Sen. Marty Block

This measure would recognize March 2, 2010, as "Read Across America Day."

Existing law establishes a property tax exemption for disabled veterans. Existing law provides that for property for which the disabled veterans' exemption would have been available but for the taxpayer's failure to receive a timely disability rating from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (USDVA) , there shall be canceled or refunded any taxes, including any interest and penalties thereon, levied on that portion of the assessed value of the property that would have been exempt under a timely and appropriate claim, provided that the claimant meets specified conditions. These conditions are that (1) the claimant had an application pending with the USDVA and subsequently received a rating that qualifies the claimant for the disabled veterans' exemption, and (2) the claimant subsequently files an appropriate claim for the exemption the later of 30 days of receipt of the disability rating from the USDVA or on or before the next following lien date. This bill would make these provisions applicable to property for which the disabled veterans' exemption would have been available but the taxpayer had not yet received a disability rating from the USDVA that qualifies the claimant for the exemption. The bill would delete the first condition described above requiring the claimant to have had an application pending with the USDVA and subsequently have received a qualifying rating. The bill would also change the timeframe for which a claimant may file an appropriate claim for the exemption to 90 days of receipt of the disability rating or on or before the next following lien date.

This measure would proclaim February 28, 2010, as Rare Disease Day.

This measure would establish, until January 1, 2014, the California Task Force on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education for the purpose of promoting the improvement of mathematics, science, engineering, and technology education across the state. The task force would consist of Members of the Legislature and experts appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly and the Senate Committee on Rules. The task force would conduct its business on a volunteer basis, be able to accept private funds, and would submit an annual report on its work to the Legislature.

This measure would request that the Congress and the President of the United States enact the Medicare Secondary Payer Enhancement Act of 2010.

This measure would state the intent of the Legislature to increase the funding of child development centers and preschools in future years, as resources become available, in order to provide staff with adequate salaries and benefits, provide adequate resources to support program quality for children, and keep programs open to serve parents and children.

This measure would proclaim May 12, 2010, as California Lab Day.

This measure would designate the 2nd week of October 2010, and annually thereafter, as Disability History Week, and would encourage public and private institutions of higher education, state and local agencies, nonprofit and community-based organizations, and private businesses and corporations to observe Disability History Week by dedicating appropriate classroom instructional time or by coordinating all-inclusive activities to be conducted during that week to afford opportunities for students and the general public to learn more about the disability community and to celebrate and honor its role in contemporary American society.

This measure would declare the Legislature's support for the observance of "Spirit of '45 Day" on the second Sunday in August to commemorate the anniversary of the end of World War II on August 14, 1945.

This measure would recognize each 2nd week of February hereafter as African American Mental Health Awareness Week.