Existing law requires the State Air Resources Board to develop and adopt hydrogen fuel regulations to ensure that state funding for the production and use of hydrogen fuel contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, criteria air pollutant emissions, and toxic air contaminant emissions, including by requiring that, on a statewide basis, no less than 33.3% of the hydrogen produced for, or dispensed by, fueling stations that receive state funds be made from eligible renewable energy resources, as specified. Under existing law, a violation of those regulations, and other provisions pertaining to motor vehicle fuels, is a crime. This bill would require, on and after January 1, 2045, that all hydrogen produced or used in California for the generation of electricity or fueling of vehicles be renewable hydrogen of nonbiological origin, as defined, or renewable hydrogen of biological origin, as defined, in furtherance of the state's policy to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible, but no later than 2045. The bill would require the state board, in consultation with the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Energy Commission) , to develop interim targets to ensure the state achieves that requirement. Because a violation of a state board regulation implementing this requirement would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Renewables Portfolio Standard Program requires the PUC to establish a renewables portfolio standard requiring all retail sellers, as defined, to procure a minimum quantity of electricity products from eligible renewable energy resources, as defined, so that the total kilowatthours of those products sold to their retail end-use customers achieves 25% of retail sales by December 31, 2016, 33% by December 31, 2020, 44% by December 31, 2024, 52% by December 31, 2027, and 60% by December 31, 2030. This bill would prohibit renewable hydrogen of nonbiological origin or renewable hydrogen of biological origin used by a generating facility from qualifying as an eligible renewable energy resource for purposes of that requirement unless it satisfies all applicable requirements established by the Energy Commission and meets specified requirements. For all electricity generated using renewable hydrogen of nonbiological origin or renewable hydrogen of biological origin that is credited toward the renewables portfolio standard procurement obligations, the bill would require that sufficient renewable and environmental green attributes, as defined, of renewable hydrogen of nonbiological origin or renewable hydrogen of biological origin production and capture be transferred to the retail seller or local publicly owned electric utility that uses that renewable hydrogen of nonbiological origin or renewable hydrogen of biological origin to ensure that there are zero net emissions associated with the production of electricity from the generating facility using the renewable hydrogen of nonbiological origin or renewable hydrogen of biological origin. The bill would require all sellers and purchasers of renewable hydrogen of nonbiological origin or renewable hydrogen of biological origin to comply with a system for tracking and verifying the use of renewable hydrogen of nonbiological origin or renewable hydrogen of biological origin established by the Energy Commission, as specified. Under existing law, a violation of the Public Utilities Act or any order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the PUC is a crime. Because certain of the above provisions would be part of the act and a violation of a PUC action implementing this bill's requirements would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. 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, the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975, provides for the licensure and regulation of health care service plans by the Department of Managed Health Care, and makes a willful violation of the act a crime. Existing law provides for the regulation of health insurers by the Department of Insurance. Existing law requires a health care service plan contract or health insurance policy to provide maternity coverage, and prohibits the restriction, reduction, or denial of specified maternity benefits. This bill would require a health care service plan contract or health insurance policy issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2024, to provide coverage for pelvic floor physical therapy after pregnancy. Because a willful violation of the bill's requirements relative to health care service plans would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. 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 establishes the California State University, under the administration of the Trustees of the California State University, as one of the segments of public postsecondary education in the state. This bill would establish the Legislative Internship Program under the administration of the California State University's Center for California Studies to provide paid internship opportunities at offices of the Legislature, to qualified applicants, as provided. The bill would establish the Legislative Internship Program Fund as the initial depository of all moneys appropriated, donated, or otherwise received for the program, and upon appropriation by the Legislature, would require the Center for California Studies to distribute moneys in the fund to program participants, as specified. Existing law requires all appropriations for contingent expenses of the Senate and the Assembly and legislative committees thereof to be available and disbursed, as provided. This bill would prohibit these funds from being used to provide a paid internship position pursuant to the Legislative Internship Program.
