Sen. Akilah Weber Pierson

Existing law, the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975 (Knox-Keene) , provides for the licensure and regulation of health care service plans by the Department of Managed Health Care and makes a willful violation of the act a crime. Existing law also provides for the regulation of health insurers by the Department of Insurance. Existing law provides for the regulation of individual, small employer, grandfathered small employer, and nongrandfathered small employer health care service plan contracts and health insurance policies, as defined. Existing federal law, the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) , authorizes multiple employer welfare arrangements (MEWAs) in which 2 or more employers join together to provide health care coverage for employees or to their beneficiaries. Under existing state law, the status of each distinct member of an association determines whether that member's association coverage is individual, small group, or large group health coverage. Existing law, until January 1, 2026, authorizes an association of employers to offer a large group health care service plan contract or large group health insurance policy to small group employer members of the association consistent with ERISA if certain requirements are met, including that the association is the sponsor of a MEWA that has offered a large group health care service plan contract since January 1, 2012, in connection with an employee welfare benefit plan under ERISA, provides a specified level of coverage, and includes coverage for common law employees, and their dependents, who are employed by an association member in the biomedical industry with operations in California. Existing law also requires an association and MEWA to annually file evidence of ongoing compliance with these requirements in a manner specified by the departments. This bill would require the departments, on or before June 30, 2026, to provide the health policy committees of the Legislature the most recent annual filings of compliance. The bill would require the Department of Managed Health Care to conduct an analysis of the impacts on the small employer health insurance market in California of health care service plans currently issuing large group contracts to small employers through MEWAs, as specified. The bill would require the Department of Insurance to conduct an analysis of the impacts on the small employer health insurance market in California of health insurers currently issuing large group policies to small employers through MEWAs, as specified. The bill would authorize the departments to coordinate with each other. The bill would require the departments to post reports summarizing their analysis on their internet websites by July 1, 2026. This bill would extend the sunset date of January 1, 2026, to January 1, 2030, for the authorization of this type of health care service plan and insurance policy. By extending the authorization for a specific type of health care service plan, this bill would correspondingly extend the applicability of the crime for a violation of Knox-Keene, thereby imposing 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 authorizes a county board of education to establish and maintain one or more county community schools, and authorizes the governing board of a school district to establish one or more community day schools, to enroll specified categories of pupils, including expelled pupils, among others, as specified. Existing law authorizes the governing board of any school district to maintain one or more alternative schools, as defined, and requires the governing board of each high school district and each unified school district to establish and maintain within its boundaries special continuation education classes. Existing law requires enrollment in an alternative school to be voluntary, and authorizes both the voluntary and involuntary transfers of pupils to county community schools and to continuation schools, as specified. Existing law requires the governing board of a school district that establishes a community day school to adopt policies that provide procedures for the involuntary transfer of pupils to a community day school. This bill would require, commencing with the 2026–27 school year, the State Department of Education to collect and publish on its internet website, and school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools to provide to the department, data on pupil transfers due to disciplinary reasons, including whether the pupil transferred to an alternative school based on a referral by the school. The bill would require the department, when providing guidance on its internet website about reducing disproportionate discipline of pupil subgroups in schools, to advise local educational agencies against the use of transfers to avoid reporting suspensions and expulsions. To the extent this bill would impose additional duties on local educational agencies, 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, 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.

Existing law requires the State Department of Education to adopt rules and regulations that it deems necessary and proper to secure the establishment of courses in physical education in the elementary and secondary schools of the state. Existing law requires the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) , in consultation with the State Department of Education, to develop, by no later than July 1, 2024, guidelines, procedures, and safety standards for the prevention and management of exertional heat illness, as provided. This bill would require the department, on or before January 1, 2026, and in consultation with relevant stakeholders and experts, to compile and post on the department's internet website, standardized guidelines specifying temperature thresholds or index ratings that trigger modifications to pupil physical activities during extreme weather conditions, and would require those standardized guidelines to consider relevant factors, including, but not limited to, pupil ages, harmful duration of exposure to extreme weather conditions, overall pupil safety, and available mitigation measures. The bill would authorize the department, in consultation with relevant stakeholders and experts, to use existing resources or frameworks, or both, about temperature thresholds or index ratings that trigger modifications to pupil physical activities during extreme weather conditions to meet those requirements. The bill would require school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools, on or before July 1, 2026, to develop, adopt, and implement weather protocols for extreme weather conditions, and would require the weather protocols to incorporate the standardized guidelines compiled by the department and to detail the specific measures to be taken during extreme weather conditions, as specified. The bill would require the weather protocols to be annually reviewed, evaluated, and, if necessary, updated to incorporate best practices and address any emerging concerns or challenges, and to reflect changes in weather patterns, advances in safety practices, and feedback from stakeholders. The bill would apply these provisions to physical education classes, sports, and athletic practices and games sponsored by a local educational agency, except for those relating to an interscholastic athletic program administered by the CIF, which the bill would instead require to comply with the established CIF guidelines. By imposing additional duties on local educational agencies, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would, commencing July 1, 2026, require the department to provide technical assistance to local educational agencies in the implementation of their weather protocols. The bill would make the implementation of these provisions subject to an appropriation made for these purposes in the annual Budget Act or another statute. 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.

