child is being cared for in a child day care facility or community care facility or that involves a licensed staff person of the facility. Existing law proscribes the commission of certain crimes against elders and dependent adults, including, but not limited to, inflicting upon an elder or dependent adult unjustifiable physical pain or mental suffering, as specified. Existing law proscribes the commission of a hate crime, as defined, against certain categories of persons, including disabled persons. Existing law provides for the licensure of various healing arts professionals, and specifies that the commission of any act of sexual abuse, misconduct, or relations with a patient, client, or customer constitutes unprofessional conduct and grounds for disciplinary action against the licensee. Existing law also establishes that the crime of sexual exploitation by a physician and surgeon, psychotherapist, or alcohol and drug abuse counselor has occurred when the licensee engages in specified sexual acts with a patient, client, or former patient or client. This bill would require, if a law enforcement agency receives a report, or if a law enforcement officer makes a report, that a person who holds a state professional or occupational credential, license, or permit that allows the person to provide services to children, elders, dependent adults, or persons with disabilities is alleged to have committed one or more of specified crimes, the law enforcement agency to promptly send a copy of the report to the state agency that issued the credential, license, or permit, except as specified. The bill would require a state agency to prioritize and process the report pursuant to applicable law in the same manner as similar reports received by that agency in order to ensure due process of law and equal protection of the laws. By imposing additional duties on law enforcement agencies, 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 these statutory provisions.
Existing law establishes the Homeless Youth and Exploitation Program, under which homeless youth emergency service projects are established in the Counties of Los Angeles, Santa Clara, San Diego, and the City and County of San Francisco through a grant program to eligible private, nonprofit agencies with a demonstrated record of success in the delivery of services to homeless youth. Under existing law, this program is administered by the Office of Emergency Services. Existing law requires each project to provide specified services, including food and access to overnight shelter, counseling to address immediate emotional crises and problems, and long-term stabilization planning. This bill would require the Office of Emergency Services to establish additional homeless youth emergency service projects in other counties with a priority given to counties that lack existing services for runaway and homeless youth. The bill would require the Office of Emergency Services to develop, with input from specified stakeholders, criteria for the selection of grantees and the determination of grant amounts under the grant program. The bill would additionally require each project to provide transitional living services for designated homeless youth for a period of up to 36 months, with access to education and employment assistance, independent living skill development, and family engagement and interventions. The bill would appropriate $25,000,000 from the General Fund to the Office of Emergency Services to provide additional funding for these homeless youth emergency service projects.
Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of community care facilities by the State Department of Social Services. Existing law also provides for the licensure and regulation by the State Department of Health Care Services of adult alcoholism and drug abuse recovery and treatment facilities for adults. This bill would, among other things, define a "drug and alcohol free residence" as a residential property that is operated as a cooperative living arrangement to provide an alcohol and drug free environment for persons recovering from alcoholism or drug abuse, or both, who seek a living environment in which to remain clean and sober. The bill would provide that a drug and alcohol free residence may be certified by an organization approved by the State Department of Health Care Services, defined as "an approved certifying agency." The bill would provide that a residence housing persons who purport to be recovering from drug or alcohol abuse would be presumed to be a drug and alcohol free residence if the residence has been certified by an approved certifying organization. The bill would require an approved certifying organization to, among other things, maintain an affiliation with a recognized national organization, approved by the department, establish procedures to administer the application, certification, renewal, and disciplinary processes for a drug and alcohol free residence, and investigate and enforce violations by a residence of the organization's code of conduct, as provided. The bill would specify the information and documentation that an operator who seeks to have a residence certified is required to submit to an approved certifying organization. This bill would require the department to maintain and post on its Internet Web site a registry that contains specified information regarding each drug and alcohol free residence that has been certified or has had its certification revoked. The bill would deem the activities of a certified drug and alcohol free residence a residential use of property under specified circumstances.
Existing law requires the court to consider and give due weight to the wishes of a child in making an order granting or modifying custody or visitation, if the child is of sufficient age and capacity to form an intelligent preference as to custody or visitation. Existing law also requires the court to permit a child who is 14 years of age or older to address the court regarding custody or visitation, unless the court determines that doing so is not in the child's best interests. This bill, commencing July 1, 2017, would instead require the court to permit a child who is 10 years of age or older, of his or her own volition, to address the court regarding custody or visitation, unless the court determines that doing so is not in the child's best interests. The bill would require the court to determine whether the child is addressing the court of his or her own volition and to provide the child with an age-appropriate form developed by the Judicial Council that explains to the child specified information prior to the child addressing the court regarding custody or visitation. The bill, commencing January 1, 2017, would require the Judicial Council, no later than July 1, 2017, to develop this age-appropriate form.
Existing law, the Political Reform Act of 1974, provides for the comprehensive regulation of campaign financing, including requiring the reporting of campaign contributions. The act imposes various prohibitions relating to the expenditure of campaign funds. The act prohibits a committee that is primarily formed to support or oppose one or more ballot measures from sending a slate mailer unless it complies with specified requirements. This bill would prohibit a committee controlled by a candidate for elective office that is primarily formed to support or oppose one or more ballot measures from expending campaign funds on an advertisement featuring the controlling candidate or another officeholder or candidate, as specified. A violation of the act's provisions is punishable as a misdemeanor. By expanding the scope of 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. The Political Reform Act of 1974, an initiative measure, provides that the Legislature may amend the act to further the act's purposes upon a 23 vote of each house and compliance with specified procedural requirements. This bill would declare that it furthers the purposes of the act.