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Legislate: All Bills

172 bills were returned.
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CA AB 100 - Philip Y. Ting
Budget Acts of 2021 and 2022.
05/04/2023 - Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 11 a.m.
AB 100, Ting. Budget Acts of 2021 and 2022. The Budget Act of 2021 and Budget Act of 2022 made appropriations for the support of state government for the 2021–22 and 2022–23 fiscal years.This bill would amend the Budget Act of 2021 and Budget Act of 2022 by amending and adding items of appropriation and making other changes.The bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as a Budget Bill.

CA AB 1005 - David Alvarez
In-home supportive services: terminal illness diagnosis.
09/01/2023 - In committee: Held under submission.
AB 1005, as amended, Alvarez. In-home supportive services: terminal illness diagnosis. Existing law establishes the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program, administered by the State Department of Social Services and counties, under which qualified aged, blind, or disabled persons are provided with supportive services in order to permit them to remain in their own homes.As a condition of receiving services under the IHSS program, existing law requires an applicant or recipient to obtain a certification from a licensed health care professional declaring that the applicant or recipient is unable to perform some activities of daily living independently, and that without services to assist the applicant or recipient with activities of daily living, the applicant or recipient is at risk of placement in out-of-home care. Existing law requires that the certification be received prior to service authorization, except under certain circumstances. Existing law requires the department to develop a standard certification form, as specified, and to identify alternative documentation, including, but not limited to, hospital or nursing facility discharge plans, containing the required information.Existing law sets forth various provisions relating to end-of-life care. When a health care provider makes a diagnosis that a patient has a terminal illness, existing law generally requires the health care provider, upon request, to provide the patient or another person authorized to make health care decisions with comprehensive information and counseling regarding legal end-of-life care options.This bill would, before the discharge from an acute care hospital of a Medi-Cal beneficiary, require the hospital’s designated case manager or discharge planner to evaluate the patient’s need for posthospital services and ability to access those services. This bill would require the hospital’s case manager or discharge planner to ask the patient or authorized person if they are interested in receiving information about the IHSS program if that patient is anticipated to need in-home personal care. If interest is expressed, the bill would require the hospital’s case manager or discharge planner to provide to the patient or authorized person the information, including how to initiate the application process and the option for a family member to provide care as an IHSS provider subject to the IHSS provider enrollment conditions.If the patient seeks to apply for services under the IHSS program, the bill would require the hospital case manager or discharge planner to communicate to the patient’s primary care physician the patient’s interest in applying for IHSS services to support the timely completion of the health care certification form.Existing law sets forth various conditions on the number of hours of service authorized for an IHSS provider, with a modified number based on exemptions for a provider who is related to the recipients whom the provider serves, as specified.Existing law requires the county welfare department to assess each IHSS recipient’s continuing monthly need for in-home supportive services at varying intervals as necessary, but at least once every 12 months, with exceptions. Under existing law, the results of this assessment of monthly need for IHSS hours are divided by 4.33, to establish a recipient’s weekly authorized number of IHSS hours, as specified.Under this bill, if a patient diagnosed with a terminal illness seeks to apply for services under the IHSS program, and receives a health care certification form that is completed by a health care provider, the patient would be authorized to request to have the application expedited by the county. This bill would require counties, to the extent feasible, to consider expediting applications of patients who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness and who have requested their application be expedited. By creating additional duties for county officials, the bill would impose a state-manda

CA AB 1006 - Tina McKinnor
Aging and Disability Resource Connection program: No Wrong Door System.
09/01/2023 - In committee: Held under submission.
AB 1006, as amended, McKinnor. Aging and Disability Resource Connection program: No Wrong Door System. Existing law establishes an Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) program, administered by the California Department of Aging, to provide information to consumers and their families on available long-term services and supports (LTSS) programs and to assist older adults, caregivers, and persons with disabilities in accessing LTSS programs at the local level. Existing law requires the California Department of Aging to administer the Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) Infrastructure Grants Program for the purpose of implementing a No Wrong Door System, a system that enables consumers to access all long-term services and supports (LTSS) through one agency, organization, coordinated network, or portal. Existing law makes related legislative intent statements regarding the No Wrong Door System, including that it is the intent to provide consumers and their caregivers access to information and services, regardless of income or benefit level. Existing law also establishes the Aging and Disability Resource Connection Advisory Committee, within the California Department of Aging, as the primary adviser in the implementation of the No Wrong Door System. Existing law authorizes the committee to use the staff of the California Department of Aging to accomplish its purposes.This bill would instead require the committee to use the staff of the California Department of Aging. The bill would also instead require the No Wrong Door System to serve seniors and individuals with disabilities, as specified, and would require, no later than December 31, 2025, the system to also establish a statewide respite referral registry to connect consumers enrolled in the Medi-Cal program with culturally competent, prescreened respite providers, and create and implement a consumer directed employer program to assist in the provision of the statewide respite referral system.

CA AB 101 - Philip Y. Ting
Budget Act of 2023.
08/14/2023 - Re-referred to Com. on B. & F.R.
AB 101, as amended, Ting. Budget Act of 2023. This bill would make appropriations for the support of state government for the 2023–24 fiscal year.This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as a Budget Bill.

CA AB 102 - Philip Y. Ting
Budget Act of 2023.
06/27/2023 - Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4:30 p.m.
AB 102, Ting. Budget Act of 2023. The Budget Act of 2023 made appropriations for the support of state government for the 2023–24 fiscal year.This bill would amend the Budget Act of 2023 by amending, adding, and repealing items of appropriation and making other changes.This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as a Budget Bill.

CA AB 1028 - Tina McKinnor
Reporting of crimes: mandated reporters.
09/01/2023 - In committee: Held under submission.
AB 1028, as amended, McKinnor. Reporting of crimes: mandated reporters. Existing law requires a health practitioner, as defined, to make a report to law enforcement when they suspect a patient has suffered physical injury that is inflicted by the person’s own act or inflicted by another where the injury is by means of a firearm, or caused by assaultive or abusive conduct, including elder abuse, sexual assault, or torture. A violation of these provisions is punishable as a misdemeanor.This bill would, on and after January 1, 2025, remove the requirement that a health practitioner make a report to law enforcement when they suspect a patient has suffered physical injury caused by assaultive or abusive conduct, and instead only require that report if the health practitioner suspects a patient has suffered a wound or physical injury inflicted by the person’s own act or inflicted by another where the injury is by means of a firearm, a wound or physical injury resulting from child abuse, or a wound or physical injury resulting from elder abuse.The bill would, on and after January 1, 2025, instead require a health practitioner who suspects that a patient has suffered physical injury that is caused by domestic violence, as defined, to, among other things, provide brief counseling, education, or other support, and a warm handoff, as defined, or referral to local and national domestic violence or sexual violence advocacy services, as specified. The bill would, on and after January 1, 2025, specify that a health practitioner is not civilly or criminally liable for any report that is made in good faith and in compliance with these provisions.This bill would make other conforming changes.Because a violation of these requirements 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.