Existing law, the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975, provides for the licensure and regulation of health care service plans by the Department of Managed Health Care, and makes a willful violation of the act a crime. Existing law provides for the regulation of health insurers by the Department of Insurance. Existing law requires health care service plans and health insurers to include coverage for screening for various conditions and circumstances, including adverse childhood experiences. Existing law provides for the Medi-Cal program, administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions. This bill would require a health care service plan contract or health insurance policy issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2027, to include coverage for screenings for social determinants of health, as defined. The bill would require providers to use standardized codes when documenting patient responses to questions asked in these screenings, and would require providers to use existing tools or protocols to conduct the screenings. The bill would require a health care service plan or health insurer to provide physicians who provide primary care services with adequate access to peer support specialists, lay health workers, social workers, or community health workers in counties where the plan or insurer has enrollees or insureds, as specified. The bill would authorize the respective departments to adopt guidance to implement its provisions until regulations are adopted, and would require the departments to coordinate in the development of guidance and regulations. Because a violation of the bill's requirements by a health care service plan would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would make social determinants of health screenings a covered benefit for Medi-Cal beneficiaries and would require the State Department of Health Care Services or a Medi-Cal managed care plan to provide reimbursement for those screenings, as specified. The bill would provide that these provisions will be implemented only upon an appropriation by the Legislature. 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 makes it a crime to possess a destructive device. Existing law makes it a felony to possess material with the intent to make a destructive device or explosive without obtaining a permit to do so. This bill would prohibit a person from manufacturing, modifying, selling, transferring, or operating a robotic device, as defined, that is equipped or mounted with a weapon, as specified. The bill would make a violation punishable by a fine of at least $100 but not more than $2,000. The bill would exclude certain entities from these provisions, including, among other entities, a defense industrial company, as defined, with respect to robotic devices that are within the scope of a contract the company has or is seeking with the United States Department of Defense, or a person building a robot for participation in a bonafide robot competition, as described. By creating a new infraction, 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.

(1) Existing law requires the State Department of Education to develop evidence-based best practices for restorative justice practice implementation on a school campus and to make these best practices available on the department's internet website on or before June 1, 2024, as specified. This bill would, commencing July 1, 2026, require school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools to adopt at least one of the best practices for restorative justice practice implementation developed by the department. By imposing new duties on local educational agencies, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (2) Existing law prohibits a pupil from being suspended from school or recommended for expulsion unless the superintendent of the school district or principal of the school determines that the pupil has committed any of various specified acts. Existing law provides that suspension shall be imposed only when other means of correction, which may include, but are not limited to, participation in a restorative justice program, fail to bring about proper conduct, except that the suspension of a pupil for a first offense is authorized if the principal or superintendent of schools determines that the pupil violated one of a certain subset of those enumerated acts or that the pupil's presence causes a danger to persons. Existing law authorizes a school district to document the alternative means of correction used and to place that documentation in the pupil's record, as provided. This bill would provide that participation in a restorative justice program, as an alternative to suspension as a means of correction, may include participation in a restorative justice best practice, adopted as described in paragraph (1) above. The bill also would require, instead of authorize, a school district to document the alternative means of correction used and to place that documentation in the pupil's record. To the extent this provision imposes new duties on local educational agencies, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (3) This bill would make the implementation of its provisions contingent upon an appropriation by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act or another measure for the purposes of the bill's provisions. (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.

