This measure would designate April 2011 as California Autism Awareness Month, would affirm the Legislature's commitment to the important issues related to autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) , would emphasize that each and every individual with an ASD is a valued and important member of our society, would recognize and commend the parents and relatives of individuals with ASDs for their sacrifice and dedication in providing for the special needs of individuals with ASDs, would recognize and commend the work of all nonprofit organizations that are contributing to the well-being of individuals with autism and their families, would stress the need to identify children with ASD and begin early intervention services immediately after a childhood diagnosis, and would stress the need for these intervention services, as well as supports, for individuals with ASDs and their families in an integrated, seamless, comprehensive, and competent manner that is delivered across the child's lifespan.
Sponsored bills
This measure would proclaim May 1 through May 8, 2011, as California Holocaust Memorial Week and would urge Californians to observe these days of remembrance for the victims of the Holocaust in an appropriate manner.
(1) Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations, as defined. Existing law requires the PUC to require the state's 3 largest electrical corporations, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, San Diego Gas and Electric, and Southern California Edison, to identify a separate electrical rate component to fund programs that enhance system reliability and provide in-state benefits. This rate component is a nonbypassable element of local distribution and collected on the basis of usage. Existing PUC resolutions refer to the nonbypassable rate component as a "public goods charge." The public goods charge moneys are collected to support cost-effective energy efficiency and conservation activities, public interest research and development not adequately provided by competitive and regulated markets, and renewable energy resources. The existing Warren-Alquist State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Act establishes the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Energy Commission) . The act requires the commission to certify sufficient sites and related facilities that are required to provide a supply of electric power sufficient to accommodate projected demand for power statewide. The act requires the commission to transmit a copy of an application for certification of a site and related facility to, among other entities, each federal and state agency having jurisdiction or special interest in matters pertinent to the proposed site and related facilities and to the Attorney General. This bill would require an applicant to inform the United States Department of Defense of a proposed project and that an application will be filed with the commission if the site and related facility specified in the application are proposed to be located within 1,000 feet of a military installation, or lie within special use airspace or beneath a low-level flight path, as defined. Existing law establishes the Renewable Resource Trust Fund as a fund that is continuously appropriated, with certain exceptions for administrative expenses, in the State Treasury, and requires that certain moneys collected to support renewable energy resources through the public goods charge are deposited into the fund and authorizes the Energy Commission to expend the moneys pursuant to the Renewable Energy Resources Program. The program states the intent of the Legislature to increase the amount of electricity generated from eligible renewable energy resources per year so that amount equals at least 20% of total retail sales of electricity in California per year by December 31, 2010. This bill would revise the Renewable Energy Resources Program to state the intent of the Legislature to increase the amount of electricity generated from eligible renewable energy resources per year, so that amount equals at least 33% of total retail sales of electricity in California per year by December 31, 2020. The bill would revise certain terms used in the program, and revise certain eligibility criteria for a renewable electrical generation facility, as defined, pursuant to the program. (2) Existing law expresses the intent of the Legislature, in establishing the California Renewables Portfolio Standard Program (RPS program) , to increase the amount of electricity generated per year from eligible renewable energy resources, as defined, to an amount that equals at least 20% of the total electricity sold to retail customers in California per year by December 31, 2010. The RPS program requires that a retail seller of electricity, including electrical corporations, community choice aggregators, and electric service providers, purchase a specified minimum percentage of electricity generated by eligible renewable energy resources, as defined, in any given year as a specified percentage of total kilowatthours sold to retail end-use customers each calendar year. The RPS program requires the PUC to implement annual procurement targets for each retail seller to increase its total procurement of electricity generated by eligible renewable energy resources by at least an additional 1% of retail sales per year so that 20% of its retail sales of electricity are procured from eligible renewable energy resources no later than December 31, 2010. Existing law requires the PUC to make a determination of the existing market cost for electricity, which PUC decisions call the market price referent, and to limit an electrical corporation's obligation