CA AB 103 - Philip Y. Ting
Budget Acts of 2021 and 2022.
06/30/2023 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 33, Statutes of 2023.
AB 103, Ting. Budget Acts of 2021 and 2022. The Budget Act of 2021 and Budget Act of 2022 made appropriations for the support of state government for the 2021–22 and 2022–23 fiscal years. This bill would amend the Budget Act of 2021 and Budget Act of 2022 by amending and adding items of appropriation and making other changes. The bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as a Budget Bill.

CA AB 1038 - Anthony Rendon
Family childcare home education networks.
09/12/2023 - Ordered to inactive file at the request of Senator Dahle.
AB 1038, as amended, Rendon. Family childcare home education networks. Existing law, the Child Care and Development Services Act, administered by the State Department of Social Services, establishes a system of child care and development services for children up to 13 years of age. The act requires the department to contract with entities organized to operate family childcare home education networks that support educational objectives for children in licensed family childcare homes that serve families eligible for subsidized care. Existing law requires the family childcare home education network programs to include certain components, including an assessment of each family childcare home provider to ensure that services are of high quality and are educationally and developmentally appropriate. Existing law also imposes various requirements on family childcare home education network contractors, including ensuring that a developmental profile is completed for each child.This bill would require that tools used to make the family assessments be appropriate to family childcare home settings, and would require a family childcare home education network program to maintain a developmental portfolio for each child, as provided, and include opportunities for parent involvement. This bill would impose additional requirements on family childcare home education network contractors, including that the developmental profiles specified above be completed in accordance with the provider’s observations, and that the contractors conduct site visits and offer training and technical assistance to providers, as specified. The bill would also impose various duties on family childcare home education network providers, including requiring providers to adopt and use a curriculum and to provide age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate educational activities for children.

CA AB 104 - Philip Y. Ting
Budget Acts of 2022 and 2023.
09/13/2023 - Re-referred to Com. on B. & F.R.
AB 104, as amended, Ting. Budget Acts of 2022 and 2023. The Budget Act of 2022 and the Budget Act of 2023 made appropriations for the support of state government for the 2022–23 and 2023–24 fiscal years.This bill would amend the Budget Act of 2022 and the Budget Act of 2023 by amending and adding items of appropriation and making other changes.This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as a Budget Bill.

CA AB 1113 - Kevin Michael McCarty
The Expanded Learning Opportunities Program: the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System: the After School Education and Safety Program: the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program.
09/11/2023 - Ordered to inactive file at the request of Senator Laird.
AB 1113, as amended, McCarty. The Expanded Learning Opportunities Program: the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System: the After School Education and Safety Program: the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program. (1) Existing law establishes the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program to provide funds to school districts and certain charter schools to offer, outside of any instructional time, expanded learning opportunities, as defined, to pupils enrolled in classroom-based instructional programs in kindergarten and grades 1 to 6, inclusive, under specified funding methodologies and program conditions.Existing law establishes the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System, which is maintained by the State Department of Education and consists of pupil data from elementary and secondary schools, as specified, relating to demographics, program participation, enrollment, and statewide assessments, among other things. Existing law requires the system to be used to accomplish specified goals, including to provide an efficient, flexible, and secure means of maintaining statewide pupil level data, as provided.This bill would require the department, by July 1, 2024, to collect, as part of the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System, pupil data for each pupil enrolled in a program under the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program, the After School Education and Safety Program (ASES), or the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program, as specified. The bill would require the department, on or before January 1, 2025, to identify and reduce data reporting redundancies in the collection of pupil data pursuant to these provisions and existing local educational data reporting requirements for those programs. The bill would express the intent of the Legislature to provide equitable opportunities to pupils in grades 7 to 12, inclusive, with a welcoming and enriching space through afterschool programs.(2) The After School Education and Safety Program Act of 2002, an initiative statute approved by the voters as Proposition 49 at the November 5, 2002, statewide general election, establishes the After School Education and Safety Program (ASES) under which participating public schools receive grants to operate before and after school programs serving pupils in kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 9, inclusive. The act requires an amount not to exceed $550,000,000 to be continuously appropriated to the State Department of Education from the General Fund in each fiscal year for purposes of the program, and requires the amount to be allocated to public elementary, middle, and junior high schools according to a specified priority scheme, as provided. The act authorizes the Legislature to amend the provisions containing that priority scheme only by a statute, enacted by a 2/3 vote of each house and signed by the Governor, that furthers the purposes of the act. Commencing with the 2024–25 fiscal year, this bill would require, notwithstanding any other law, at least a certain percentage of the total amount appropriated pursuant to the act or by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act or another statute or for purposes of the ASES to be allocated on a priority basis for programs serving middle school pupils, as provided. The bill would set forth a legislative finding and declaration that the bill furthers the purposes of the act.(3) Existing federal law establishes the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program to provide pupils with academic enrichment and other activities during nonschool hours or periods when school is not in session, as provided. Under the program, of the total amount appropriated for after school grants to community learning centers, at least 50% is required to be allocated on a priority basis to community learning centers serving high school pupils and at least 40% is required to be allocated on a priority basis to community learning centers serving elementary and middle school pu

CA AB 1122 - Jasmeet Bains
Vessels: equipment.
09/14/2023 - Re-referred to Com. on RLS pursuant to Senate Rule 29.10(c).
AB 1122, as amended, Bains. Vessels: equipment. Existing law generally regulates the operation of vessels and associated equipment used, to be used, or carried in vessels used on waters subject to the jurisdiction of the state.This bill would require any equipment installed, or modification to accommodate that equipment, that could limit engine power or operational ability of specified commercial harbor craft, to be approved for use with the harbor craft’s propulsion system, as specified, and not void any existing warranty. The bill would require aftermarket equipment that could limit a harbor craft’s engine power or operational ability to include an automatic override or bypass feature that ensures the safe operation of the harbor craft is not affected. The bill would require the owner or operator to report a vessel’s loss of power during operation, as specified.