Existing law defines an electric bicycle and classifies electric bicycles into 3 classes with different restrictions. Under existing law, an electric bicycle is a bicycle and rules pertaining to the operation of bicycles apply to electric bicycles. Existing law prohibits a person under 16 years of age from operating a class 3 electric bicycle. A violation of the Vehicle Code is a crime. This bill would prohibit a person under 12 years of age from operating an electric bicycle of any class. The bill would state the intent of the Legislature to create an e-bike license program with an online written test and a state-issued photo identification for those persons without a valid driver's license, prohibit persons under 12 years of age from riding e-bikes, and create a stakeholders working group composed of the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Department of the California Highway Patrol, the Transportation Agency, bicycle groups, policy and fiscal staff, and other relevant stakeholders to work on recommendations to establish an e-bike training program and license. Because the bill would prohibit certain persons from riding electric bicycles, the violation of which would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. 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 allows the board of supervisors of any county to establish the office of the public defender and requires the public defender to, among other duties, defend a person who is not financially able to employ counsel and who is charged with the commission of a crime. Existing law authorizes the court to make the final determination as to whether a defendant is financially able to employ counsel and qualifies for the services of the public defender. This bill would require this representation to commence as soon as feasible after being notified of a person's arrest, but in any case within 24 hours after booking or sufficiently before the arraignment to allow the provision of meaningful representation, as specified. The bill would establish a presumption that a person detained when this representation begins is unable to financially employ counsel and eligible for indigent defense services. The bill would additionally require the public defender or indigent defense provider to, prior to the arraignment, individually and confidentially advise a person who has been cited or arrested for a misdemeanor or felony on the importance of the right to counsel, including potential collateral consequences and the right to the assistance of counsel at no expense if the defendant is not financially able to employ counsel. The bill would require the court to ensure this advisal has occurred prior to accepting a waiver of counsel. (2) Under existing law, immediately upon being booked and, except where physically impossible, no later than three hours after arrest, an arrested person has the right to make at least three completed telephone calls, as specified. Existing law requires that a sign informing the arrested person of this right be posted in a conspicuous place. Under existing law, if the arrested person is identified as a custodial parent with responsibility for a minor child, the arrested person is entitled to make 2 additional calls for the purpose of arranging for the care of the minor child in the parent's absence, as specified. This bill would additionally require the arresting or booking officer to verbally inform the arrested person of this right. The bill would specify that the arrested person has the right to free telephone calls both during and outside of business hours. The bill would allow an arrested person to make 2 additional calls if they are responsible for providing care to another household member for the purpose of arranging for their care. The bill would require the arresting or booking officer to, immediately upon booking and no later than 2 hours after arrest, notify the public defender or indigent defense provider for the county that the arrested person is in custody. (3) Existing law prohibits the court from accepting a plea of guilty for a felony not punishable by death or life imprisonment from a defendant who does not appear with counsel unless the court fully informs the defendant of the right to counsel and finds that the defendant understands the right and freely waives it, as specified. This bill would expand this to misdemeanors, require an additional advisal prior to a person waiving the right to counsel, and require the court to inform the defendant through an individualized colloquy and in writing of their right to counsel, as specified. The bill would establish a presumption that a plea taken without counsel is not knowing, intelligent, and voluntary, as specified. The bill would prohibit a prosecutor and judge from communicating a plea offer, disposition, or resolution to a defendant unless counsel is present or the defendant has waived counsel, as specified. (4) Existing law requires a person arrested to be taken before a magistrate without delay and, in any event, within 48 hours after arrest, not including weekends and holidays, as specified. Existing law allows an attorney to visit a prisoner after their arrest upon the request of the prisoner or their relative, as specified. This bill would additionally allow an attorney's representative to visit a prisoner after their arrest. By expanding the duties of the public defender and imposing new duties on local agencies, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. 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, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
The Personal Income Tax Law allows various credits against the taxes imposed by that law. Existing law establishes the continuously appropriated Tax Relief and Refund Account and provides that payments required to be made to taxpayers or other persons from the Personal Income Tax Fund are to be paid from that account. This bill would, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2025, and before January 1, 2030, allow a credit against the tax imposed by that law in an amount equal to $1,500 to a taxpayer for the adoption of a retired law enforcement dog, as provided. The bill would require the amount of the credit exceeding the taxpayer's liability to be credited against other amounts due, if any, and would require the balance, upon appropriation, to be paid from the Tax Relief and Refund Account and refunded to the taxpayer. Existing law requires a bill authorizing a new tax expenditure to contain, among other things, specific goals, purposes, and objectives the tax expenditure will achieve, detailed performance indicators, and data collection requirements. This bill would include additional information required for any bill authorizing a new tax expenditure. This bill would take effect immediately as a tax levy.
