Existing law regulates the practice of immigration consultants who provide nonlegal assistance or advice in an immigration matter. This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to further regulate immigration consultants.
Existing law requires the Public Utilities Commission to open a proceeding to determine appropriate targets, if any, for each load-serving entity, including electrical corporations, to procure viable and cost-effective energy storage systems, to be achieved by December 31, 2015, and December 31, 2020. If determined to be appropriate, the commission is required to adopt the procurement targets by October 1, 2013, and to reevaluate the determinations not less than once every 3 years. This bill would require the commission to direct one or more electrical corporations to procure of a single large-scale, long-duration energy storage pilot project meeting certain requirements, as specified. The bill would require an electrical corporation subject to this procurement requirement to submit to the commission for approval a proposed cost-of-service or similar rate to cover the costs of the procurement based on the proportionate benefit derived by each ratepayer class from the pilot project. Under existing law, a violation of an order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime. Because a violation of an order or decision of the commission implementing the requirements of the bill would be a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program by creating a new crime. 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 requires the Department of Parks and Recreation to issue a park pass for free use of all park facilities in the state park system to a veteran of war, as defined, in which the United States has been, or may be, engaged, and who meets specified criteria, such as having been honorably discharged from service. This bill would additionally exempt these veterans from any requirement to pay a reservation fee for those facilities.
(1) Existing law, the California Financing Law (CFL) , generally provides for the licensure and regulation of finance lenders by the Commissioner of Business Oversight. A knowing and willful violation of the CFL, or a rule or order adopted pursuant to the CFL, is a crime, except as specified. Among other things, the CFL regulates the provision of loan documents to borrowers, the collection of unpaid consumer loans, the repossession of motor vehicles that secure consumer loans, and the collateral sale of products in connection with a consumer loan. The CFL requires a consumer loan to be payable in advance and permits the licensee to apply an advance payment first to any prepayment penalty. This bill, with regard to a loan secured by a lien on a motor vehicle, would prohibit the licensee from repossessing the vehicle if the borrower has made a full installment payment within the past 30 calendar days. The bill would prohibit any prepayment penalty on a consumer loan, other than one secured by real property, and would require a specified notice with regard to repaying a loan early to be included on a loan contract for which a prepayment penalty is prohibited. The bill would prohibit a licensee from making a consumer loan unless the licensee determines that the borrower has a reasonable ability to repay the loan by considering various factors. The bill would require a finance lender to seek information and documentation pertaining to all of a borrower's outstanding debt obligations during the loan application and underwriting process, as specified. The bill would require a finance lender to confirm that information using a credit report and also to confirm the borrower's income, as specified. The bill would grant a borrower under a consumer loan a 3 calendar day right to cancel at no cost to the borrower and would require consumer loan agreements to include a statement regarding this right. The bill would also require loan agreements on specified loans that have interest rates exceeding a certain threshold to include a statement that, among other things, identifies the loan as a high-cost loan. The bill would require a finance lender to offer a credit education program or seminar to the borrower that has been previously reviewed and approved by the commissioner or to invite a borrower to participate in a previously reviewed credit education program or seminar offered by a third party. The bill would prohibit a borrower from being required to participate in those programs and would prohibit the borrower from being charged to participate in those programs. This bill would require a finance lender to notify a borrower on a consumer loan, except those secured by real property, at least 2 days before each payment due date, and inform the borrower of the amount due and the payment due date. The means of notification would be subject to agreement between the borrower and the finance lender, and the bill would permit the borrower to opt out of notification at any time. The bill would authorize a finance lender to modify terms of a loan upon request of a borrower, as specified, would require that a modification be in writing, and would prohibit a finance lender from charging a borrower a fee for a modification. The bill would prohibit a finance lender or its corporate affiliates from selling or assigning a borrower's delinquent debt to an independent third party for collection until the finance lender or affiliate has attempted to obtain payment directly from the borrower for a period of at least 30 days following a missed payment or delinquency. By broadening the definition of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (2) 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 authorizes a development proponent to submit an application for a multifamily housing development that satisfies specified planning objective standards to be subject to a streamlined, ministerial approval process, as provided, and not subject to a conditional use permit. This bill would authorize a development proponent of a neighborhood multifamily project located on an eligible parcel to submit an application for a streamlined, ministerial approval process that is not subject to a conditional use permit. The bill would define a "neighborhood multifamily project" to mean a project to construct a multifamily structure on vacant land, or to convert an existing structure that does not require substantial exterior alteration into a multifamily structure, consisting of up to 