Sen. Andreas Borgeas

Existing law generally requires a court in a judgment of dissolution of marriage or judgment of legal separation of the parties to make a property division that equally divides the community estate of the parties, except as otherwise specified. Existing law authorizes a court, upon request of a party to proceedings for dissolution of marriage or for legal separation of the parties and notwithstanding other requirements for dividing the community estate of the parties, to assign sole or joint ownership of a community property pet animal taking into consideration the care of the pet animal. This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to those provisions.

This measure would extend to the people of the Province of Syunik in Armenia an invitation to join with California in a sister state relationship until January 1, 2026.

Existing law generally governs a patient's access to the patient's own health records. Existing law establishes procedures for providing access to health care records or summaries of those records by patients and by those persons who have responsibility for decisions regarding the health care of others, as described. Existing law sets forth the Legislature's findings and declarations regarding the right of access to that information, as specified. This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to those findings and declarations.

Existing law authorizes the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners, the Osteopathic Medical Board of California, and any board within the Department of Consumer Affairs to issue a citation to a licensee, which may contain an order of abatement or an order to pay an administrative fine assessed by the board. This bill would prohibit the assessment of an administrative fine for a minor violation, and would specify that a violation shall be considered minor if it meets specified conditions, including that the violation did not pose a serious health or safety threat and there is no evidence that the violation was willful.

Existing law, the California Disaster Assistance Act, requires the Director of Emergency Services to provide financial assistance to local agencies for their personnel costs, equipment costs, and the cost of supplies and materials used during disaster response activities, incurred as a result of a state of emergency proclaimed by the Governor, subject to specified criteria. Under the act, the state share for eligible project costs is generally 75% of total eligible costs, and for specified incidents, the state share is up to 100% of total eligible costs. The act continuously appropriates moneys in the Disaster Assistance Fund and its subsidiary account, the Earthquake Emergency Investigations Account, without regard to fiscal year, for purposes of the act. This bill would allow for a state share of up to 100% of total eligible costs related to the Creek Fire that started on September 4, 2020, in the Counties of Fresno and Madera. By authorizing increased expenditure of moneys from a continuously appropriated fund, the bill would make an appropriation. This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the Counties of Fresno and Madera.

Existing law, the California Tourism and Marketing Act, establishes a nonprofit mutual benefit corporation named the California Travel and Tourism Commission under the direction of a board of commissioners composed of 37 members, including the Director of the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development. This bill, the California Tourism Recovery Act, would require the commission to, upon a determination by the State Department of Public Health that it is safe to resume travel in California, implement a strategic media and jobs recovery campaign known as the "Calling All Californians" program for the purpose of reversing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the travel and tourism industry in California, as specified. The bill would require the commission to report to the Legislature, on or before January 1, 2024, regarding the cost of the program and the impact of the program on the tourism industry in California. The bill would require, only upon appropriation by the Legislature, the Controller to transfer $45,000,000 to the commission for the purpose of implementing the "Calling All Californians" program.

Existing law makes it a crime to maliciously inform another person that a bomb or other explosive has been or will be placed in any public or private area, knowing that the information is false, and makes it punishable as a misdemeanor or a felony. This bill would make it a crime to maliciously inform another person that unlawful killing or unlawful great bodily injury will occur at any public or private place by means of a mass shooting, mass stabbing, bombing, or any other unlawful act while knowing that information to be false. 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 Forestry and Fire Protection to establish a local assistance grant program for fire prevention activities in California. Existing law defines "fire prevention activities" for these purposes to mean those lawful activities that reduce the risk of wildfire in California, as provided. This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to the definition of "fire prevention activities."

Existing law establishes the Office of Small Business Advocate, within the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development, and establishes the duties and functions of the Director of the Office of Small Business Advocate including, among other duties, representing the views and interests of small businesses before other state agencies whose policies and activities may affect small businesses. Existing law requires each state agency that significantly regulates small business or that significantly impacts small business to designate at least one person who is required to serve as a small business liaison. This bill would require a state agency to establish a policy, by January 1, 2023, that provides for the reduction or waiver of civil penalties for a violation of a regulatory or statutory requirement by a small business if the violation did not involve willful or criminal conduct and did not pose a serious health, safety, or environmental threat. The bill would require the policy to include various factors the state agency would be required to consider when making a determination as to whether to reduce or waive the civil penalty. The bill would authorize the state agency to update the policy to reflect current issues and conditions affecting small businesses and the state agency. This bill would require the state agency to post a current copy of the policy on the state agency's internet website and to annually post a utilization report that contains specified information about enforcement actions and penalty reductions and waivers. The bill would require a state agency to notify the Office of Small Business Advocate of certain events relating to its policy and annual report. This bill would make the bill's provisions operative only upon the Legislature making an appropriation to implement these provisions.

Existing law requires a vote by mail voter to return a voted vote by mail ballot (1) by mail or in person to the elections official, (2) in person to a member of a precinct board at a polling place or vote center, or (3) to a vote by mail ballot dropoff location, as specified. It also requires elections officials to establish procedures to track and confirm the receipt of voted vote by mail ballots and to make this information available online, as specified. This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to this latter provision.