The Unruh Civil Rights Act provides that all persons within the jurisdiction of this state are free and equal, and regardless of their sex, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship, primary language, or immigration status are entitled to the full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities, privileges, or services in all business establishments of every kind whatsoever. The California Fair Employment and Housing Act protects and safeguards the right and opportunity of all persons to seek, obtain, and hold employment without discrimination, abridgment, or harassment on account of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, reproductive health decisionmaking, or veteran or military status. The act establishes the Civil Rights Department within the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency and requires the department to, among other things, bring civil actions to enforce the act. This bill would, among other things, require a deployer, as defined, and a developer of an automated decision tool, as defined, to, on or before January 1, 2025, and annually thereafter, perform an impact assessment for any automated decision tool the deployer uses that includes, among other things, a statement of the purpose of the automated decision tool and its intended benefits, uses, and deployment contexts. The bill would require a deployer or developer to provide the impact assessment to the Civil Rights Department within 60 days of its completion and would punish a violation of that provision with an administrative fine of not more than $10,000 to be recovered in an administrative enforcement action brought by the Civil Rights Department. The bill would authorize certain public attorneys, including the Attorney General, to bring a civil action against a deployer or developer for a violation of the bill. The bill would require a public attorney to, before commencing an action for injunctive relief, provide 45 days' written notice to a deployer or developer of the alleged violations of the bill and would provide a deployer or developer a specified opportunity to cure those violations, if, among other things, the deployer or developer provides the person who gave the notice an express written statement, under penalty of perjury, that the violation has been cured and that no further violations shall occur. By expanding the scope of the crime of perjury, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would require a deployer to, at or before the time an automated decision tool is used to make a consequential decision, as defined, notify any natural person that is the subject of the consequential decision that an automated decision tool is being used to make, or be a controlling factor in making, the consequential decision and to provide that person with, among other things, a statement of the purpose of the automated decision tool. The bill would, if a consequential decision is made solely based on the output of an automated decision tool, require a deployer to, if technically feasible, accommodate a natural person's request to not be subject to the automated decision tool and to be subject to an alternative selection process or accommodation, as prescribed. This bill would prohibit a deployer from using an automated decision tool that results in algorithmic discrimination, which the bill would define to mean the condition in which an automated decision tool contributes to unjustified differential treatment or impacts disfavoring people based on their actual or perceived race, color, ethnicity, sex, religion, age, national origin, limited English proficiency, disability, veteran status, genetic information, reproductive health, or any other classification protected by state law. The bill would, on and after January 1, 2026, authorize a person to bring a civil action against a deployer or developer for a violation of that provision. This bill would define "deployer" and "developer" to include a local government agency and would thereby impose a state-mandated local program. 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 with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
Existing law establishes within state government the Transportation Agency, which consists of the Department of the California Highway Patrol, the California Transportation Commission, the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Department of Transportation, the High-Speed Rail Authority, and the Board of Pilot Commissioners for the Bays of San Francisco, San Pablo, and Suisun. The agency is under the supervision of the Secretary of Transportation, who has the power of general supervision over each department within the agency. The secretary, among other duties, is charged with advising the Governor on, and assist the Governor in establishing, major policy and program matters affecting each department, office, or other unit within the agency. This bill would, upon appropriation by the Legislature, require the agency to develop and distribute, on or before September 1, 2024, a bicycle safety handbook that includes information on, among other things, existing laws regulating bicycles and e-bikes, safety equipment, and sharing roads and bikeways with other users, as specified. The bill would require the agency to make a downloadable electronic version of the bicycle safety handbook available on the internet, as specified, and in print at all Department of Motor Vehicles offices, state libraries, Department of the California Highway Patrol offices, and other appropriate state offices. In developing the handbook, the bill would require collaboration and consultation between the agency and the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Department of the California Highway Patrol, the California Office of Traffic Safety, the Department of Transportation, and other relevant stakeholders, as specified.
Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission with regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations and gas corporations. Existing law authorizes the commission to fix the rates and charges for every public utility and requires that those rates and charges be just and reasonable. Existing law requires the commission to direct each gas corporation and electrical corporation that, for some portion of residential customers, employs every-other-month meter reading and estimates bills for months when the customer's meter is not read to include in its tariffs the methodology it employs to estimate bills for those months. This bill would require the commission, in a new or existing proceeding, to evaluate the energy usage estimation methodologies and mechanisms of electrical corporations and gas corporations in order to correct inaccurate energy usage estimates.
Existing law establishes within the Department of Technology the Office of Broadband and Digital Literacy. The office oversees the acquisition and management of contracts for the development and construction of, and for the maintenance and operation of, a statewide open-access middle-mile broadband network, as defined, to provide an opportunity for last-mile providers, anchor institutions, and tribal entities to connect to, and interconnect with other networks and other appropriate connections to, the broadband network to facilitate high-speed broadband service, as specified. Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission with regulatory authority over public utilities, including telephone corporations. Existing law requires the commission to develop, implement, and administer the California Advanced Services Fund to encourage deployment of high-quality advanced communications services to all Californians that will promote economic growth, job creation, and the substantial social benefits of advanced information and communications technologies. This bill would establish within state government the Office of Broadband and Digital Equity. This bill would establish the Office of Broadband and Digital Equity Board with members, as specified. The bill would provide the purpose of the office is to serve as a centralized state office for broadband and digital activities within the state. The bill would also specify the office has the powers and authorities to develop and implement policies to promote broadband service and to protect consumers from unfair business practices relating to broadband services.
Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission with regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations. Existing law requires the commission to identify a diverse and balanced portfolio of resources needed to ensure a reliable electricity supply that provides optimal integration of renewable energy in a cost-effective manner. Existing law requires the portfolio to rely upon zero-carbon-emitting resources to the maximum extent reasonable and be designed to achieve the statewide greenhouse gas emissions limit. This bill would specify that a diverse and balanced portfolio of resources includes an appropriate mix of renewable capacity, including peaking, dispatchable, baseload, firm, and as-available capacity.
Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of various professions and vocations by boards within the Department of Consumer Affairs. Existing law authorizes a board, as defined, to suspend a license on certain bases, including if the licensee is not in compliance with a child support order or judgment. Under the Contractors State License Law, the Contractors State License Board is responsible for the licensure, regulation, and discipline of contractors, as defined. This bill would require the Contractors State License Board, by January 1, 2025, to adopt regulations to provide for withholding issuance or renewal of a license application if the qualifying individual, responsible managing officer, or responsible managing employee is not in compliance with a child support order or judgment, as provided. The bill would require the board's regulations to provide for the suspension of licenses if the Department of Child Support Services provides the board with a list of delinquent child support obligors and the qualifying individual, responsible managing officer, or responsible managing employee for the license is not in compliance with a child support order. This bill would require licensees to notify the registrar of the board in writing of any earnings assignment order for child support issued by a court that includes an amount ordered to be paid toward the liquidation of an arrearage owed, unless the arrearage has been paid or the order has been suspended. The bill would require a license to be automatically suspended if the licensee fails to notify the registrar in writing within 120 days of the issuance of the earnings assignment order, as provided. The bill would require the board to adopt regulations providing procedures for the suspension of the license of a licensee who is out of compliance with a judgment or order of support that requires payment of unsatisfied arrearages.
