Existing law, until January 1, 2030, authorizes a local agency, as defined, to install automated forward-facing parking control devices on city-owned or district-owned parking enforcement vehicles for the purpose of taking photographs of parking violations occurring in bicycle lanes. Existing law requires a qualified and designated employee of a city, county, city and county, or contracted law enforcement agency for a special transit district to review these photographs for the purpose of determining whether a parking violation occurred in a bicycle lane and to issue a notice of violation to the registered owner of a vehicle within 15 calendar days, as specified. Existing law requires these photographic records to be confidential and makes these records available only to public agencies to enforce parking violations. Existing law requires any local agency that implements a parking enforcement program under these provisions to provide to specified committees of the Legislature an evaluation report on, among other things, the automated enforcement system's effectiveness and impact on traffic outcomes, by December 31, 2028. Existing law prohibits the stopping, standing, or parking of a vehicle in certain places and under certain conditions, including within an intersection, on a sidewalk or crosswalk, or in front of a fire station. This bill would instead authorize local agencies to install forward-facing parking control devices on specified enforcement vehicles for the purpose of taking video images of parking violations and expand the automated parking control device program to include the enforcement of the parking violations described above. The bill would similarly require any local agency that implements an automated device program for the enforcement of these additional parking violations to submit an evaluation report to specified committees of the Legislature by December 31, 2030. The bill would extend the operation of the program's provisions to January 1, 2033. The bill would also authorize a local agency to establish an enhanced curb management system that records images of vehicles for the purpose of enforcing parking violations or automating parking payments if certain requirements are met. The bill would require the governing body of the local agency to adopt a public ordinance or resolution that would authorize the use of a system in specified locations, including, among others, passenger loading zones and commercial loading zones. The bill would require a local agency that automates parking payments by charging vehicles a fee for access to outline the fee, and any adjusted rates, in an ordinance or resolution. The bill would require the system to record images of the vehicle and license plate at the time of the violation. The bill would require the image data to be reviewed and approved by a peace officer or person authorized to enforce parking laws before mailing the notice of violation. The bill would require the notice of violation to be mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle within 15 calendar days, as specified. The bill would require the image data collected by the system and any identifying information to be confidential and would require that the image data only be used for the purpose of processing parking violations and charging vehicles a fee for access. The bill would require a local agency to observe a public information campaign for at least 60 days before issuing citations, as specified. The bill would require a local agency to report periodically to the Legislature on the system's impact, as specified. The bill would expand the definition of "local agency" to include the parking enforcement agencies of the University of California, the California State University, or a college of the California Community Colleges, thereby authorizing these institutions to implement an automated parking control device program or an enhanced curb management system. Existing constitutional provisions require that a statute that limits the right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for protecting that interest. This bill would make legislative findings to that effect.
Existing law, the Private Security Services Act, requires the Director of Consumer Affairs to administer its provisions. Existing law requires the business of a licensee under the act to be operated under the direction, control, charge, or management of the licensee, if they are qualified, or the person who is qualified to act as the qualified manager, and establishes requirements for a qualified manager, including obtaining a qualification certificate from the bureau. Existing law defines a BB device as an instrument that expels a projectile, such as a BB or a pellet, through the force of air pressure, gas pressure, or spring action, or any spot marker gun. This bill would allow a person employed by a licensee to carry or use a BB device meeting certain specifications.
Existing law, the Acupuncture Licensure Act, establishes the Acupuncture Board to license and regulate the practice of acupuncture. Existing law requires an applicant for a license to practice acupuncture to furnish satisfactory evidence of completion of an approved educational and training program, unless the applicant satisfies specified other requirements. Existing law defines "approved educational and training program" to mean a school or college that offers education and training in the practice of an acupuncturist that, among other requirements, offers a curriculum that includes at least 3,000 hours, of which at least 2,050 hours are didactic and laboratory training and at least 950 hours are supervised clinical instruction. This bill, on and after January 1, 2032, would require an approved educational and training program to offer a curriculum that confers a doctoral degree in acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine consisting of not less than 3,300 hours, of which at least 2,220 hours are didactic and laboratory training and at least 1,080 hours are supervised clinical instruction. Existing law makes it unprofessional conduct for an acupuncturist to use the title "Doctor" or the abbreviation "Dr." in connection with the practice of acupuncture unless they possess a license that authorizes that use or they possess a doctoral degree from a specified educational institutions. This bill would make those provisions applicable to the title "Doctor of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine" or the abbreviation "D.A.H.M." The bill would also prohibit a person from using the title "licensed acupuncturist" or the abbreviation "LAc" unless the person holds a valid, unrevoked, and unsuspended license pursuant to the act. The bill would make conforming changes.