to procure electricity from eligible renewable energy resources, that exceeds the market price referent, by a specified amount. This bill would express the intent that the amount of electricity generated per year from eligible renewable energy resources be increased to an amount that equals at least 20% of the total electricity sold to retail customers in California per year by December 31, 2013, and 33% by December 31, 2020. The bill would require the PUC, by January 1, 2012, to establish the quantity of electricity products from eligible renewable energy resources to be procured by each retail seller for specified compliance periods, sufficient to ensure that the procurement of electricity products from eligible renewable energy resources achieves 25% of retail sales by December 31, 2016, and 33% of retail sales by December 31, 2020, and that retail sellers procure not less than 33% of retail sales in all subsequent years. The bill, consistent with the goals of procuring the least-cost and best-fit eligible renewable energy resources that meet project viability principles, would require that all retail sellers procure a balanced portfolio of electricity products from eligible renewable energy resources, as specified. The bill would require the PUC to waive enforcement of the renewables portfolio standard procurement requirement if the PUC finds that the retail seller has demonstrated certain conditions exist that are beyond the control of the retail seller and will prevent compliance, and has taken all reasonable actions under its control to achieve compliance. The bill would require the PUC to direct each electrical corporation to annually prepare a renewable energy procurement plan containing specified matters and require, to the extent feasible, that the plan be proposed, reviewed, and adopted by the PUC as part of, and pursuant to, a general procurement plan process. The bill would require the PUC to direct all retail sellers to prepare and submit an annual compliance report. The bill would delete the existing market price referent provisions, and instead require the PUC to establish a limitation for each electrical corporation on the procurement expenditures for all eligible renewable energy resources used to comply with the renewables portfolio standard. The bill would require that by January 1, 2016, the PUC report to the Legislature assessing whether each electrical corporation can achieve a 33% renewables portfolio standard by December 31, 2020, and maintain that level thereafter, within the cost limitations. The bill would provide that, if the cost limitation for an electrical corporation is insufficient to support the projected costs of meeting the renewables portfolio standard procurement requirements, the electrical corporation is authorized to refrain from entering into new contracts or constructing facilities beyond the quantity that can be procured within the limitation, unless eligible renewable energy resources can be procured without exceeding a de minimis increase in rates, consistent with the electrical corporation's general procurement plan. The bill would delete an existing requirement that the PUC adopt flexible rules for compliance for retail sellers. The bill would revise the definitions of certain terms for purposes of the RPS program, would recast certain provisions applicable only to an electrical corporation with 60,000 or fewer customer accounts in California that serves retail end-use customers outside of California, and would add provisions applicable to certain smaller electrical corporations. The bill would authorize an electrical corporation to apply to the PUC for approval to construct, own, and operate an eligible renewable energy resource, and would require the PUC to approve the application if certain conditions are met, until electrical corporation owned and operated resources provide 8.25% of the corporation's anticipated retail sales. Under existing law, a violation of the Public Utilities Act or any order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the PUC is a crime. Because the provisions of this bill are within the act and require action by the PUC to implement its requirements, a violation of these provisions would impose a state-mandated local program by expanding the definition of a crime. (3) Under existing law, the governing board of a local publicly owned electric utility is responsible for implementing and enforcing a renewables portfolio standard for the utility that recognizes the intent of the Legislature to encourage renewable resources, while taking into consideration the effect of the standard on rates, reliability, and financial resources and the goal of environmental improvement. This bill would repeal this provision, and instead generally make the requirements of the RPS program applicable to local publicly owned electric utilities, except that the utility's governing board would be responsible for implementation of those requirements, instead of the PUC, and certain enforcement authority with respect to local publicly owned electric utilities would be given to the Energy Commission and State Air Resources Board, instead of the PUC. By placing additional requirements upon local publicly owned electric utilities, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (4) Existing law requires the Energy Commission to certify eligible renewable energy resources, to design and implement an accounting system to verify compliance with the RPS requirements by retail sellers, and to develop tracking, accounting, verification, and enforcement mechanisms for renewable energy credits, as defined. This bill would require the Energy Commission to design and implement an accounting