Below is a partial list of Juan’s bills for this year. For a complete bill list, or for more information on any bill, visit www.assembly.ca.gov/arambula and click “Legislation.”

AB 237, Infrastructure Bank Expansion: As proposed to be amended, the bill will create a new economic development-focused entity within the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency (BTH). The bill would (1) transfer the administration of the economic development portion of the federal Community Development Block Grant Block Program (CDBG) to the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (I-Bank); (2) establish a State Technical Assistance Program for Infrastructure Development; (3) transfer CALBIZ, California's business attraction office, to the I-Bank; (4) authorize the Secretary of BTH to join the Secretary of Labor as a co-convener of the Economic Strategy Panel (ESP); (5) authorize ESP to be a policy advisor to the I-Bank; and (6) authorize the Secretary of BTH to jointly develop the California Economic Development Strategic Plan with the Secretary of Labor.

AB 485, One Stop Licensing: Creates a Master Business License Center (MBLC) for the purpose of providing a convenient, accessible, one-stop center to receive and process all state business licenses and permit applications. The MBLC would coordinate the review and approval of applications by all relevant state regulatory agencies and subsequently issue a master license to eligible applicant business. This was a recommendation of the California Performance Review Commission.

AB 2167, Dropout Rates: This bill will require the public release of dropout rate data, by district and by school. The state would provide financial assistance for school districts at $5 per student to improve their data maintenance and reporting activities.

AB 2330, Small Business Costs Study: Requires the Office of the Small Business Advocate to commission a study of the costs of state regulations on small businesses, and make recommendations on how to reduce these costs. Convenes a small business advisory committee to provide advice based on the study and recommendations.

AB 2466, CalWORKs Eligibility: Exempts the principal and interest of 401(k) plans, IRAs, and 529 college savings plans from asset limitations for CalWORKs eligibility.

AB 2502, Small Business Credit Transfer: Authorizes a small business within an enterprise Zone with less than 50 employees to transfer the value of certain credits to any other state tax owed and which is deposited into the General Fund for general distribution by the Legislature.

AB 2530, EDC Tax Credit: Authorizes a tax credit, in the amount of 10% of the amount contributed, for donations made to a local economic development corporation.

AB 2553, Air Quality Zones: Establishes Air Quality Mitigation Zones for the purpose of creating jobs and reducing air pollution. Zones may be designated in any area of the state within a serious, severe, or extreme non-attainment air basin. Business incentives include a tax credit for qualifying equipment purchases, authorization for an accelerated depreciation schedule, and low-interest loans and loan guarantees to help retrofit equipment. Resulting reductions in air pollution are to be certified by the local air district.

AB 2567, Emerging Technologies R & D Credit: Establishes the Emerging Technologies Tax Incentive Program authorizing a higher tax credit of 20% to small businesses that undertake applied research related to renewable energy. Future amendments will add research related to nanotechnology.

AB 2595, Manufacturing Incentives: Establishes the California Small Size Manufacturing Act of 2006 that provides the following incentives: (1) Exempts small sized manufactures from sales tax on certain equipment purchases; (2) Authorizes a three-year depreciation schedule for certain equipment purchases; and (3) Requires the Labor Secretary and the California Workforce Invest Board to establish a logistics worker training initiative to assist California workers in becoming competitive in the global manufacturing value chain.

AB 2656, Academic Crisis & Management Assistance Team: Establishes ACMAT, a unit of persons having extensive experience in school district management and operations, budgeting, personnel administration, and the design and operation of instructional programs. ACMAT would provide management assistance to school districts with large numbers of under-performing students.

AB 2788, Vehicle Retirement: Establishes a 5-year pilot project for the San Joaquin Valley to give incentives to scrap high-polluting vehicles. Low-income owners who retire a model year 1985 or older vehicle and then purchase a replacement Low Emission Vehicle are eligible for a $2,000 reimbursement for a high emitter vehicle or $4,000 for a gross polluter.

AB 2859, School District Accountability: Creates accountability and incentive measures for 18 school districts in the state with over half of their students in the bottom two deciles of academic performance. Such districts could gain financial and regulatory flexibility and could require under-performing students to attend summer school. If, after two years, there is no improvement in student performance, the County Superintendent would have to appoint an academic trustee, appoint an academic administrator, or reconstitute the district.