CA AB 1130 - Marc Berman
Substance use disorder.
06/29/2023 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 21, Statutes of 2023.
AB 1130, Berman. Substance use disorder. Existing law, the California Uniform Controlled Substances Act, regulates the distribution and use of controlled substances, as defined. Under the act, the State Department of Health Care Services is responsible for the administration of prevention, treatment, and recovery services for alcohol and drug abuse. Existing law, the Medical Practice Act, provides for the licensing and regulation of physicians and surgeons by the Medical Board of California. Existing law authorizes a physician and surgeon to prescribe, dispense, or administer prescription drugs, including prescription controlled substances, to an addict under their treatment for a purpose other than maintenance on, or detoxification from, prescription drugs or controlled substances and under specified conditions to an addict for purposes of maintenance on, or detoxification from, prescription drugs or controlled substances.This bill would revise and recast these provisions, among others, to delete the reference to an “addict” and instead replace it with the term “a person with substance use disorder,” among other technical nonsubstantive changes.

CA AB 114 - House Budget Committee
Education finance: education omnibus budget trailer bill.
08/14/2023 - Re-referred to Com. on B. & F.R.
AB 114, as amended, Committee on Budget. Education finance: education omnibus budget trailer bill. (1) Existing law establishes a public school financing system that requires state funding for school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools to be calculated pursuant to a local control funding formula, as specified. Existing law requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to annually calculate a county local control funding formula for each county superintendent of schools that includes, among other things, an alternative education grant, as specified. Existing law includes, among other things, a base grant based upon average daily attendance as a component of that alternative education grant.This bill would revise the alternative education grant by, among other things, increasing the base grant component of the alternative education grant, revising the calculation of average daily attendance for purposes of the alternative education grant, as specified, and establishing add-ons of $200,000 for each county office of education that operates a juvenile court school and $200,000 for each county office of education that operates a county community school. The bill would require the Superintendent to allocate $3,000 per unit of average daily attendance for a Student Support and Enrichment Block Grant, as provided. The bill would make these provisions applicable commencing with the 2023–24 fiscal year.(2) Existing law, commencing with the 2018–19 fiscal year, requires the Superintendent to add $200,000 and other specified amounts, that are dependent upon the number and size of school districts under its jurisdiction and that are determined to be in need of differentiated assistance, to a county superintendent of school’s local control funding formula allocation, as specified.This bill, commencing with the 2023–24 fiscal year, would increase the above-described add-on by $100,000.(3) Existing law, commencing with the 2015–16 fiscal year, requires the Superintendent to add $2,000,000 to the Los Angeles County Office of Education’s local control funding formula allocation for the purpose of supporting statewide professional development and leadership training for education professionals related to antibias education and the creation of inclusive and equitable schools.This bill would, commencing with the 2023–24 fiscal year, increase that add-on for the Los Angeles County Office of Education by $1,000,000 to instead be $3,000,000.(4) The Early Education Act requires the Superintendent to administer the California state preschool program. The act also requires the Superintendent, in consultation with the Director of Social Services and the executive director of the State Board of Education, to convene a statewide interest holder workgroup to provide recommendations on best practices for increasing access to high-quality universal preschool programs for 3- and 4-year-old children offered through a mixed-delivery model that provides equitable learning experiences across a variety of settings. The act requires the Superintendent, in consultation with the director, to provide a report to the appropriate fiscal and policy committees of the Legislature and the Department of Finance with the recommendations of the workgroup no later than January 15, 2023.This bill would delay the reporting of those recommendations described above to instead be no later than March 31, 2024.(5) Existing law establishes the California Prekindergarten Planning and Implementation Grant Program as a state early learning initiative with the goal of expanding access to classroom-based prekindergarten programs. Existing law appropriates $300,000,000 from the General Fund to the State Department of Education in both the 2021–22 fiscal year and the 2022–23 fiscal year for allocation to local educational agencies as base grants, enrollment grants, and supplemental grants, as specified.The bill would authorize the department to allocate or prorate un

CA AB 1154 - Lori D. Wilson
Juveniles: mentoring programs.
02/01/2024 - From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
AB 1154, as amended, Wilson. Juveniles: mentoring programs. Existing law generally provides for the placement of foster youth in various placement settings. Existing law requires the status of every dependent child in foster care to be reviewed periodically, and requires the county welfare department social worker to prepare a supplemental report with supplemental information regarding the child for purposes of the status review hearing. Existing law also requires a probation officer to prepare a social study for purposes of the status review hearing of a ward who is placed in foster care or recommended for placement in foster care.This bill would require the social worker and probation officer to include in the supplemental report or social study, respectively, information on the likely emotional and social benefits from one-to-one mentoring services for the child or nonminmor dependant, and a recommendation for one-to-one mentoring, as specified. The bill would, if the supplemental report includes a referral for mentoring, require the court to ask the foster youth, at any status hearing, whether participation in a mentoring program has been offered to them and whether they are interested in participating in a mentoring program, and would specify that in this case the foster youth shall only be referred for mentoring if they agree to participate. The bill would, if the social study includes a referral for mentoring, require the court or probation officer to include a mentoring program in the foster youth’s case plan if the foster youth agrees to participate in such a program. The bill would specify that participation in the mentoring program is on a purely voluntary basis and would prohibit a foster youth from being subject to discipline or other adverse action based on the foster youth’s subsequent decision to discontinue participation in the mentoring program. The bill would authorize a court to refer or order the foster youth to participate in a one-to-one mentoring program through a nonprofit organization that meets specified criteria, including, among other things, having experience serving foster children and youth. The bill would require a social worker or probation officer to make their best efforts to identify and refer a foster youth for whom mentoring has been recommended and accepted or for whom mentoring has been ordered to a nonprofit organization. By imposing new duties on counties, the 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.

