The Enterprise Zone Act requires the Department of Housing and Community Development to administer the act and to designate no more than 42 enterprise zones at any one time that may be proposed by a city, county, or city and county from applications selected on the basis of the most effective, innovative, and comprehensive regulatory, tax program, and other incentives in attracting private sector investment in the zone proposed. The act specifies that any enterprise zone designated by the department on or after January 1, 1997, may not exceed a designation period of 15 years. Existing law also authorizes an expiring enterprise zone that applies for a new enterprise zone designation and receives a conditional designation letter from the department, to offer, and a taxpayer doing business within the geographic boundaries of the new zone referenced in the conditional designation letter is eligible to receive, all enterprise zone benefits until the department makes a final designation or declines to redesignate the zone, as specified. This bill would authorize an enterprise zone that expired in 2012 that sent a letter to the department in 2012 expressing the intent of the jurisdiction to reapply for a new enterprise zone designation before the expiration of the designation of the enterprise zone. The bill would provide that if that letter was sent and, if before the expiration of the designation of the enterprise zone, the department has not issued a request for proposal and has not conditionally designated the maximum number of enterprise zones within the state, the enterprise zone shall be deemed to be temporarily extended and businesses within the geographic boundaries of the previous enterprise zone may continue to be eligible to receive all enterprise zone benefits. The bill would provide that the temporary extension of an enterprise zone pursuant to this section shall continue until the earlier of December 31, 2014, or the date that the department issues conditional designation letters to the maximum number of enterprise zones within the state. The bill would also require the department to notify the Franchise Tax Board within 60 days of any extension of an enterprise zone designation pursuant to these provisions. The bill would also require the department to notify the Franchise Tax Board within 60 days of the expiration of any enterprise zone pursuant to these provisions. The bill would require an enterprise zone that was temporarily extended pursuant to the provisions of this act to meet certain requirements, including submitting a report to the department and not exceeding the size of the previous enterprise zone by more than 10%. The bill would require the Employment Development Department and the State Department of Education to take certain steps to assist individuals who reside in an enterprise zone temporarily extended pursuant to these provisions. The bill would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2015.
Existing law prohibits smoking of tobacco products inside an enclosed space, as defined, at a place of employment. The violation of the prohibition against smoking in enclosed spaces of places of employment is an infraction punishable by a specified fine. This bill would expand the prohibition on smoking in a place of employment to include an owner-operated business, as defined. This bill would also eliminate most of the specified exemptions that permit smoking in certain work environments, such as hotel lobbies, bars and taverns, banquet rooms, warehouse facilities, private residences used as family day care homes, and employee break rooms. By expanding the scope of an infraction, 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.
Existing law regulates harbors and navigable waters. Existing law provides that those provisions, in so far as they are not in conflict with the admiralty and maritime jurisdiction and laws of the United States, apply to navigable waters of the United States. Existing law regards as navigable and public ways the coast line of the state from the boundary between it and Mexico on the south, to the boundary line between it and Oregon on the north, as defined and determined by the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey. This bill would require the owner or operator of a ship to preserve a crime scene and all physical evidence whenever a violent crime is reported to the owner or operator of the ship at anytime when the ship is within the jurisdiction of the state. The bill would make the owner or operator liable for a civil fine not to exceed $50,000 in an action brought by the district attorney for a failure to satisfy the requirements of these provisions.
Existing law requires the hiring practices and promotional practices of a local agency, as defined, to conform to the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 and prohibits any local agency from, as a part of its hiring practices or promotional practices, employing any educational prerequisites or testing or evaluation methods that are not job-related, unless there is no adverse effect. This bill would prohibit a local agency from inquiring into or considering the criminal history of an applicant or including any inquiry about criminal history on any initial employment application. The bill would authorize a local agency to inquire into or consider an applicant's criminal history after the applicant's qualifications have been screened and the agency has determined the applicant meets the minimum employment requirements, as stated in any notice issued for the position. The bill would not apply to a position for which a local agency is otherwise required by law to conduct a criminal history background check or to any position or individual working within a criminal justice agency, as specified. The bill would also express a legislative finding and declaration that reducing barriers to employment for people who have previously offended, and decreasing unemployment in communities with concentrated numbers of people who have previously offended, is a matter of statewide concern, and that all cities and counties, including charter cities and counties, would be subject to the provisions of the bill.