Existing law, commencing with the 2023–24 fiscal year, appropriates $300,000,000 each fiscal year from the General Fund to the Superintendent of Public Instruction for allocation for the Local Control Funding Formula Equity Multiplier apportionment, as provided. Existing law requires the funding to be allocated to eligible local educational agencies that generate a specified local control funding formula entitlement based on, among other things, the percentage of unduplicated pupils served. Existing law establishes the Strong Workforce Program to provide funding to career technical education regional consortia made up of community college districts and local educational agencies, as specified. Existing law also establishes a K–12 component of the Strong Workforce Program. Existing law provides that, commencing with the 2018–19 fiscal year, the amount appropriated in the annual Budget Act for the K–12 component of the program is used to create, support, or expand high-quality career technical education programs at the K–12 level that are aligned with the workforce development efforts occurring through the program. Existing law requires each consortium to form a K–12 Selection Committee, as specified, for purposes of awarding grants under the K–12 component of the program and requires that applicants with certain characteristics be given positive consideration, as specified. This bill would require positive consideration for purposes of awarding grants under the K–12 component of the program to also be given to applicants that serve pupils enrolled at local educational agencies receiving Local Control Funding Formula Equity Multiplier funding.

Existing law requires candidates for an office at a primary election to deliver their nomination documents to the county elections official no later than 5 p.m. on the 88th day before the primary election, or in specified cases, no later than 5 p.m. on the 83rd day before the primary election. Existing law prohibits a person who has delivered nomination documents to the county elections official from withdrawing their candidacy. Existing law further prohibits a person from filing nomination documents for a party nomination and an independent nomination for the same office, or for more than one office at the same election. This bill would permit a candidate for any office other than a statewide office, as defined, at a primary election to withdraw their nomination documents for that office during the applicable filing period. The bill would establish requirements for withdrawal, including that the candidate submit a statement under penalty of perjury that they are withdrawing their nomination documents and understand the withdrawal is irrevocable and that the filing fees are nonrefundable. The bill would permit a candidate who withdraws to file nomination documents for another office at that primary election during the applicable filing period. The bill would clarify that a candidate is prohibited from filing nomination documents for more than one office at the same primary election, except as specified. If an incumbent has delivered but then withdrawn their nomination documents before 5 p.m. on the 88th day before the primary election, the bill would authorize another candidate to deliver their nomination documents no later than 5 p.m. on the 83rd day before the primary election. By establishing a new crime based upon the requirement that a candidate submit a statement of withdrawal under penalty of perjury, and by establishing new duties for local elections officials, 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 with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

(1) Existing law, the Barbering and Cosmetology Act, the violation of which is a crime, provides for the licensure and regulation of barbers and cosmetologists by the State Board of Barbering and Cosmetology in the Department of Consumer Affairs. Existing law requires the examination of applicants for a license issued by the board to consist of written tests to determine the applicant's skill in, and knowledge of, the practice of the occupation for which a license is sought. This bill would additionally require those written tests to determine the applicant's skill in, and knowledge of, providing services to individuals with varying hair types and textures. (2) Existing law requires a course in barbering or cosmetology to include, at a minimum, technical and practical instruction in specified areas, including instruction in chemical hair services and hairstyling services, as described. Existing law also requires a course in hairstyling, as provided, to include instruction in hairstyling services, as described. This bill would additionally require instruction in chemical hair services and hairstyling services to include instruction in the provision of services to individuals with all hair types and textures, including, but not limited to, various curl or wave patterns, hair strand thicknesses, and volumes of hair. By expanding the crimes relating to violation of the Barbering and Cosmetology Act, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (3) 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 generally regulates social media platforms, including by requiring a social media platform to provide, in a mechanism that is reasonably accessible to users, a means for a user who is a California resident to report material to the social media platform that the user reasonably believes is, among other things, child sexual abuse material. This bill would require a social media platform to provide a mechanism that is reasonably accessible to a reporting user who is a California resident who has an account with the social media platform to report sexually explicit digital identity theft to the social media platform. The bill would define "sexually explicit digital identity theft" to mean the posting of covered material on a social media platform and would define "covered material" to mean material that meets certain criteria, including that the material is an image or video created or altered through digitization that would appear to a reasonable person to be an image or video of an intimate body part of an identifiable person or an identifiable person engaged in certain sexual acts, and that the reporting person is the person depicted in the material and did not consent to the use of the reporting person's likeness in the material. The bill would also require a social media platform to immediately remove a reported instance of sexually explicit digital identity theft from being publicly viewable on the social media platform if the social media platform determines there is a reasonable basis to believe the reported sexually explicit digital identity theft is sexually explicit digital identity theft, as prescribed.