Existing law prohibits a person under 21 years of age from playing, being allowed to play, placing wagers at, or collecting winnings from, a controlled game, as specified. Existing law prohibits lottery tickets from being sold to persons under 18 years of age. Existing law prohibits specified unfair acts or practices undertaken or committed by any person in the operation of any contest or sweepstakes, including, among other things, using or offering for use any method, including an internet website or an online application, intended to be used by a person interacting with an electronic video monitor, mobile telephone, computer terminal, or similar internet access device, to simulate gambling. This bill, the Protecting Kids from Online Gambling Act, would prohibit operators of internet websites, online services, online applications, or mobile applications from making available, or advertising, online gambling activities or prediction market wagering to minors, as specified. The bill would prohibit the information collected for purposes of compliance from being used for any purpose unrelated to determining whether the user is a minor, and would require the information to be immediately deleted after age determination is complete, except as specified. The bill would authorize the Attorney General or a city attorney to bring a civil action for a violation of these provisions to obtain specified civil penalties, attorney's fees and costs, and injunctive or declaratory relief. The bill would authorize a minor who suffers actual harm due to a violation of these provisions, or a parent or guardian acting on behalf of that minor, to bring a civil action to obtain specified statutory damages and other relief the court deems proper. The bill would require the Attorney General to adopt regulations to implement these provisions, including regulations governing age assurance standards, on or before July 1, 2027. Existing law, the Unfair Competition Law, makes various practices unlawful and makes a person who engages, has engaged, or proposes to engage in unfair competition liable for a civil penalty, as specified. Existing law authorizes actions for relief prosecuted under the Unfair Competition Law to be brought by certain public attorneys and requires the penalty collected from those actions to be paid to the treasurer of the county or city in which the judgment is entered, as specified. This bill would specify that a violation of the Protecting Kids from Online Gambling Act constitutes unfair competition for purposes of the Unfair Competition Law. This bill would specify that its provisions are severable.
Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission with regulatory jurisdiction over public utilities. Existing law, except as provided, prohibits a public utility from making a change in a rate or classification, or in a rule or contract relating to, or affecting, a rate, classification, or service, or in a privilege or facility, unless the public utility provides 30 days' notice, as specified, to the commission and the public. Under existing law, a violation of this requirement is a crime. This bill would extend the notice requirement to 60 days' notice. By expanding the scope of a crime, 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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
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 requires a lead agency that is preparing an environmental impact report, a negative declaration, or making other determinations, to provide public notice of that fact within a reasonable period of time, as provided. CEQA requires a lead agency to give notice to the last known name and address of all organizations and individuals who have previously requested notice, and to give notice by posting the notice on the internet website of the lead agency, and to give notice through one of 3 different procedures, including direct mailing to the owners and occupants of contiguous property shown on the latest equalized assessment roll. Existing law also requires, for a project involving the burning of municipal wastes, hazardous waste, or refuse-derived fuel, to give notice by direct mailing to the owners and occupants of property within 14 of a mile of any parcel or parcels, as specified. This bill would authorize a lead agency to satisfy the direct mailing requirements listed above by electronic mail if the recipient affirmatively requested to receive notice by electronic mail.
The Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975 prohibits a person, with exceptions, from conducting surface mining operations unless, among other things, a permit is obtained from, a specified reclamation plan is submitted to and approved by, and financial assurances for reclamation have been approved by the lead agency for the operation of the surface mining operation. This bill would prohibit pit dewatering, as defined, in areas with subsurface river flow or groundwater levels shallower than 50 feet below ground.
