Sen. Akilah Weber Pierson

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution recognizes June 14, 2024, as Flag Day in California. The measure serves as a formal declaration to encourage citizens to celebrate the American flag and remember the sacrifices made for freedom. It does not create new laws or impose any requirements on individuals or organizations. The text includes historical background on the flag's design and the origins of Flag Day observances.

This measure would designate November 8, 2024, as "California's First-Generation College Celebration Day." The measure would urge all higher education institutions in the state to celebrate California's First-Generation College Celebration Day, recognize the significant role of first-generation college students in developing the state's future workforce, celebrate the federal Higher Education Act of 1965, and support first-generation college students with opportunities and equity in completing their desired degree programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill declares May 2024 as Foster Care Awareness Month in California to highlight the needs of the state's approximately 45,000 children in the foster care system. The measure does not change laws or allocate funding but serves as a symbolic recognition of the efforts made by families, caregivers, and organizations to support vulnerable youth. By designating this specific month, the resolution aims to increase public awareness about the challenges foster youth face, such as homelessness after exiting care, and to celebrate the contributions of those working within the child welfare system.

This measure would recognize the Vietnamese Heritage and Freedom Flag as the cultural and heritage flag of the Vietnamese American community and as a symbol of the community's continued struggle for freedom and liberty for the people of Vietnam, commemorate the anniversary of the Fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975, and acknowledge and recognize the Vietnamese American community's commitment to the principles of democracy, justice, and the protection and advancement of human rights.

Maddy summaryThis bill officially designates June 2024 as Immigrant Heritage Month in California to recognize the contributions of immigrants to the state's economy and society. The measure does not change laws or create new programs but serves as a symbolic proclamation to highlight the cultural and economic impact of immigrant communities. It is a non-binding resolution that affects the public by encouraging acknowledgment of immigrant heritage rather than imposing specific obligations on individuals or businesses.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates June 3, 2024, as Family Justice Center Day in California to recognize the work of organizations supporting survivors of domestic and sexual violence. It directly affects the California Family Justice Network and its 27 affiliated centers, which provide coordinated services such as legal aid, mental health support, and police assistance under one roof. The measure highlights the importance of these centers by noting they serve over 70,000 trauma victims annually, including more than 20 percent who are children. By officially acknowledging this date, the legislation aims to raise awareness about the critical role these centers play in helping survivors access necessary resources.

This measure would declare the month of June 2024 as Alzheimer's Disease and Brain Awareness Month, would recognize Thursday, June 20, 2024, as The Longest Day, and would urge all Californians to commemorate the month of June 2024 as Alzheimer's Disease and Brain Awareness Month.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates June 2024 as California Mountain Biking Month to recognize the sport's history, economic impact, and health benefits within the state. The measure directly affects mountain biking enthusiasts, trail users, and related organizations by officially acknowledging the activity's role in recreation and tourism. The resolution highlights how the industry contributes billions to the economy and supports over 17,000 jobs while promoting outdoor fitness and community building. By proclaiming this specific month, the legislation aims to encourage public participation in off-road cycling and celebrate California's status as a global hub for the sport.

Existing law, the Labor Code Private Attorneys General Act of 2004 (PAGA) , authorizes an aggrieved employee, as defined, to bring a civil action, on behalf of that employee and other current or former employees, to enforce a violation of any provision of the Labor Code that provides for a civil penalty to be assessed and collected by the Labor and Workforce Development Agency or any of its departments, divisions, commissions, boards, agencies, or employees pursuant to certain notice and cure provisions, as prescribed. This bill would, among other things, authorize, on or after October 1, 2024, an employer that employed fewer than 100 employees in total during the period covered by the required notice to, within 33 days of receipt of the notice submit to the agency a confidential proposal to cure one or more of the alleged violations and, upon completing the cure, provide a sworn notification to the employee and agency that the cure is completed, as prescribed. By expanding the scope of the crime of perjury, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would require the agency to verify whether the cure is complete within 20 days of receiving the employer's notification, as specified. This bill would also authorize an employer who employed at least 100 employees in total during the period covered by the required notice to, upon being served with a summons and complaint asserting a claim under PAGA, file a request and participate in, as prescribed, an early evaluation conference in the proceedings of the claim and a request for a stay of court proceedings before, or simultaneous with, that defendant's responsive pleading or other initial appearance in the action that includes the claim. This bill would apply its provisions to a civil action brought on or after June 19, 2024, except as specified. Existing constitutional provisions require that a statute that limits the right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for protecting that interest. This bill would make legislative findings to that effect. 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. This bill would become operative only if AB 2288 of the 2023–24 Regular Session is enacted and takes effect on or before January 1, 2025. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

Existing law, the Labor Code Private Attorneys General Act of 2004 (PAGA) , authorizes an aggrieved employee, as defined, to bring a civil action, on behalf of that employee and other current or former employees, to enforce a violation of any provision of the Labor Code that provides for a civil penalty to be assessed and collected by the Labor and Workforce Development Agency or any of its departments, divisions, commissions, boards, agencies, or employees pursuant to certain notice and cure provisions, as prescribed. This bill would, among other things, instead authorize an aggrieved employee to bring a civil action as described above on behalf of the employee and other current or former employees against whom a violation of the same provision was committed. With respect to a violation by a person of a provision that does not provide for a civil penalty, PAGA makes that person liable for a civil penalty of $500 if, at the time of the alleged violation, the person does not employ one or more employees. If, at the time of the alleged violation, the person employed one or more employees, PAGA makes that person liable for a civil penalty of $100 for each aggrieved employee per pay period for the initial violation and $200 for each aggrieved employee per pay period for each subsequent violation. PAGA requires 75% of civil penalties recovered by aggrieved employees to be distributed to the Labor and Workforce Development Agency for enforcement of labor laws, including the administration of PAGA, and for education of employers and employees about their rights and responsibilities under the Labor Code, as specified, and requires 25% of civil penalties recovered by aggrieved employees to be distributed to the aggrieved employees, except as prescribed. This bill would instead, if, at the time of the alleged violation, the person employed one or more employees, make that person liable for a civil penalty of $100 for each aggrieved employee per pay period, except if certain mitigating factors apply, including that the alleged violation resulted from an isolated, nonrecurring event that did not extend beyond the lesser of 30 consecutive days or 4 consecutive pay periods, in which case the bill would make the civil penalty $25 or $50, except as provided. The bill would, subject to an exception, also reduce the civil penalties prescribed by PAGA by 15% or 30%, as specified, if a person accused of a violation has taken all reasonable steps to comply with the provisions alleged to have been violated in the required notice provided by the aggrieved employee, as prescribed. This bill would apply its provisions to a civil action brought on or after June 19, 2024, except as specified. This bill would become operative only if SB 92 of the 2023–24 Regular Session is enacted and takes effect on or before January 1, 2025. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.