4 residential dwelling units and that meets local height, setback, and lot coverage zoning requirements as they existed on July 1, 2019. The bill would also define "eligible parcel" to mean a parcel that meets specified requirements, including requirements relating to the location of the parcel and restricting the demolition of certain housing development that may already exist on the site. This bill would require a local agency to notify the development proponent in writing if the local agency determines that the development conflicts with any of the requirements provided for streamlined ministerial approval within 60 days of the submission of the development to the local agency. If the local agency does not notify the development proponent within this time period, the development would be deemed to comply with those requirements. The bill would limit the authority of a local agency to impose parking standards or requirements on a streamlined development approved pursuant to these provisions, as provided. The bill would provide that the approval of a project under these provisions expires automatically after 3 years, unless that project qualifies for a one-time, one-year extension of that approval. The bill would provide that approval pursuant to its provisions would remain valid for 3 years and remain valid thereafter, so long as vertical construction of the development has begun and is in progress, and would authorize a discretionary one-year extension, as provided. The bill would prohibit a local agency from adopting any requirement that applies to a project solely or partially on the basis that the project receives ministerial or streamlined approval pursuant to these provisions. This bill would allow a local agency to exempt a project from the streamlined ministerial approval process described above by finding that the project will cause a specific adverse impact to public health and safety, and there is no feasible method to satisfactorily mitigate or avoid the adverse impact. The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of, an environmental impact report on a project that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment or to adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that effect. CEQA also requires a lead agency to prepare a mitigated negative declaration for a project that may have a significant effect on the environment if revisions in the project would avoid or mitigate that effect and there is no substantial evidence that the project, as revised, would have a significant effect on the environment. CEQA does not apply to the approval of ministerial projects. This bill would establish a streamlined ministerial approval process for neighborhood multifamily projects, thereby exempting these projects from the CEQA approval process. (2) Existing law, known as the density bonus law, requires, when an applicant proposes a housing development within the jurisdiction of a local government, that the city, county, or city and county provide the developer with a density bonus and other incentives or concessions for the production of lower income housing units or for the donation of land within the development if the developer, among other things, agrees to construct a specified percentage of units for very low, low-, or moderate-income households or qualifying residents. This bill, on or after January 1, 2023, would require a specified city, county, or city and county to grant upon request an equitable communities incentive when a development proponent seeks and agrees to construct a residential development, as defined, that satisfies specified criteria, including, among other things, that the residential development is either a job-rich housing project or a transit-rich housing project, as those terms are defined; the site does not contain, or has not contained, housing occupied by tenants or accommodations withdrawn from rent or lease in accordance with specified law within specified time periods; and the residential development complies with specified additional requirements under existing law. The bill would impose additional requirements on a residential development located within a county with a population equal to or less than 600,000. The bill would require that a residential development within a county with a population greater than 600,000 that is eligible for an equitable communities incentive receive, upon request, waivers from maximum controls on density; minimum automobile parking requirements greater than 0.5 parking spots per unit; and specified additional waivers if the residential development is located within a 12-mile or 14-mile radius of a major transit stop, as defined. For a residential development within a county with a population equal to or less than 600,000, the bill would instead require that the incentive provide waivers from maximum controls on density, subject to certain limitations; maximum height limitations less than or equal to one story, or 15 feet, above the highest allowable height for mixed use or residential use; certain requirements governing the size of the parcel and the area that the building may occupy; and minimum automobile parking requirements, as provided. The bill would require a local government to grant an equitable communities incentive unless it makes a specified finding regarding the effects of the incentive on any real property or historic district that is listed on a federal or state register of historical resources. The bill would authorize a local government to modify or expand the terms of an equitable communities incentive, provided that the equitable communities incentive is consistent with these provisions. The bill would delay implementation of these provisions in potentially sensitive communities, as defined, until July 1, 2023. The bill would further delay implementation of these provisions in sensitive communities, determined as provided, until January 1, 2026, unless the city or county in which the area is located votes to make these provisions applicable after a specified petition and public hearing process. On and after January 1, 2026, the bill would apply these provisions to a sensitive community unless the city or county adopts a community plan for the area that meets certain requirements. The bill would also exempt from these provisions a local government that has a local flexibility plan that has been reviewed and certified by the Department of Housing and Community Development, as specified. The bill, on or