This measure would declare March 11, 2011, as Fresno Food Expo Day, and honor the Central San Joaquin Valley for its contribution to California, the nation, and globally for its abundant production of agricultural goods and food production.
This measure would recognize the Lunar New Year 4709 Celebration.
This measure would recognize the month of February 2011 as American Heart Month in California, would recognize February 4, 2011, as Wear Red Day in California, and would urge public support for Go Red for Women events.
This measure would declare February 22, 2011, to be Spay Day USA 2011 in California, and would request that Californians observe that day by having their dogs and cats spayed or neutered and by contributing to organizations that provide spay and neuter services.
This measure would recognize February 2011 as Black History Month, urge all citizens to join in celebrating the accomplishments of African Americans during Black History Month, and encourage the people of California to recognize the many talents, achievements, and contributions that African Americans make to their communities.
This measure would designate that January 17, 2011, be observed as the official memorial of the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birth, commemorate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Civil Rights Movement in changing public policy in California and in the United States of America.
Existing law, known as the Donahoe Higher Education Act, provides for a public postsecondary education system in this state. This system consists of the University of California, the California State University, and the California Community Colleges. Among other things, the Donahoe Higher Education Act sets forth legislative intent with respect to enrollment planning and admission priority practice at the undergraduate resident student level for the California State University and the University of California. This bill would state this legislative intent for the California State University with respect to enrollment planning and admission, rather than admission priority practice. The bill would require the California State University, within existing enrollment categories, to provide applicants residing in the local service area, as defined, admission to the applicant's local California State University campus over other California residents or out-of-state applicants entering as first-time freshmen or sophomores, provided they meet relevant admissions criteria.
Existing law establishes various social service programs that provide cash assistance and other benefits to qualified low-income families and individuals. This bill would establish, upon a specified finding by the Department of Finance regarding funding, until July 1, 2013, the California Economic Security Task Force, composed and appointed as prescribed. This bill would require the task force to hold its first meeting before July 1, 2011. The task force would be required to submit to the Governor, to relevant Committees of the Legislature, and make available to the public, both an interim and a final report containing specified information and recommendations.
Existing law requires the governing board of a school district to adopt a policy on parent involvement and to establish a parent involvement program for each school in the district that receives specified federal funds. The program is required to contain, among other things, regular periodic programs throughout the school year that provide for training, instruction, and information for parents on ways to support and enhance the learning of their children. Existing law authorizes a school district, to the extent permitted by federal law, to contract with nonprofit organizations and agencies experienced in administering parent involvement programs to design or implement, or both, the parent involvement program of a school. This bill would encourage school districts to review and, if appropriate, contract with nonprofit community-based organizations that have a proven track record and can demonstrate their success in educating parents and building direct collaboration with school districts, administrators, and educators. A nonprofit community-based organization that contracts with a school district would be required to demonstrate and provide a culturally and linguistically competent parent involvement program using best practices that address the diversity of the school district. A low-performing school district would be encouraged to submit an annual report to the Superintendent of Public Instruction that demonstrates its efforts to promote parent engagement and the outcomes that result from contracting with the nonprofit community-based organization.
Existing law authorizes a physician when traveling in response to an emergency call to be exempt from certain speed limit requirements, as specified, if the vehicle being used by the physician displays an insigne approved by the Department of the California Highway Patrol indicating that the vehicle is owned by a licensed physician. Existing law permits the Department of Transportation and local authorities, with respect to highways under their respective jurisdictions, to authorize exclusive use of highway lanes for a high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) . The unauthorized use of an HOV lane is an infraction punishable by specified fines. This bill would authorize the Department of Transportation and local authorities to also permit exclusive or preferential use of high-occupancy vehicle lanes by a vehicle driven by a physician if the vehicle is driven by a physician in response to an emergency call and the vehicle displays the insignia approved by the Department of the California Highway Patrol. The exemption from certain speed limit requirements would not apply to the use of an HOV lane by a physician under this provision. The bill would also increase the fines for the unauthorized use of an HOV lane in violation of this provision. The bill would provide that this provision only applies if the Director of Transportation determines that the application would not subject the state to a loss of federal aid for highways.