system to verify compliance with the RPS requirements by retail sellers and local publicly owned electric utilities. The bill would require the Energy Commission, among other things, to adopt regulations by July 1, 2011, specifying procedures for enforcement of the RPS requirements that include a public process under which the Energy Commission is authorized to issue a notice of violation and correction with respect to a local publicly owned electric utility and for referral to the State Air Resources Board for penalties imposed pursuant to the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 or other laws if that act is suspended or repealed. This bill would revise the definition of renewable energy credit. The bill would require the Energy Commission, by June 30, 2011, to study and provide a report to the Legislature that analyzes run-of-river hydroelectric generating facilities, as defined, in British Columbia, including whether these facilities are, or should be, included as renewable electrical generation facilities for purposes of the Renewable Energy Resources Program administered by the Energy Commission or eligible renewable energy resources for purposes of the RPS program. (5) Existing law requires the PUC, by February 1 of each year, to prepare and submit to the Governor and the Legislature a written report on the costs of programs and activities conducted by an electrical corporation or gas corporation that have more than a specified number of customers in California. This bill would require the PUC, by February 1 of each year, to prepare and submit to the policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature a report on (A) all electrical corporation revenue requirement increases associated with meeting the renewables portfolio standard, (B) all cost savings experienced, or costs avoided, by electrical corporations as a result of meeting the renewables portfolio standard, (C) all costs incurred by electrical corporations for incentives for distributed and renewable generation, (D) all cost savings experienced, or costs avoided, by electrical corporations as a result of incentives for distributed generation and renewable generation, (E) specified costs for which an electrical corporation is seeking recovery in rates that are pending determination or approval by the PUC, (F) the decision number of each PUC decision in the prior year authorizing an electrical corporation to recover costs incurred in rates, (G) any changes in the prior year in load serviced by an electrical corporation, and (H) the efforts each electrical corporation is taking to recruit and train employees to ensure an adequately trained and available workforce. (6) The bill would require the PUC, by July 1, 2011, to determine the effective load carrying capacity of wind and solar energy resources on the electrical grid. The bill would require the PUC to use those values in establishing the contribution of those resources toward meeting specified resource adequacy requirements. (7) The Public Utilities Act prohibits any electrical corporation from beginning the construction of, among other things, a line, plant, or system, or of any extension thereof, without having first obtained from the PUC a certificate that the present or future public convenience and necessity require or will require that construction, termed a certificate of public convenience and necessity. This bill would require the PUC to issue a decision on an application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity within 18 months of the filing of a completed application under specified circumstances. (8) Existing law establishes the Department of Fish and Game in the Natural Resources Agency, and generally charges the department with the administration and enforcement of the Fish and Game Code. This bill would require the department to establish an internal division with the primary purpose of performing comprehensive planning and environmental compliance services with priority given to projects involving the building of eligible renewable energy resources. (9) The existing restructuring of the electrical industry within the Public Utilities Act provides for the establishment of an Independent System Operator (ISO) . Existing law requires the ISO to ensure efficient use and reliable operation of the transmission grid consistent with achieving planning and operating reserve criteria no less stringent than those established by the Western Electricity Coordinating Council of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation. Pursuant to existing law, the ISO's tariffs are required to be approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. This bill would require the ISO and other California balancing authorities to work cooperatively to integrate and interconnect eligible renewable energy resources to the transmission grid by the most efficient means possible with the goal of minimizing the impact and cost of new transmission facilities needed to meet both reliability needs and the renewables portfolio standard procurement requirements, and to accomplish this in a manner that respects the ownership, business, and dispatch models for transmission facilities owned by electrical corporations, local publicly owned electric utilities, joint power agencies, and independent transmission companies. (10) This bill would appropriate $322,000 from the Public Utilities Commission Utilities Reimbursement Account to the PUC for additional staffing to identify, review, and approve transmission lines reasonably necessary or appropriate to facilitate achievement of the renewables portfolio standard. (11) 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 specified reasons.