Existing law prohibits a policy of bodily injury liability insurance covering liability arising out of the ownership, maintenance, or use of any motor vehicle from being issued or delivered in this state to the owner or operator of a motor vehicle, or from being issued or delivered by any insurer licensed in this state upon any motor vehicle then principally used or principally garaged in this state, unless the policy contains, or has added to it by endorsement, a provision with specified coverage limits insuring the insured, the insured's heirs, or legal representative for all sums within the limits that he, she, or they are legally entitled to recover as damages for bodily injury or wrongful death from the owner or operator of an uninsured motor vehicle, except as otherwise provided. Uninsured motorist coverage includes underinsured motorist coverage. This bill would require the California Law Revision Commission to conduct a survey to compare the key provisions of California's underinsured motorist coverage laws with the laws of other states, as specified. The bill would require the commission to conduct the survey in consultation with automobile insurers, consumer attorneys, and the Department of Insurance, and to report its findings to the Legislature no later than December 31, 2013.
Existing law requires the Office of Planning and Research to implement various long-range planning and research policies and goals that are intended to shape statewide development patterns and significantly influence the quality of the state's environment and, in connection with those responsibilities, to adopt guidelines for the preparation and content of the mandatory elements required in city and county general plans. This bill would require the office to prepare and amend the guidelines to contain advice, developed in consultation with the Department of Food and Agriculture, for improving the health of Californians by increasing access to healthy affordable food.
Existing law requires banks to deposit specified securities, which include, among other things, specified letters of credit issued by the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco, with the Treasurer in order to be eligible to receive and retain demand or time deposits of state funds. This bill would instead include letters of credit issued by any Federal Home Loan Bank.
The Community Redevelopment Law authorizes the establishment of redevelopment agencies in communities to address the effects of blight, and, among other things, provides that an action may be brought to review the validity of specified agency actions, findings, or determinations that occurred after January 1, 2011, within 2 years of the triggering event. This bill would toll the time limit for bringing an action until the Department of Finance issues a finding of completion to the successor agency. Existing law dissolved redevelopment agencies and community development agencies, as of February 1, 2012, and provides for the designation of successor agencies, as defined. Existing law requires successor agencies to wind down the affairs of the dissolved redevelopment agencies and to, among other things, make payments due for enforceable obligations, as defined, perform obligations required pursuant to any enforceable obligation, dispose of all assets of the former redevelopment agency, and to remit unencumbered balances of redevelopment agency funds, including housing funds, to the county auditor-controller for distribution to taxing entities. Existing law authorizes the city, county, or city and county that authorized the creation of a redevelopment agency to retain the housing assets, functions, and powers previously performed by the redevelopment agency, excluding amounts on deposit in the Low and Moderate Income Housing Fund. The bill would modify provisions relating to the transfer of housing responsibilities associated with dissolved redevelopment agencies and would define the term "housing asset" for these purposes. The bill would impose new requirements on successor agencies with regard to the submittal of the Recognized Obligation Payment Schedule, the conducting of a due diligence review to determine the unobligated balances available for transfer to affected taxing entities, and the recovery and subsequent remittance of funds determined to have been transferred absent an enforceable obligation. The bill would authorize the Department of Finance to issue a finding of completion to a successor agency that completes the due diligence review and meets other requirements. Upon receiving a finding of completion, the bill would authorize the successor agency to participate in a loan repayment program and limited property management activities. Existing law authorizes the Department of Finance and the Controller to require any documents associated with enforceable obligations to be provided to them in a manner of their choosing. The bill would authorize the county auditor-controller and the department, under specified circumstances, to require the return of funds improperly spent or transferred to a public entity and would authorize the department and the Controller to require the State Board of Equalization and the county auditor-controller to offset sales and use tax and property tax allocations, respectively, to the local agency. The bill would authorize the Controller to review the activities of a successor agency to determine if an improper asset transfer had occurred between the successor agency and the city or county that created the former redevelopment agency, and would require the Controller to order the return of these assets if such an asset transfer did occur. The bill would impose new requirements on the county auditor-controller relating to the allocation of property tax revenues to affected taxing entities during a specified timeframe. By imposing additional duties upon local public officials, the bill would create a state-mandated local program. The bill would appropriate up to $22,000,000 to the Department of Finance from the General Fund for costs associated with the bill, as specified. 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. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as a bill providing for appropriations related to the Budget Bill.