before July 1, 2021, would require the Governor's Office of Planning and Research, in consultation with the Department of Housing and Community Development, to develop and publish on its internet website rules, regulations, or guidelines for the submission and approval of a local flexibility plan, as specified. The bill, on or after July 1, 2021, would authorize a local government to submit a local flexibility plan for review and approval by the Department of Housing and Community Development pursuant to those rules, regulations, or guidelines. The bill would include findings that the changes proposed by these provisions address a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair and, therefore, apply to all cities, including charter cities. The Housing Accountability Act prohibits a local agency from disapproving, or conditioning approval in a manner that renders infeasible, a housing development project that complies with applicable, objective general plan, zoning, and subdivision standards and criteria in effect at the time the application for the project is deemed complete unless the local agency makes specified written findings based on a preponderance of the evidence in the record. That law provides that the receipt of a density bonus is not a valid basis on which to find a proposed housing development is inconsistent, not in compliance, or not in conformity with an applicable plan, program, policy, ordinance, standard, requirement, or other similar provision of that act. This bill would additionally provide that the receipt of an equitable communities incentive is not a valid basis on which to find a proposed housing development is inconsistent, not in compliance, or not in conformity with an applicable plan, program, policy, ordinance, standard, requirement, or other similar provision of that act. (3) By adding to the duties of local planning officials, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
The California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection, and Outdoor Access For All Act of 2018, approved by the voters as Proposition 68 at the June 5, 2018, statewide primary direct election, authorizes the issuance of bonds in the amount of $4,100,000,000 pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law to finance a drought, water, parks, climate, coastal protection, and outdoor access for all program. This bill would enact the Wildfire Prevention, Safe Drinking Water, Drought Preparation, and Flood Protection Bond Act of 2020, which, if approved by the voters, would authorize the issuance of bonds in the amount of $5,510,000,000 pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law to finance projects for a wildfire prevention, safe drinking water, drought preparation, and flood protection program. This bill would provide for the submission of these provisions to the voters at the November 3, 2020, statewide general election. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.
This measure would name the public street, circle, and plaza at 914 and 915 Capitol Mall in the City of Sacramento as the Willie L. Brown, Jr. Circle and Plaza. The measure would request the Department of General Services to determine the cost of erecting the appropriate signage commemorating this special designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate sources, to cover that cost to erect that signage.
Existing law establishes the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and charges it with certain duties and powers, including, among other things, the operation of prisons and other specified institutions. This bill would require the department to establish a Peace Officer Peer Support Labor Management Committee tasked with crafting, updating, and monitoring the implementation of a standardized statewide peace officer policy for the department's peer support program to provide substantive assistance to the peace officers employed by the department. The bill would require the committee to be composed of an equal number of representatives of the employer and peace officer employees, and would require the members of the committee to be selected and hold their first meeting on or before July 1, 2020. The bill would require the policy to address, among other things, the selection process and training for peer support team members, and guidelines for the types of communication that would remain confidential within the peer support program. The bill would require the policy to be fully implemented by January 1, 2022. The bill would require the department to submit, beginning July 1, 2020, an annual report to the Legislature that contains data pertaining to the utilization rates of the peace officer peer support program statewide.
(1) The Ortiz-Pacheco-Poochigian-Vasconcellos Cal Grant Program establishes the Cal Grant A and B Entitlement awards, the California Community College Transfer Entitlement awards, the Competitive Cal Grant A and B awards, the Cal Grant C awards, and the Cal Grant T awards under the administration of the Student Aid Commission, and establishes eligibility requirements for awards under these programs for participating students attending qualifying institutions. The program prohibits a student who is incarcerated from being eligible to receive a Cal Grant award. This bill would repeal that prohibition and make conforming changes. (2) This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 69433.9 of the Education Code proposed by SB 296 to be operative only if this bill and SB 296 are enacted and this bill is enacted last.
Existing law establishes, in the Government Operations Agency, the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (department) and transfers to the department the duty to administer various taxes and fees that had previously been administered by the State Board of Equalization, except for those duties, powers, and responsibilities imposed or conferred upon the board by the California Constitution, as specified. Existing law, for these purposes, also transfers to the department the board's employees serving in civil service, the rights and property of the board, and the board's funding, as provided, and requires the department to provide the board with administrative and personnel services. This bill would require board personnel to provide the department with information and materials, in the form and manner as requested by the department, that are necessary for the department to provide administrative and personnel services.