CA AB 1163 - Sabrina Cervantes
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Disparities Reduction Act.
09/21/2023 - Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3:30 p.m.
AB 1163, Luz Rivas. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Disparities Reduction Act. Existing law, The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Disparities Reduction Act, requires prescribed state entities, including the State Department of Health Care Services and the Civil Rights Department, in the course of collecting demographic data directly or by contract as to the ancestry or ethnic origin of Californians, to collect voluntary self-identification information pertaining to sexual orientation and gender identity, except as specified. Existing law prohibits these state entities from reporting demographic data that would permit identification of individuals or would result in statistical unreliability and limits the state entities’ use of the information provided, as specified. Existing law requires the state entities to report to the Legislature specified information related to the data and make the data available to the public, except for personally identifiable information. Existing law deems personally identifiable information confidential and prohibits disclosure of that information.This bill would add intersexuality to the voluntary self-identification information to be collected, would apply these provisions to additional state entities, and would require these state entities to comply with these provisions as early as possible following January 1, 2025, but no later than July 1, 2026.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.

CA AB 118 - House Budget Committee
Budget Act of 2023: health.
06/27/2023 - Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4:30 p.m.
AB 118, Committee on Budget. Budget Act of 2023: health. (1) Existing law, the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975, provides for the licensure and regulation of health care service plans by the Department of Managed Health Care and makes a willful violation of the act a crime. Existing law requires a health care service plan to provide disclosures regarding the benefits, services, and terms of the plan contract, as specified, to provide the public, subscribers, and enrollees with a full and fair disclosure of the provisions of the plan.This bill would require the department to develop standard templates for the disclosure form and evidence of coverage, to include, among other things, standard definitions, benefit descriptions, and any other information that the director determines, consistent with the goals of providing fair disclosures of the provisions of a health care service plan. The bill would require the department to consult with the Department of Insurance and interested stakeholders in developing the standard templates. The bill would require health care service plans, beginning January 1, 2025, to use the standard templates for any disclosure form or evidence of coverage published or distributed, except as specified. Because a willful violation of these requirements is a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.This bill would authorize the department to develop standard templates for a schedule of benefits, an explanation of benefits, a cost-sharing summary, or any similar document. The bill would authorize the department to require health care service plans to use the standard templates, except as specified, and would authorize the director to require health care service plans to submit forms the health care service plan created based on the department’s templates for the purpose of compliance review. The bill would additionally specify that the department may implement these provisions by issuing and modifying templates and all-plan letters or similar instructions, without taking regulatory action. The bill would also update cross-references in various provisions.(2) Existing law requires a health care service plan contract or disability insurance policy to cover mental health and substance use disorder treatment, including medically necessary treatment of a mental health or substance use disorder provided by an in-network or out-of-network 988 center or mobile crisis team. Existing law prohibits a health care service plan or insurer from requiring prior authorization for medically necessary treatment of a mental health or substance use disorder provided by a 988 center or mobile crisis team.This bill would instead specify that mental health and substance use disorder treatment includes behavioral health crisis services that are provided by a 988 center, mobile crisis team or other provider of behavioral health crisis services. The bill would prohibit a health care service plan or health insurer from requiring prior authorization for behavioral health crisis stabilization services and care, but would authorize prior authorization for medically necessary mental health or substance use disorder services following stabilization from a behavioral health crisis addressed by services provided through the 988 system.This bill would require a health care service plan or health insurer that is contacted by a 988 center, mobile crisis team, or other provider of behavioral health crisis services to, within 30 minutes of initial contact, either authorize poststabilization care or inform the provider that it will arrange for the prompt transfer of the enrollee’s care to another provider. The bill would require the plan or insurer to reimburse a provider for poststabilization care in specified circumstances, including if the plan or insurer did not respond within 30 minutes to authorize care or arrange for transfer. The bill would require a plan or insurer to prominently display on its internet w

CA AB 1186 - Mia Bonta
Juveniles: restitution.
09/06/2023 - Ordered to inactive file at the request of Senator Becker.
AB 1186, as amended, Bonta. Juveniles: restitution. Existing law establishes the jurisdiction of the juvenile court over minors who are between 12 and 17 years of age, inclusive, who have violated a federal, state, or local law or ordinance, as specified, and over minors under 12 years of age who have been alleged to have committed specified crimes. Existing law authorizes a juvenile court to adjudge a person under these circumstances to be a ward of the court. Existing law authorizes a court, upon adjudicating a person to be a ward of the court, to require the minor to pay restitution to the victim or victims.This bill would remove the ability of the court to require the minor to pay monetary restitution to the victim. The bill would authorize the court to instead order the minor to make nonmonetary restitution by participating in a community-based restoration program, performing community service, or participating in an educational, employment, youth development, or mental health program, as specified. The bill would require the court to determine the amount of economic loss suffered as a result of the minor’s conduct and issue a restitution order, which would then be transmitted to the California Victim Compensation Board. The bill would require the California Victim Compensation Board, upon appropriation by the Legislature for these purposes, to compensate the victim for the amount in the order.Existing law, for the purposes of determining victims for compensation from a ward, defines a victim for these purposes as including, among other things, a governmental entity responsible for repairing privately owned property that has been defaced or a corporation, partnership, association, government, or other legal or commercial entity when that entity is a direct victim of the crime.This bill would remove those entities from the definition of victim.The bill would additionally make other conforming changes.

CA AB 1194 - Wendy Maria Carrillo
California Privacy Rights Act of 2020: exemptions: abortion services.
09/21/2023 - Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3:30 p.m.
AB 1194, Wendy Carrillo. California Privacy Rights Act of 2020: exemptions: abortion services. Existing law, the California Privacy Rights Act of 2020 (CPRA), approved by the voters as Proposition 24 at the November 3, 2020, statewide general election, grants a consumer various rights with respect to personal information, as defined, that is collected or sold by a business, as defined, including the right to require the business to delete personal information about the consumer, as specified, unless those obligations restrict a business’s ability to, among other things, comply with federal, state, or local laws or comply with a court order or subpoena to provide information, or cooperate with a government agency request for emergency access to a consumer’s personal information if a natural person is at risk or danger of death or serious physical injury, as provided.This bill would, if the consumer’s personal information contains information related to accessing, procuring, or searching for services regarding contraception, pregnancy care, and perinatal care, including, but not limited to, abortion services, require a business to comply with the obligations imposed by the CPRA unless the personal information is used for specified business purposes, as defined, is only retained in aggregated and deidentified form, and is not sold or shared. The bill would specify that the requirement to comply without regard to the above-described exceptions does not alter the duty to preserve or retain evidence in an ongoing civil proceeding. The bill would further specify that a consumer accessing, procuring, or searching for those services does not constitute a natural person being at risk or danger of death or serious physical injury. The bill would also make nonsubstantive conforming changes.The California Privacy Rights Act of 2020 authorizes the Legislature to amend the act to further the purposes and intent of the act by a majority vote of both houses of the Legislature, as specified.This bill would declare that its provisions further the purposes and intent of the California Privacy Rights Act of 2020.