Existing law authorizes a school district to levy a fee, charge, dedication, or other requirement against any construction within the boundaries of the school district for the purpose of funding the construction or reconstruction of school facilities. Existing law authorizes a school district to increase the levy, as prescribed, if state funds for new school facility construction are not available, as specified. This bill would suspend the operation of the provision authorizing the increased levy from the day this bill becomes operative through December 31, 2014, or until an earlier date upon a specified circumstance, including passage of a statewide school facilities bond. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.
(1) 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 (EIR) 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 establishes procedures for creating the administrative record and judicial review procedure for any action or proceeding brought to challenge the lead agency's decision to certify the EIR or to grant project approvals. The Jobs and Economic Improvement Through Environmental Leadership Act of 2011 establishes alternative procedures for creating the administrative record and specified judicial review procedures for the judicial review of the EIR and approvals granted for a leadership project related to the development of a residential, retail, commercial, sports, cultural, entertainment, or recreational use project, or clean renewable energy or clean energy manufacturing project. The act authorizes the Governor, upon application, to certify a leadership project for streamlining pursuant to the act if certain conditions are met. The act requires that the project result in a minimum investment of $100,000,000 in California upon completion of construction and not result in any net additional emission of greenhouse gases, including greenhouse gas emissions from employee transportation. This bill would require instead that a project result in a minimum investment of $100,000,000 spent on planning, design, and construction of the project. The bill, in order to maximize public health, environmental, and employment benefits, would require a lead agency to place the highest priority on feasible measures that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions on the project site and in the neighboring communities of the project site. (2) The act requires a party seeking judicial review of the EIR to bring concurrently other claims alleging a public agency has granted land use approvals or a leadership project in violation of relevant laws. This bill would repeal this provision. (3) The act requires the Judicial Council to report to the Legislature on or before January 1, 2015, on the effects of the act, including specific information on benefits, costs, and detriments. The bill would require instead that the Judicial Council report to the Legislature on the effects of the act on the administration of justice. The bill also would make technical and clarifying changes. Because a lead agency would be required to perform additional actions, 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.
(1) The Political Reform Act of 1974 requires elected officers, candidates for elective office, and campaign committees to file campaign statements reporting contributions and expenditures for specified reporting periods. Under the act, city elected officers, candidates for city office, their controlled committees, committees formed or existing primarily to support or oppose candidates or local measures to be voted upon in one city, and city general purpose committees are required to file campaign statements with the clerk of the city. This bill would create a pilot program for the 2013 through 2014 reporting periods that authorizes the City of Long Beach to permit any person who files a campaign statement with the city clerk to file online or electronically, consistent with specified requirements. In addition, the bill would require the City of Long Beach, if it chooses to participate in the pilot program, to prepare a report evaluating the program under specified criteria, and would further require the Legislative Analyst's Office to prepare a report evaluating the program. (2) This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for a pilot program in the City of Long Beach. (3) The Political Reform Act of 1974, an initiative measure, provides that the Legislature may amend the act to further the act's purposes upon a 23 vote of each house and compliance with specified procedural requirements. This bill would declare that it furthers the purposes of the act.
Existing law provides for licensing and regulation of health care service plans by the Department of Managed Health Care. A willful violation of provisions governing health care service plans is a crime. Existing law provides for licensing and regulation of health insurers by the Insurance Commissioner. Existing federal law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, provides for implementation of certain reforms relative to health care coverage. This bill, until January 1, 2018, would establish a transitional reinsurance program for health plans to be jointly administered by the Department of Insurance and the Department of Managed Health Care, and require participation by health care service plans and health insurers. The bill would require the Insurance Commissioner and the Director of the Department of Managed Health Care to jointly select a reinsurance entity, which would collect payments from contributing health plans and the United States Department of Health and Human Services on behalf of self-insured group plans and pay claims, as specified. The bill would authorize the commissioner and the Director of Managed Health Care to take various actions to implement the program. The bill would also authorize the Director of the Department of Managed Health Care to opt out of administration of the program and defer to the Department of Insurance. The bill would require contributing entities to make payments to the reinsurance entity no earlier than October 1, 2013, and would provide for the reinsurance entity to pay claims to a reinsurance-eligible recipient no earlier than January 1, 2014, with payments and claims to cease on December 31, 2016, except for necessary adjustments. Because a willful violation of the bill's provisions with respect to health care service plans would be 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.
