Existing law requires law enforcement agencies to either submit sexual assault forensic evidence received on or after January 1, 2016, to a crime lab within 20 days after it is booked into evidence or to ensure that a rapid turnaround deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) program is in place, as specified. Existing law also requires a crime lab that receives sexual assault forensic evidence on or after January 1, 2016, to either process the evidence, create DNA profiles when able, and upload qualifying DNA profiles into the Combined DNA Index System, as specified, or transmit the sexual assault forensic evidence to another crime lab as soon as practically possible, but no later than 30 days after receiving the evidence, for processing of the evidence for the presence of DNA. This bill would require a law enforcement agency, for any sexual assault forensic evidence connected to a reported crime received by the law enforcement agency prior to January 1, 2016, to submit that evidence to the crime lab on or before January 31, 2025. The bill would additionally require a crime lab, for any sexual assault evidence kit received by a law enforcement agency prior to January 1, 2016, and submitted to the crime lab on or after January 1, 2024, to process that evidence kit no later than January 31, 2026. Because the bill would impose a higher level of service on local law enforcement agencies in processing that evidence, it 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.
Existing law provides for various public social services programs administered by the State Department of Social Services, State Department of Health Care Services, and counties, including, among others, the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program, under which each county provides cash assistance and other benefits to qualified low-income families and individuals, CalFresh, under which supplemental nutrition assistance benefits allocated to the state by the federal government are distributed to eligible individuals by each county, and the Medi-Cal program, under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care service. Existing law imposes various reporting and verification requirements on applicants and recipients of these public social services programs relating to identity, income, and assets, among other things. This bill would, to the extent permitted under federal law, require state and county agencies to accept the reporting by an applicant or recipient of public social services of any lawfully required information, changes, and verification required by law that affect eligibility and benefit amounts, by any means available to the applicant or recipient, including, but not limited to, in person, by telephone, through facsimile, by email, or by any other electronic means. The bill would require the State Department of Social Services and the State Department of Health Care Services to implement this provision through all-county letters, provider bulletins or notices, policy letters, or similar instructions from the director of each department issued no later than July 1, 2024. To the extent this bill expands eligibility for county administered programs and by imposing additional duties on counties, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing law continuously appropriates moneys from the General Fund to defray a portion of county costs under the CalWORKs program. This bill would instead provide that the continuous appropriation would not be made for purposes of implementing the bill. 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 regulates rental passenger vehicle transactions, including, among other provisions, required disclosures by a rental company, mandatory and prohibited contract provisions for a vehicle rental agreement, and authorization for a rental company to collect specific types of fees and charges from its customers. Existing law authorizes a rental company, when providing a quote, or imposing charges for a rental, to separately state the rental rate, additional mandatory charges, as defined, and a mileage charge, if applicable, that a renter must pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies. This bill would instead require a rental company to only advertise or quote a rental rate that includes the entire amount that the renter is required to pay to hire or lease the vehicle for the period of time to which the rental rate applies, including, but not limited to, additional mandatory charges and any gas or mileage charge, if applicable.
The Control, Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA) , an initiative measure approved as Proposition 64 at the November 8, 2016, statewide general election, authorizes a person who obtains a state license under AUMA to engage in commercial adult-use cannabis activity pursuant to that license and applicable local ordinances. Existing law, the Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MAUCRSA) , among other things, consolidates the licensure and regulation of commercial medicinal and adult-use cannabis activities. MAUCRSA establishes the Department of Cannabis Control within the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency to administer the act, and requires the department to be under the supervision and control of a director. Existing law requires every sale or transport of cannabis or cannabis products from one licensee to another licensee to be recorded on a sales invoice or receipt and prescribes the information included on those receipts, including the cost to the purchaser. Existing law provides grounds for disciplinary action under MAUCRSA, including failure to comply with the provisions of MAUCRSA or any rule or regulation adopted pursuant to MAUCRSA. This bill would, except as specified, require a licensee to pay for goods and services sold or transferred with a total value of at least $5,000 by another licensee no later than 15 days following the final date set forth in the invoice or invoices. The bill would require a licensee who sold or transferred goods to another licensee and who has not received payment in full 15 days after the final date set forth in the invoice to report the unpaid invoice to the department, as specified. The bill would require the department to notify a licensee of this report, issue a notice of warning, or, in its discretion, issue a citation or commence a disciplinary action against the licensee if the licensee fails to pay the outstanding invoice in full by 30 days after this notification, as specified, and, for multiple failures to comply with these provisions, commence a disciplinary action, as specified. The bill would prohibit the licensee from purchasing goods and services from another licensee on credit until the licensee pays the outstanding invoice in full. The bill would, for purposes of these provisions, prohibit the final date set forth in an invoice for payment of the invoice from being later than 30 calendar days from the date the goods or services are sold or transferred. The bill would specify that these provisions do not apply to an invoice for a sale or transfer made before January 1, 2024.
Existing law, the Model State Trademark Law, provides for the registration of trademarks and service marks with the Secretary of State and provides for actions and remedies for violation of a registered mark. This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to these provisions.
Existing law defines specified behavior as disorderly conduct and prohibits that behavior. Under existing law, disorderly conduct includes, among other things, soliciting prostitution, prowling, peeping, surreptitious photographing or filming of an identifiable person, and the distribution of certain images of another person taken under circumstances in which the person understands that the image shall remain private, the distribution of which causes serious emotional distress. This bill would make a person guilty of disorderly conduct if they operate a motor vehicle in any public place and repeatedly beckon to, contact, or attempt to contact or stop pedestrians or other motorists with the intent to solicit prostitution. 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.
