Existing law establishes the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, which may adjudge a child to be a dependent of the court under certain circumstances, including when the child has suffered abuse or neglect, as specified. Existing law also authorizes the juvenile court to adjudge any minor between 12 years of age and 17 years of age, inclusive, to be a ward of the court if the minor has violated criminal or other specified statutes. Existing law requires the probation department and child welfare service department in each county to jointly develop a written protocol, as specified, to ensure appropriate local coordination in the assessment of a minor who appears to come within the description of both a dependent child and a ward of the juvenile court. Existing law requires the State Department of Social Services to issue instructions to all counties on how to completely and consistently track the involvement of these youth in both the child welfare system and the juvenile justice system. Existing law, commencing July 1, 2020, abolishes the Division of Juvenile Justice and replaces it with the Department of Youth and Community Restoration in the California Health and Human Services Agency. This bill would require the California Health and Human Services Agency to, on or before January 1, 2023, coordinate the efforts of the State Department of Social Services and the Department of Youth and Community Restoration to implement a common identifier for counties to use to reconcile data across child welfare and juvenile justice systems statewide.
Sponsored bills
The Local Agency Public Construction Act governs contracting by the San Joaquin Regional Transit District for the purchase of supplies, equipment, and materials. The act requires the district, when such an expenditure exceeds $50,000, to make that purchase by contract let to the lowest responsible bidder. The act requires the district to publish notice requesting bids at least once in a newspaper of general circulation. This bill would increase that competitive bidding threshold to $150,000 and specify that the contract be let to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. The bill would additionally authorize notice by publication on a public internet website.
This measure would declare March 5, 2020, as Family Justice Center Day in California and would recognize the lifesaving and hope-giving work of the California Family Justice Center Network and its member Family Justice Centers as they work with rape crisis centers, domestic violence shelters, human trafficking agencies, prosecutors' offices, law enforcement agencies, and other professionals and community-based organizations to ensure that adult and child survivors of trauma can access all of their services in one setting.
This measure would recognize March 7, 2020, as California Arbor Day, and would urge California residents to observe the day with appropriate tree-planting activities and programs.
Existing law, the Motor Carriers of Property Permit Act, prohibits a motor carrier of property, as defined, from operating a commercial motor vehicle on any public highway in the state, unless it has obtained a carrier identification number in accordance with specified provisions, has registered the identification number with the Department of Motor Vehicles, and holds a valid motor carrier permit issued to that motor carrier by the department upon the payment of a fee and proof of insurance and workers' compensation coverage. Existing law specifies that a "commercial motor vehicle" does not include certain vehicles, including a pickup truck, defined as having a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating of less than 11,500 pounds, an unladen weight of less than 8,001 pounds, and which is equipped with an open box-type bed not exceeding 9 feet in length. Under existing law, pickup truck does not include a vehicle meeting this description that is equipped with a utility body bed mounted storage compartment. This bill would change the definition of a pickup truck, for purposes of the Motor Carriers of Property Permit Act, to include a motor truck with a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating of less than 16,000 pounds that is equipped with an open box-type bed not exceeding 9 feet in length that may be equipped with a bed-mounted storage compartment unit commonly called a "utility bed."
This measure would memorialize the achievements of Rosa Parks in the Civil Rights Movement and would commemorate the 20th Anniversary of Rosa Parks Day in California on February 4, 2020.
Existing law establishes the California Health and Human Services Agency, which includes the State Department of Public Health, among other state departments charged with the administration of health, social, and other human services. Under existing law, the State Department of Public Health has authority over various programs promoting public health, including genetic disease testing and newborn screenings. This bill would establish the Office of the Rare Disease Ombudsperson and the Rare Disease Advisory Council within the California Health and Human Services Agency. The bill would require the Rare Disease Ombudsperson to be appointed by the Governor, with recommendations from the agency. The bill would prescribe the duties of the ombudsperson, including advocating for persons diagnosed with rare diseases and ensuring that those individuals are provided with necessary medical services. This bill would specify the purposes of the Rare Disease Advisory Council, including, among others, coordinating statewide efforts for the study of the incidence of rare diseases within the state, and acting as the advisory body on rare diseases to the Legislature and state and private agencies that provide services to persons with rare diseases. Under the bill, the duties of the advisory council would include, among others, adopting implementing regulations, researching and determining the most appropriate method to collect data on rare diseases, and identifying best practices for rare disease care. The bill would specify the composition of the advisory council, including the Rare Disease Ombudsperson and members appointed by the Secretary of California Health and Human Services and the State Public Health Officer. Before any appointments are made, the bill would require the agency to research and report to the Legislature on existing sources of funding that may be used to finance the formation and operation of the advisory council. The bill would require the advisory council to apply for, and accept, any grant of funds from the federal government, private foundations, or other sources, as specified. The bill would require the advisory council to meet at least 3 times annually and to report to the agency and the Legislature every 2 years on its activities, findings, and recommendations.