CA AB 120 - House Budget Committee
Human services.
06/27/2023 - Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4:30 p.m.
AB 120, Committee on Budget. Human services. (1) Existing law, the California Community Care Facilities Act, provides for the licensing and regulation of community care facilities, including group home facilities, short-term residential therapeutic programs (STRTPs), and adult residential facilities (ARFs), by the State Department of Social Services. Under existing law, the department similarly regulates residential care facilities for the elderly. A violation of provisions relating to these facilities is a misdemeanor. Existing law requires administrators of these facilities, with specified exemptions, to complete a department-approved certification program, uniformly referred to as administrator certification training programs. Under existing law, these programs require a specified minimum number of hours, depending on the facility type, of classroom instruction that provides training on a uniform core of knowledge in specified areas. Existing law also requires administrator certificates to be renewed every 2 years, conditional upon the certificate holder submitting documentation of a specified number of hours of continuing education, based on the facility type. Existing law permits up to one-half of the required continuing education hours to be satisfied through online courses, and the remainder to be completed in a classroom instructional setting, as prescribed.This bill would revise those provisions by deleting the classroom instruction requirement for initial certification and continuing education purposes, and instead would require instruction that is conducive to learning and allows participants to simultaneously interact with each other as well as with the instructor. The bill would authorize up to one-half of continuing education hours to be satisfied through self-paced courses, rather than online courses. The bill would make various conforming changes.Existing law authorizes the department to license as ARFs, subject to specified conditions, adult residential facilities for persons with special health care needs (ARFPSHNs), which provide 24-hour services to up to 5 adults with developmental disabilities who have special health care and intensive support needs, as defined. Existing law requires the department to ensure that an ARFPSHN meets specified administrative requirements, including requirements related to fingerprinting and criminal records.This bill additionally would require an ARFPSHN to meet the administrator certification requirements of an ARF, including, but not limited to, completing a department-approved administrator certification training program requiring a designated minimum number of hours of instruction conducive to learning, in which participants are able to simultaneously interact with each other as well as with the instructor, that provides training on the uniform core of knowledge applicable to ARFs, as specified. The bill would require an applicant for an administrator’s certificate to submit an application for certification to the department and pass an examination, as prescribed.Because a violation of the above-described requirements would be a crime, this bill would create a state-mandated local program.Existing law includes within the definition of a community care facility, full-service adoption agencies and noncustodial adoption agencies, both of which are licensed entities authorized to provide specified adoption services. Under existing law, a facility is deemed to be an unlicensed community care facility and maintained and operated to provide nonmedical care if it is unlicensed, not exempt from licensure, and if it satisfies one of several specified conditions, including, among others, performing any of the functions of an adoption agency or holding itself out as performing any of the functions of an adoption agency, as specified. Existing law prohibits the operation of an unlicensed community care facility in the state and makes a violation of these provisions punishable as a misd

CA AB 1202 - Tom Lackey
Medi-Cal: health care services data: children and pregnant or postpartum persons.
02/12/2024 - Consideration of Governor's veto stricken from file.
AB 1202, Lackey. Medi-Cal: health care services data: children and pregnant or postpartum persons. Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services through various health care delivery systems, including managed care pursuant to Medi-Cal managed care plan contracts. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions.Existing law establishes, until January 1, 2026, certain time or distance and appointment time standards for specified Medi-Cal managed care covered services, consistent with federal regulations relating to network adequacy standards, to ensure that those services are available and accessible to enrollees of Medi-Cal managed care plans in a timely manner, as specified. Existing law sets forth various limits on the number of miles or minutes from the enrollee’s place of residence, depending on the type of service or specialty and, in some cases, on the county.This bill would require the department, no later than January 1, 2025, to prepare and submit a report to the Legislature that includes certain information, including an analysis of the adequacy of each Medi-Cal managed care plan’s network for pediatric primary care, including the number and geographic distribution of providers and the plan’s compliance with the above-described time or distance and appointment time standards.Under the bill, the report would also include data, disaggregated as specified, on the number of children and pregnant or postpartum persons who are Medi-Cal beneficiaries receiving certain health care services during the 2021–22, 2022–23, and 2023–24 fiscal years. The report would also include additional information regarding the department’s efforts to improve access to pediatric preventive care, as specified. The bill would require that the report be made publicly available through its posting on the department’s internet website.The bill would repeal these reporting provisions on January 1, 2029.

CA AB 1207 - Jacqui V. Irwin
Cannabis: labeling and advertising.
02/01/2024 - Consideration of Governor's veto stricken from file.
AB 1207, Irwin. Cannabis: labeling and advertising. 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. 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, including retail commercial cannabis activity. MAUCRSA places specified requirements on the packaging of cannabis and cannabis products. MAUCRSA prohibits a licensee from engaging in specified advertising or marketing activities, including, among others, advertising or marketing in a manner that is false or untrue or tends to create a misleading impression.AUMA authorizes the Legislature to amend by majority vote certain provisions of the act to implement specified substantive provisions, provided that the amendments are consistent with and further the purposes and intent of AUMA.This bill would implement provisions of AUMA by prohibiting the sale, distribution, or manufacture of cannabis, cannabis products, packaging, or labeling that are attractive to children, as defined. The bill would require the adoption of emergency regulations to implement these provisions.This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 26001 of the Business and Professions Code proposed by AB 152 and SB 152 to be operative only if this bill and AB 152 or SB 152 are enacted and this bill is enacted last.

CA AB 1226 - Matt Haney
Corrections: Placement of incarcerated persons.
07/11/2023 - Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.
AB 1226, Haney. Corrections: Placement of incarcerated persons. Existing law requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to conduct assessments and examinations of all inmates who are newly committed to a state prison that include investigation of all pertinent circumstances of the person’s life, including, but not limited to, data regarding the inmate’s history of substance abuse, medical and mental health, education, family background, criminal activity, and social functioning.Existing law requires the Secretary of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to assign a prisoner to the institution of the appropriate security level and gender population nearest the prisoner’s home, unless other classification factors make such a placement unreasonable.This bill, for an incarcerated person with a parent and child relationship with a child under 18 years of age, as specified, or who is a guardian or relative caregiver of a child, as defined, would require the secretary to place the person in the correctional institution or facility that is located nearest to the primary place of residence of the person’s child, provided that the placement would be suitable and appropriate, would facilitate increased contact between the person and their child, and the incarcerated parent gives their consent to the placement. The bill would authorize the department to reevaluate an incarcerated person’s placement to determine whether existing orders should be modified, including whether the person’s child has moved to a place significantly nearer to an otherwise suitable and appropriate institution. The bill would allow an incarcerated person to request a review of their housing assignment when there is a change in the primary place of residence of the person’s child upon which the person’s housing assignment was based.