This measure would urge the President, Congress, and Secretary of Defense of the United States to end the policy of levying fines on lesbian, gay, and bisexual service members discharged under the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Pursue, Don't Harass" policy.
The State General Obligation Bond Law sets forth the procedures for the issuance and sale of bonds governed by its provisions and for the disbursal of the proceeds of the sale of those bonds. Existing law provides for various oversight and reporting requirements for the expenditure of state funds, including the proceeds of bonds. This bill would require the Controller to select one or more projects funded by any state general obligation bond act approved on or after January 1, 2010, to be the subject of an audit to be conducted as specified. The Controller would be required annually to assign up to 5 auditor positions to conduct these audits. The Controller would be authorized to examine any record of any agency, contractor, and other specified parties that relates to the use of bond proceeds and would be required, by April 30 of each year, to prepare an audit plan for the following fiscal year. The bill would require an entity that is to be audited, prior to contracting with the Controller for an audit, to determine that it is able to pay the estimated cost of conducting the audit from the proceeds of bonds for administrative purposes for that project. The bill would prohibit the Controller from conducting the audit if those proceeds are not available.
(1) Existing law regulates the transportation of inedible kitchen grease and requires the transporters of inedible kitchen grease to be registered and to pay specified fees. The State Water Resources Control Board is among the principal state agencies with authority relating to water quality. This bill would require the state board, on or before January 1, 2012, to develop, adopt, and implement regulations, that include specified requirements, for a manifest system to track the transportation of interceptor and trap grease. The bill would require the state board to impose a fee sufficient to cover the costs of implementing the act. The bill would require the state board to deposit all revenues from the fee in the Interceptor and Trap Grease Manifest Fund, which the bill would establish. The bill would authorize the board to expend moneys in the fund to implement the act, subject to appropriation for that purpose. The bill would define "interceptor and trap grease" to mean grease that is principally derived from food preparation, processing, or waste, and that is removed from a grease trap or grease interceptor. (2) Existing law authorizes the Department of Food and Agriculture to suspend or revoke a registration certificate to transport inedible kitchen grease in specified circumstances. This bill would add a registrant's violation of this act, or any regulations adopted to implement this act, to those specified circumstances and would make a corresponding change.
Existing law provides that the State Race Track Leasing Commission is required to prepare a master plan for the long-range comprehensive development and improvement of, and construction upon, the property of the 22nd District Agricultural Association, and specifies other powers and duties of the commission regarding the 22nd District Agricultural Association, as provided. Existing law provides that whenever a power is granted to, or a duty is imposed upon, the Controller, Treasurer, Director of Finance, or Superintendent of Public Instruction on any state board, commission, committee, or governing board, the power may be exercised or the duty may be performed by a deputy designated by the officer to act in his or her place and stead, unless otherwise expressly provided. This bill would specifically authorize the Director of General Services and the Secretary of Food and Agriculture to each designate a deputy of his or her office to act in his or her place and stead on the State Race Track Leasing Commission with respect to the exercise of the statutory powers and duties of the commission.
