Environment
AB 19
AB 19 enables the California Air Resources Board (ARB) to create a labeling system describing the total greenhouse gases created in harvesting, manufacturing, distributing, and selling consumer products in California. These labels will provide Californians with the information necessary to voluntarily reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the comparison and purchase of products with smaller carbon footprints.
Passed out of Nat. Res. (6-3), in Approps (hearing 05/20/09)
AB 96
In order to protect critical wildlife habitat and food supply, it is necessary to prevent disruption of wildlife corridors. However, much of the time, important wildlife corridors are severed by infrastructure projects simply because their locations are unknown to local, regional, and state planning agencies. This bill requires the Dept. of Fish & Game to identify the most essential wildlife corridors and habitat linkages in California, and make the information available to all other agencies and to the public.
Status: Senate Appropriations Committee
AB 162
AB 162 consolidates statewide reporting requirements for public power utilities to various state agencies to eliminate duplicative reporting. As new reporting requirements are added, they often do not take into account previous requirements and schedules, creating an unnecessarily complicated, time-consuming, and costly reporting regime-- especially for smaller utilities. This bill will save money for the state, the public utilities, and consumers.
Passed out of U&C (14-0) and Approps (Consent), passed Assembly floor, to Senate Rules
AB 226
AB 226 provides the California Coastal Commission with the enforcement tools necessary to protect California’s coast for wildlife habitats and public access. This bill also helps stabilize the Commission’s funding which will help resolve permitting and enforcement cases more quickly.
Passed out of Nat Res (6-3) and Judiciary (7-3), To Approps (not yet set)
AB 401
AB 401 makes it easier for charitable foundations to loan money for land conservation, environmental protection, healthcare and other civic purposes. Given the current credit crunch, this bill gives charitable foundations a greater ability to loan funds to non-profits so they may carry out their good works, exempting them from regulations aimed at banks. At a time when public funds for environmental enhancement and protection are scarce, foundations must be able to provide loans for the public benefit.
Passed out of Assembly, to S/Bank&Fin. (date: 6/17/09)
AB 1023
AB 1023 increases the amount of renewable energy produced in California by enhancing feed-in tariffs. This bill will help California reach its renewable energy goals using California energy sources, rather than purchasing energy from out of state.
Held in Committee, 2 year bill
AB 1091
Currently, there are many state agencies working to produce plans for climate change adaptation. AB 1091 ensures that these plans, which are being developed separately, are able to be successfully implemented on a regional level.
Passed out of Natural Resources (6- 3), to Approps (not yet set)
AB 1188
AB 1188 allows the Department of Toxic Substance Control (DTSC) to give grants to small businesses to assist them with the purchase of pollution prevention equipment. These grants are funded through increased penalties on polluters.
Passed out of ESTM on consent, in Approps (date 05/13/09)
AB 1212
AB 1212 authorizes the California Air Resources Board to develop and implement a fee/rebate system for the purchase of new vehicles in order to lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Held in Transportation, 2 year bill
AB 1242
AB 1242 establishes the right of every Californian to have access to clean water for basic human needs and instructs State agencies to conform their practices and programs to this policy. Currently, more than 150,000 California residents lack safe water for drinking, bathing, and washing dishes.
Asm Water, Parks and Wildlife (9-3-1), in Approps (05/20/09)
Education
AB 386
AB 386 clarifies that publishers of audiovisual instructional materials for colleges and universities must provide captioning or other alterations to make these materials accessible to students with disabilities or who are hearing impaired.
To Approps (amended), Consent in Approps
ACR 31
ACR 31 is California’s Faculty and College Excellence Act (FACE) of 2009. ACR 31 expresses the Legislature’s acknowledgment that giving pay increases and benefits to part-time faculty, and ensuring that these faculty members have a process to become full-time faculty, California’s Community Colleges will better serve their student populations.
Higher Education (5/5/09), in Approps (not yet set)
Business & Consumer Issues
AB 765 – Joint Author (Caballero)
AB 765 helps keep and create high paying jobs in California. It raises the research and development credit in California to stimulate more investment in California’s cutting edge workforce. More than 80% of the credit will go towards new hiring and higher wages, and 65% of the businesses claiming the credit are small businesses. Research and development is the best way to help California out of recession.