CA AB 127 - House Budget Committee
State government.
06/27/2023 - Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4:30 p.m.
AB 127, Committee on Budget. State government. (1) Existing law, the California Age-Appropriate Design Code Act, among other things, requires a business that provides an online service, product, or feature likely to be accessed by children to comply with specified requirements, including a requirement to configure all default privacy settings offered by the online service, product, or feature to the settings that offer a high level of privacy, unless the business can demonstrate a compelling reason that a different setting is in the best interests of children, and to provide privacy information, terms of service, policies, and community standards concisely, prominently, and using clear language suited to the age of children likely to access that online service, product, or feature.Existing law establishes the California Children’s Data Protection Working Group to deliver a report to the Legislature on or before January 1, 2024, and every 2 years thereafter, regarding best practices for the implementation of these provisions, as specified. Existing law requires the working group to select a chair and a vice chair from among its members and requires the working group to consist of 10 members, as specified.This bill would specify that the working group is within the Office of the Attorney General, and would require the report to, instead, be delivered on or before July 1, 2024, and every 2 years thereafter. The bill would instead require the working group to consist of 9 members, as specified. The bill would permit meetings of the working group to be conducted by means of remote communication, as specified.(2) The California Constitution generally prohibits the total annual appropriations subject to limitation of the state and each local government from exceeding the appropriations limit of the entity of government for the prior fiscal year, adjusted for the change in the cost of living and the change in population, and prescribes procedures for making adjustments to the appropriations limit. The California Constitution defines “appropriations subject to limitation” of the state to mean any authorization to expend during a fiscal year the proceeds of taxes levied by or for the state, exclusive of, among other things, state subventions for the use and operation of local government, except as specified. The California Constitution defines “appropriations subject to limitation” of an entity of local government to mean any authorization to expend during a fiscal year the proceeds of taxes levied by or for that entity and the proceeds of state subventions to that entity, except as specified, exclusive of refunds of taxes.Existing statutory provisions implementing these constitutional provisions establish the procedure for establishing the appropriations limit of the state and of each local jurisdiction for each fiscal year. Under existing law, revenues and appropriations for a local jurisdiction include subventions and with respect to the state, revenues and appropriations exclude those subventions. Existing law defines, for those purposes, “state subventions” as only including money received by a local agency from the state, the use of which is unrestricted by the statute providing the subvention.For fiscal years commencing with the 2020–21 fiscal year, existing law defines “state subventions” to additionally include money provided to a local agency pursuant to certain state programs and requires any money received by a local agency pursuant to that provision to be included within the appropriations limit of the local agency, up to the full appropriations limit of the local agency, as prescribed.This bill would require the Department of Finance to, no later than February 1 of each year, calculate the individual subvention amounts for each of those state programs and provide this information on an annual basis to the California State Association of Counties and the League of California Cities for distribution to local agencies. The bi

CA AB 1313 - Liz Ortega
Older individuals: case management services.
09/01/2023 - In committee: Held under submission.
AB 1313, as amended, Ortega. Older individuals: case management services. Existing law requires the California Department of Aging to administer the Mello-Granlund Older Californians Act, which establishes various programs that serve older individuals, defined as persons 60 years of age or older except as specified. The act requires the department to designate various private nonprofit or public agencies as area agencies on aging to work within a planning and service area and provide a broad array of social and nutritional services. Under the act, the department’s mission is to provide leadership to those agencies in developing systems of home- and community-based services that maintain individuals in their own homes or least restrictive homelike environments.This bill would, until January 1, 2030, and subject to an appropriation, require the department to establish a case management services pilot program. Under the bill, the purpose of the program would be to expand statewide the local capacity of supportive services programs by providing case management services to older individuals who need assistance to maintain health and economic stability. The bill would require the Counties of Alameda, Marin, and Sonoma to participate in the pilot program.The bill would require the 3 counties to coordinate with their respective area agencies on aging or other county or community-based entities to deliver the services. The bill would also require those counties to measure performance outcomes during the course of implementing the program. The bill would require those counties, on an annual basis, for the first 5 years during which an appropriation is made, to submit reports to the department containing data on the performance outcomes, in order to determine program efficacy and to inform and shape solutions under a master plan for aging that has been established pursuant to a specified executive order. By creating new duties for the 3 counties relating to participation in the pilot program, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the Counties of Alameda, Marin, and Sonoma.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.

CA AB 1417 - James D. Wood
Elder and dependent adult abuse: mandated reporting.
09/22/2023 - Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 11:30 a.m.
AB 1417, Wood. Elder and dependent adult abuse: mandated reporting. Existing law, the Elder Abuse and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act, sets forth various provisions for the reporting, investigation, and prosecution of elder and dependent adult abuse. Existing law requires specified people, known as mandated reporters, to report cases of elder or dependent adult abuse. Under existing law, failure to report the abuse is a misdemeanor.Existing law establishes certain procedures for mandated reporters to report known or suspected instances of abuse by telephone followed by a written report, or through a confidential internet reporting tool, as specified. If the abuse is physical abuse, and the abuse occurred in a long-term care facility, with exceptions, existing law sets forth the reporting conditions, including those relating to the format, timelines, and recipients of the reporting. Under existing law, the reporting conditions are based on whether or not the suspected abuse results in serious bodily injury, or whether the suspected abuse is allegedly caused by a resident with a physician’s diagnosis of dementia and there is no serious bodily injury, as specified. If the abuse is not physical abuse, and the abuse occurred in a long-term care facility, with exceptions, existing law requires a telephone report and a written report to be made to the local ombudsperson or the local law enforcement agency.This bill would delete and reorganize some of those reporting provisions. Under the bill, if the abuse that occurred in a long-term facility was allegedly caused by another resident of the facility with dementia diagnosed by a licensed physician and there was no serious bodily injury, the reporter would be required to submit a written report within 24 hours to the long-term care ombudsperson and the local law enforcement agency. Under the bill, in all other instances, immediately or as soon as practically possible, but no longer than 2 hours, the reporter would be required to submit a verbal report to the local law enforcement agency, and to submit a written report within 24 hours to the aforementioned recipients. Under the bill, the time limit for reporting would begin when the mandated reporter observes, obtains knowledge of, or suspects the abuse or neglect. The bill would make conforming changes to related provisions.By expanding the scope of the mandated reporting crime, and to the extent the bill would change the duties of local entities receiving the reports, the 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 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.