(1) Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has regulatory authority over public utilities and can establish its own procedures, subject to statutory limitations or directions and constitutional requirements of due process. Existing law authorizes any party to an action or proceeding, or any stockholder or bondholder or other party pecuniarily interested in the public utility affected by an order or decision of the CPUC, to apply for a rehearing with respect to any matter determined in the action or proceeding and specified in the application for rehearing. Existing law prohibits a cause of action arising out of any order or decision of the CPUC from accruing in a court to a corporation or person unless the corporation or person has filed an application to the CPUC for a rehearing within a specified amount of time after the date of issuance of the order or decision. Existing law provides that any application for a rehearing made 10 days or more before the effective date of a CPUC order as to which a rehearing is sought, shall be either granted or denied before the effective date of the order, or the order is suspended until the application is granted or denied. Existing law provides that, absent a further order of the CPUC, the suspension ceases after 60 days, the order becomes effective, and the party making the application is authorized to take the application as having been denied. Existing law provides that if the application for rehearing is made less than 10 days before the effective date of the order as to which a rehearing is sought, and the application is not granted within 60 days, the party making the application is authorized to take the application as having been denied, unless the effective date of the order is extended for the period of the pendency of the application. For applications for rehearing filed on or after January 1, 2011, if the commission has not acted on the application within 120 days, this bill would authorize the commission, by order, to extend the period for acting on the application, but would prohibit any single order to extend the period for more than an additional 120 days. (2) Existing law requires the CPUC to submit an annual report on the number of cases where resolution exceeded the time periods prescribed in scoping memos and the days that commissioners presided in hearings. This bill would additionally require the CPUC to include data on the disposition of applications for rehearing in that report. This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 321.6 of the Public Utilities Code, proposed by AB 2769, to be operative only if AB 2769 and this bill are both chaptered and become effective on or before January 1, 2011, and this bill is chaptered last.
Existing law relative to private energy producers requires every electric distribution utility or cooperative, as defined, to make available to an eligible customer‑generator, as defined, a standard contract or tariff for net energy metering on a first-come-first-served basis until the time that the total rated generating capacity used by eligible customer‑generators exceeds 2.5% of the electric distribution utility or cooperative's aggregate customer peak demand. This bill would require that the standard contract or tariff for net energy metering be offered on a first-come-first-served basis until the time that the total rated generating capacity used by eligible customer‑generators exceeds 5% of the electricity distribution utility or cooperative's aggregate customer peak demand. The bill would prohibit, on and after July 1, 2010, a contractor holding a class C-46 license issued by the Contractors' State License Board from constructing, altering, or installing, for an eligible customer-generator generating electricity under a tariff or contract pursuant to these provisions, a solar photovoltaic electrical generating facility with the capacity to generate greater than 250 kilowatts of electricity. This bill would incorporate additional changes in Section 2827 of the Public Utilities Code, proposed by AB 920 or SB 7, to be operative only if either AB 920 or SB 7 and this bill are chaptered and become effective on or before January 1, 2010, and this bill is chaptered last.
(1) The California Constitution prohibits any ad valorem tax on real property from exceeding 1% of the full cash value of the property, subject to certain exceptions. This measure would create an additional exception to the 1% limit on ad valorem tax on real property, for an ad valorem rate imposed by a city, county, city and county, or special district to pay for bonded indebtedness incurred to fund facilities, buildings, or equipment used directly and exclusively to provide emergency services to the public, or to fund the related acquisition or lease of real property, if approved by 55% of the voters of the city, county, city and county, or special district, as applicable. (2) The California Constitution prohibits a city or county from incurring any indebtedness exceeding in one year the income and revenue provided in that year, without the assent of 23 of the voters. This measure would lower to 55% the voter approval threshold for a city, county, or city and county to incur bonded indebtedness, exceeding in one year the income and revenue provided in that year, that is in the form of general obligation bonds to fund facilities, buildings, or equipment used directly and exclusively to provide emergency services to the public, or to fund the related acquisition or lease of real property. (3) Under the California Constitution, a local government may not impose, extend, or increase any special tax unless that tax is submitted to the electorate and approved by a 23 vote of the voters voting on the measure. This measure would, as an exception to this voter approval threshold, allow a local government to impose, extend, or increase a special tax for the purpose of funding for fire protection services, and certain sheriff and police equipment and services, if that tax is approved by a 55% vote of the voters voting on the measure. This measure would prohibit the revenues derived from such a tax from being expended to supplant any other funding source for these purposes.