Existing law requires the coroner to inquire into and determine the manner, circumstances, and cause of all violent, sudden, or unusual deaths. Existing law authorizes a county board of supervisors, by ordinance, to abolish the office of coroner and provide instead for the office of medical examiner, to be appointed by the board and to exercise the powers and perform the duties of the coroner. This bill would require the county coroner or medical examiner to report, in writing on the 15th day of January, April, July, and October, to the State Department of Public Health deaths in the preceding 3-month period that involved, or were caused by, an overdose of a drug or drugs. The bill would require the written report to include the primary substance or substances that caused, or were involved in, each death, as well as the presence, if any, of methamphetamine, opioids, cocaine, or benzodiazepines. By imposing new requirements on county coroners and medical examiners, 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.
Existing law requires each ballot that is delivered to a vote by mail voter to be accompanied by a state voter information guide, except as specified. Existing law requires the state voter information guide to display the internet website address for a voter to check the status of their vote by mail or provisional ballot. This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to this provision.
Existing law, the State Contract Act, requires a state agency that maintains an internet website to post specified information relating to construction contracts within 10 days of making a construction contract payment, except as specified. This bill would increase the number of days within which a state agency is required to post the information to its internet website from 10 to 15 days.
Existing law establishes the Court Reporters Board of California to license and regulate shorthand reporters. Existing law establishes that a person who holds a valid certificate as a shorthand reporter shall be known as a "certified shorthand reporter." Existing law requires an individual to have satisfactorily passed an examination, as prescribed by the board, in order to be certified as a shorthand reporter. This bill would require the board, in consultation with the Office of Professional Examination Services of the Department of Consumer Affairs, to evaluate the necessity of requiring applicants who have passed either the National Court Reporters Association's or the National Verbatim Reporters Association's certification examination to demonstrate competency as a certified shorthand reporter. The bill would require the board to submit its findings to the appropriate policy committees of the Legislature on or before June 1, 2024. The bill would authorize the board to replace the state-specific examination requirement with the National Court Reporters Association's or the National Verbatim Reporters Association's certification examination if the board concludes that the current state-specific examination is not necessary to establish a minimum level of competency of shorthand reporters and that the examination poses a barrier to licensure as a shorthand reporter. Existing law authorizes a superior court to appoint official reporters and official reporters pro tempore as deemed necessary for the performance of the duties of the court and its members. Existing law also authorizes a court to use electronic recording equipment to record an action or proceeding in a limited civil case, or a misdemeanor or infraction case, if an official reporter or an official reporter pro tempore is unavailable. This bill would instead permit a court to electronically record any civil case if approved electronic recording equipment is available. The bill would require a court to provide a certified shorthand reporter, as defined, the right of first refusal to transcribe an electronically reported proceeding. The bill would additionally require that the court make every effort to hire a court reporter before electing to electronically record the action or proceedings pursuant to these provisions. Existing law appropriated $30,000,000 in both the 2021–22 and 2022–23 fiscal years to the Judicial Council to be allocated to courts to increase the number of official court reporters in family and civil law cases, as specified. The bill would require the Judicial Council to collect information from courts regarding how they are utilizing funds appropriated to recruit and hire court reporters. The bill would require, beginning January 1, 2025, and annually thereafter until all such funds are expended, the Judicial Council to report to the Legislature the efforts courts have taken to hire and retain court reporters and how the funds appropriated for this purpose have been spent.
Existing law, the Planning and Zoning Law, authorizes a development proponent to submit an application for a multifamily housing development that is subject to a streamlined, ministerial approval process, as provided, and not subject to a conditional use permit, if the development satisfies specified objective planning standards, including, among others, that the development is a multifamily housing development that contains 2 or more residential units and the development proponent commits to record, prior to the issuance of the first building permit, a land use restriction or covenant providing that any lower or moderate-income housing units remain available at affordable housing costs or rent to persons and families of lower or moderate income for no less than 55 years or 45 years, as specified. This bill, if a city or county approves a construction project through the expedited, streamlined permitting described above, would require the city or county to require the development proponent to place a sign of reasonable dimensions and design on the parcel in which the project is located that includes specified information, including the development proponent's contact information, the construction permit numbers, and a brief project description. By increasing the duties of local officials, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would include findings that changes proposed by this bill address a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair and, therefore, apply to all cities, including charter cities. 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 Department of Food and Agriculture, under the control of the Secretary of Food and Agriculture, to promote and protect the agricultural industry of the state. Existing law authorizes the department to expend in accordance with law all money that is made available for its use. This bill would require the department, upon appropriation by the Legislature in the Budget Act of 2023, to provide funding for research to investigate accurate measurement of smoke compounds in winegrapes and wine, methods to mitigate the damage to winegrapes and wine that can occur from exposure to smoke, and methods to prevent smoke damage to winegrapes and wine. The bill would require the department to establish an advisory committee of specified members appointed by the secretary to provide recommendations to the secretary for funding research proposals submitted to the department under these provisions. The bill would make these provisions inoperative on January 1, 2029, or when all funds appropriated by the Legislature pursuant to the Budget Act of 2023 for these provisions have been disbursed, whichever is later.