CA AB 1445 - Joaquin Arambula
The Neng Thao Drowning Prevention Safety Act.
09/12/2023 - Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.
AB 1445, Arambula. The Neng Thao Drowning Prevention Safety Act. Existing law requires the Division of Boating and Waterways, in cooperation with the State Department of Education and other appropriate entities involved with water safety, to develop an aquatic safety program to be made available for use at an appropriate grade level in public elementary schools at no expense to the schools. Existing law requires the division to notify schools and school districts of the availability of the aquatic safety program once it is developed.This bill would authorize specified organizations to provide informational materials, in electronic or hardcopy form, to a public school regarding specified topics relating to drowning prevention. The bill would authorize, beginning with the 2024–25 school year, upon receipt of the informational materials, a public school to provide the informational materials to parents, legal guardians, or caregivers of pupils at the time the pupil enrolls at the school and at the beginning of each school year.

CA AB 1450 - Corey A. Jackson
Behavioral health: behavioral health and wellness screenings: notice.
02/01/2024 - From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
AB 1450, as amended, Jackson. Behavioral health: behavioral health and wellness screenings: notice. Existing law, the Medical Practice Act, provides for the licensing and regulation of physicians and surgeons by the Medical Board of California. Existing law requires the board, in determining its continuing education requirements, to consider including a course in integrating mental and physical health care in primary care settings, especially as it pertains to early identification of mental health issues and exposure to trauma in children and young adults and their appropriate care and treatment. Existing law requires a physician and surgeon to provide notice to patients at an initial office visit regarding a specified database.Existing law requires the State Department of Public Health to license and regulate health facilities, including general acute care hospitals. A violation of those provisions is generally a crime. Existing law requires a general acute care hospital to establish and adopt written policies and procedures to screen patients who are 12 years of age and older for purposes of detecting a risk for suicidal ideation and behavior. Existing law, the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975, provides for the licensure and regulation of health care service plans by the Department of Managed Health Care, and makes a willful violation of the act a crime. Existing law provides for the regulation of health insurers by the Department of Insurance. This bill would require a physician and surgeon, a general acute care hospital, a health care service plan, and a health insurer to provide to each legal guardian of a patient, enrollee, or insured, 10 to 18 years of age, a written or electronic notice regarding the benefits of a behavioral health and wellness screening. The bill would require the providers to provide the notice at least once every 2 years in the preferred method of the legal guardian. Because a violation of the bill’s requirements relative to health care service plans and health facilities would be crimes, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions. Existing law requires a Medi-Cal managed care plan, no later than January 1, 2025, to conduct annual outreach and education for its enrollees, based on a plan that the Medi-Cal managed care plan develops and submits to the department, as specified, regarding the mental health benefits that are covered by the Medi-Cal managed care plan. This bill would require a Medi-Cal managed care plan to include the above-described notice requirement in their outreach and education plan. 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.

CA AB 1470 - Sharon Quirk-Silva
Medi-Cal: behavioral health services: documentation standards.
09/13/2023 - In Senate. Held at Desk.
AB 1470, as amended, Quirk-Silva. Medi-Cal: behavioral health services: documentation standards. Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services, including behavioral health services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions. Existing law establishes the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) initiative, subject to receipt of any necessary federal approvals and the availability of federal financial participation, in order to, among other things, improve quality outcomes and reduce health disparities.The bill, as part of CalAIM, and with respect to behavioral health services provided under the Medi-Cal program, would require the department to standardize data elements relating to documentation requirements, including, but not limited to, medically necessary criteria, and would require the department to develop standard forms containing information necessary to properly adjudicate claims pursuant to CalAIM Terms and Conditions. The bill would require the department to consult with representatives of specified associations and programs for purposes of implementing these provisions.The bill would require the department to conduct, on or before July 1, 2025, regional trainings for personnel and provider networks of applicable entities, including county mental health plans, Medi-Cal managed care plans, and entities within the fee-for-service delivery system, on proper completion of the standard forms. The bill would require each applicable entity to distribute the training material and standard forms to its provider networks, and to commence, no later than July 1, 2025, using the standard forms. The bill would require providers of applicable entities to use those forms, as specified. The bill would authorize the department to restrict the imposition of additional documentation requirements beyond those included on standard forms, as specified.The bill would require the department to conduct an analysis on the status of utilization of the standard forms by applicable entities, and on the status of the trainings and training material, in order to determine the effectiveness of implementation of the above-described provisions. The bill would require the department to prepare a report containing findings from the analysis no later than July 1, 2026, and a followup report no later than July 1, 2028, and to submit each report to the Legislature and post it on the department’s internet website.

CA AB 1474 - Eloise Gomez Reyes
California Statewide Housing Plan.
09/20/2023 - Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.
AB 1474, Reyes. California Statewide Housing Plan. Existing law establishes the California Statewide Housing Plan, developed in cooperation with the private housing industry, regional and local housing and planning agencies, and other agencies of the state, to serve as a state housing plan. Existing law requires the plan to incorporate specified segments, including, among others, a housing strategy that coordinates the housing assistance and activities of state and local agencies, including the provision of housing assistance for various population groups, including, but not limited to, elderly persons, persons with disabilities, and other specific population groups as deemed appropriate by the department. Existing law, to the extent possible, requires the department to consult with various state departments, including the California Department of Aging and the State Department of Social Services, in developing that housing strategy.This bill would add veterans to the list of population groups included in the housing strategy described above. The bill would require the department to also consult with the Department of Veterans Affairs in developing the housing strategy, to the extent possible.This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 50423 of the Health and Safety Code proposed by AB 1764 to be operative only if this bill and AB 1764 are enacted and this bill is enacted last.