Revenue and Taxation
AB 926
AB 926 helps small businesses compete for state contracts by ensuring that state laws are followed and bid preferences for small and disabled-veteran owned businesses are applied fairly.
Passed out of JED and E and Business and Professions, in Approps (05/13/09)
AB 935 – Joint Author (Feuer)
AB 935 addresses Long-term health care facilities.
To Health
AB 1461
Currently, there is a loophole in state law which allows some businesses to circumvent ethics standards, regulations and laws meant to govern the practice of shorthand court reporting. Such a loophole puts many businesses in the state, frequently small businesses, at a competitive disadvantage. AB 1461 closes that loophole and places all businesses providing shorthand court reporting services on a level playing field.
Passed out of Business & Professions (7-3), in Approps (05/13/09)
AB 1528
AB 1528 protects telephone service for the most underprivileged populations of our community. Telephone service is becoming deregulated in 2011, and this bill ensures a basic level of service for everyone.
2 year bill
Health & Seniors
AB 366
AB 366 reimburses the cost of orthopedic implants for Medi-Cal and California Children’s Services (CCS) patients with malignant bone tumors. These implants significantly increase the survival rate of children with bone cancer, yet are denied to many patients dependent on Medi-Cal and CCS.
Passed out of Health (15-0) in Approps (on suspense)
AB 861
AB 861 streamlines reporting accountability to emphasize the positive impact on children’s health outcomes. Children’s health is not best served by the time and energy spent on administrative overhead rather than care.
Passed out of Health on consent, in Approps (not yet set)
AB 1169
AB 1169 helps ensure the financial viability of Continuing Care Retirement Communities (known as CCRCs) by establishing transparency in how providers account for and use the significant entry charges and monthly fees paid by seniors in exchange for a promise of lifelong residency and care. This bill prevents residents from exposure to significant risk in the event of unpredictable occurrences such as a fire, natural disaster or economic downturn.
Passed out of Hum Serv (4-2) & Aging/LTC (4-2) in Approps (05/13/09)
Miscellaneous
AB 151
AB 151 extends the East Palo Alto Parole Re-entry Program that Assemblymember Ruskin created in 2006. This program provides valuable training and support to parolees as they re-enter the community. Training and support services significantly reduce the likelihood parolees will be repeat offenders.
Passed out of Pub. Safety (7-0). Held in suspense in Approps, 2 year bill.
AB 219
AB 219 increases penalties for failing to inspect shipments of agricultural commodities into California. These penalties will help support better inspection, preventing harmful parasites from entering the state which could damage California’s agricultural economy or threaten consumer safety or the environment.
Passed out of Agriculture (8-0) and Assembly Floor (74-0) To Senate Agriculture
AB 686
AB 686 clarifies the Elections Code to ensure that voters, especially those with disabilities, are given enough time in the voting booth to mark their ballots. Previously, voters were limited to as little as five minutes in the voting booth. Voters requiring extra time or assistance will now be able to take the time they need to cast their ballots.
Elections & Reapportionment Consent (5-0), Take-up 5/14/09 on A/Floor
AB 790
AB 790 ensures “Like Pay, for Like Work” for California’s scientists. Currently many scientists are paid less than other state employees for doing the same type of work. This makes it much more difficult for California to hire and retain the best scientists. AB 790 provides equity for these scientists.
Passed out of PE,R&SS (4-1) in Approps (05/20/09)
AB 1315
AB 1315 reforms the governance of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC). This bill enhances oversight of the PUC by repealing their exemption of the Administrative Procedures Act (APA) and by requiring Senate confirmation of the Board president. It enhances the commissioners’ ability to oversee the executive director and the Commission’s attorney.
Passed out of Utilities & Commerce (amended) in Approps (not yet set)
ACR 45
ACR 45 commemorates Yom HaShoah, the International Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the Holocaust. This resolution declares April 20 through April 26, 2009, Days of Remembrance and will be accompanied by a ceremony at the State Capitol honoring survivors of the Holocaust and soldiers who liberated the concentration camps.
Passed out of Assembly floor, passed Senate back to assembly to be enrolled and chaptered by Secretary of State