Existing law authorizes a board of supervisors, with the approval of the tax collector, to assign for purposes of collection any or all delinquent unsecured taxes 90 days after the date upon which they are due and delinquent when, in the judgment of the tax collector, the remedy of collecting taxes due on unsecured property by seizure and sale of property belonging to the assessee will not be used by the tax collector, as specified. This bill would delete the above-described condition related to the judgment and use of remedy by the tax collector for collecting delinquent unsecured taxes, as specified.
Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission with regulatory authority over public utilities. Existing law requires the commission to annually report to the Legislature on its timeliness in resolving cases, information on the disposition of applications for rehearings, and the days that its commissioners presided in and attended hearings, as provided. This bill would require the commission to instead biannually make that report.
Existing law declares the intent of the Legislature to adopt those standards required of drivers by the Federal Highway Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation, as set forth in the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986, and to reduce or prevent commercial motor vehicle accidents, fatalities, and injuries by permitting drivers to hold only one license, disqualifying drivers for certain criminal offenses and serious traffic violations, and strengthening licensing and testing standards. This bill would prohibit the Department of Motor Vehicles from revoking, suspending, cancelling, or downgrading a commercial driver's license based solely on administrative deficiencies or clerical errors created or made by the department, or due to changes in the department's interpretation of domicile or residency requirements, unless the department provides the licensee with a written notice of intent to revoke, suspend, cancel, or downgrade their license at least 180 days prior to the effective date of the action. The bill would require the department to issue a specified notice to the licensee and to prioritize assisting the licensee in resolving the administrative error or deficiency within the 180 day notice period. The bill would require the department to establish a dedicated process to review documents submitted by the affected licensees to expedite compliance. The bill would authorize the department to grant a one-time extension of up to 90 days and require the extension to be granted if the licensee has taken steps to resolve the deficiency but is unable to complete the process within the 180 day period due to processing delays by the department or a federal agency. The bill would require the extension to be granted if the department determines that the licensee is making a good faith effort to comply, and that the issue is likely to be fully resolved within the extension period. The bill would provide that these provisions are to be implemented only to the extent authorized by federal law.
Existing law requires the State Department of Public Health to establish a genetic disease unit to, among other responsibilities, promote a statewide program of information, testing, and counseling services related to genetic diseases, and administer that information, testing, and counseling to each child born in the state, as specified. Existing law requires all information obtained from persons involved in hereditary disorders programs to be held strictly confidential. Existing law sets forth the grounds and procedures for the issuance of a search warrant and authorizes the issuance of a search warrant upon specified grounds, including that the property or things to be seized consist of an item or constitute evidence that tends to show a felony has been committed or that a particular person has committed a felony. This bill would authorize the department to release a portion of the newborn blood specimen card taken from a newborn pursuant to a formal request from a coroner to identify unidentified human remains or to law enforcement in response to a search warrant if the objective of the warrant is to obtain the DNA of a missing person suspected to be a victim of homicide, kidnapping, child abuse resulting in death, or manslaughter. Existing law requires the department, commencing July 1, 2026, to annually generate a report to the Legislature regarding the newborn screening program, including, among other things, the number of new residual screening specimens collected during the previous calendar year. This bill also would require the report to include the number of requests from a coroner and search warrants received by the department and the number of disclosures granted in response to those requests and warrants.
Under existing law, the State Department of Health Care Services is responsible for administering prevention, treatment, and recovery services for alcohol and drug abuse and problem gambling. Existing law defines "alcohol and other drug services" as a service that is designed to encourage recovery from the abuse of alcohol and other drugs, and "alcohol and other drug abuse program" as a collection of alcohol and other drug services that are coordinated to achieve specified objectives. Existing law also provides for the licensure and regulation of adult alcoholism or drug abuse recovery and treatment facilities by the department and authorizes the department to enforce those provisions. This bill, the Body Brokering and Patient Referral Integrity Act, would prohibit any person from offering, paying, soliciting, or receiving a commission, benefit, bonus, or other form of remuneration or from engaging in a split-fee arrangement to induce a referral to a residential treatment facility or in return for acceptance of an individual into a residential treatment facility. The bill would make a violation of that provision a misdemeanor. The bill would define a "residential treatment facility" to include any sober living home, group home, recovery residence, residential care facility, or similar facility providing housing or residential services, in connection with alcohol or substance use disorder treatment or behavioral health recovery. By creating a new crime, 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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