CA AB 1481 - Rebecca Bauer-Kahan
Medi-Cal: presumptive eligibility.
09/20/2023 - Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.
AB 1481, Boerner. Medi-Cal: presumptive eligibility. Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services, under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid Program provisions. Existing federal law, as a condition of receiving federal Medicaid funds, requires states to provide health care services to specified individuals. Existing federal law authorizes states to provide presumptive eligibility to pregnant women or children, and existing state law requires the department to provide presumptive eligibility to pregnant women and children, as specified.This bill would expand the presumptive eligibility for pregnant women to all pregnant people, renaming the program “Presumptive Eligibility for Pregnant People” (PE4PP). For a pregnant person covered under PE4PP who applies for full-scope Medi-Cal benefits, if the application is submitted at any time from the date of their presumptive eligibility determination through the last day of the subsequent calendar month, the bill would require the department to ensure the pregnant person is covered under PE4PP until their full-scope Medi-Cal application is approved or denied, as specified. The bill would require the department to require providers participating in the PE4PP program to provide information to pregnant persons enrolled in PE4PP on how to contact the person’s county to expedite the county’s determination of a Medi-Cal application.The bill would make conforming changes to related provisions. Because counties are required to make eligibility determinations, and this bill would expand Medi-Cal eligibility, the 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.

CA AB 1501 - Josh Hoover
Business regulations: sexually explicit material.
02/01/2024 - From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
AB 1501, as introduced, Hoover. Business regulations: sexually explicit material. Existing law, the Parent’s Accountability and Child Protection Act, requires a person or business that conducts business in California and that seeks to sell specified products or services to take reasonable steps to ensure that the purchaser is of legal age at the time of purchase or delivery, including verifying the age of the purchaser. Existing law prohibits a person or business that is required to comply with these provisions from retaining, using, or disclosing any information it receives in an effort to verify age from a purchaser or recipient for any other purpose, except as specified, and subjects a business or person that violates these provisions to a civil penalty.This bill would require a commercial entity that knowingly and intentionally publishes or distributes sexually explicit material on the internet from a sexually explicit website to use an age verification method that prevents minors from accessing sexually explicit material. The bill would make a commercial entity that violates these provisions liable to the parent or legal guardian of a minor who accessed the sexually explicit material, as specified. The bill would prohibit a commercial entity or third party that performs age verification required by these provisions from retaining any identifying information of an individual after age verification has been accomplished. The bill would make a commercial entity that knowingly retains the identifying information of an individual in violation of these provisions liable, as specified. The bill would provide specified exceptions to these provisions, including for a bona fide news or public interest broadcast, website video, report, or event. The bill would define several terms for purposes of these provisions.

CA AB 1506 - Sharon Quirk-Silva
Foster youth.
09/11/2023 - Consideration of Governor's veto stricken from file.
AB 1506, Quirk-Silva. Foster youth. Existing law generally provides for the placement of foster youth in various placement settings and governs the provision of child welfare services, which is defined to mean public social services that are directed toward the accomplishment of specified purposes, including protecting and promoting the welfare of all children, preventing the unnecessary separation of children from their families, and restoring to their families children who have been removed.Existing law grants specified rights to all minors and nonminors in foster care, including, among others, the right to receive medical, dental, vision, and mental health services, the right to be informed of these rights in an age and developmentally appropriate manner, and the right to receive a copy of these rights at specified intervals.This bill would expand these rights to include the opportunity for a child to return to their school to collect their belongings when a move or change in placement requires the child to change schools.

CA AB 1512 - Rebecca Bauer-Kahan
Foster care payments.
02/01/2024 - Consideration of Governor's veto stricken from file.
AB 1512, Bryan. Foster care payments. Existing law provides for the out-of-home placement, including foster care placement, of children who are unable to remain in the custody and care of their parents. Existing law, the federal Social Security Act, provides for benefits for eligible beneficiaries, including survivorship and disability benefits and supplemental security income (SSI) benefits for, among others, blind and disabled children. Existing law requires every youth who is in foster care and nearing emancipation to be screened by the county for potential eligibility for federal Supplemental Security Income and requires that screening to occur when the foster youth is at least 16 years and 6 months of age and not older than 17 years and 6 months of age.This bill, among other things, would require a placing agency to act in accordance with specified guidelines and pursuant to certain requirements when acting as the representative payee or in any other fiduciary capacity for a child or youth, including, among other requirements, ensuring that the child’s benefits are not used to pay for, or to reimburse, the placing agency for any costs of the child’s care and supervision, as defined. The bill would make these requirements operative January 1, 2024, or 30 days after the department issues the necessary all-county letters and informing materials to county placing agencies, whichever is later. By increasing county duties with respect to foster youth, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.Existing law requires the State Department of Social Services to convene a workgroup to develop best practice guidelines for county welfare departments to assist eligible children who are in the state’s or a county’s custody and are qualified in obtaining federal social security and supplemental security income benefits. Existing law requires that workgroup to make recommendations to the department, by December 31, 2006, regarding the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of reserving a designated amount of foster children’s social security and SSI/SSP benefits in lieu of reimbursing the county and the state for care and maintenance, and, in making those recommendations, to consider that the reserved benefits would be for the purpose of assisting the foster child in the transfer to self-sufficient living in a manner consistent with federal law.This bill would repeal the requirement for that workgroup to make the above-described recommendations regarding feasibility and cost-effectiveness.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.

CA AB 152 - House Budget Committee
Background checks and fingerprinting: state employment, licensing, and contracting.
09/13/2023 - Re-referred to Com. on B. & F.R.
AB 152, as amended, Committee on Budget. Background checks and fingerprinting: state employment, licensing, and contracting. (1) Existing law requires the Department of Justice to maintain state summary criminal history information, as defined, and to furnish this information to various state and local government officers, officials, and other prescribed entities, as specified. Existing law authorizes the Department of Justice to transmit fingerprint images and related information to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the purpose of obtaining a federal criminal history information check pursuant to a referencing statute. Existing law requires the department to review the information returned from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and to compile and disseminate a response or a fitness determination to the agency or entity identified in the referencing statute.This bill would require the Office of Youth and Community Restoration, the State Department of State Hospitals, the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, the California Horse Racing Board, the Department of Toxic Substances Control, the Department of Real Estate, the Department of Housing and Community Development, the Department of General Services, the Treasurer’s office, and the Controller’s office to submit to the Department of Justice fingerprint images and related information required by the Department of Justice for specified individuals, including employees, prospective employees, and contractors, as applicable.This bill would also require the State Department of Public Health to require an applicant for a human prescription drug manufacturing license to submit fingerprint images, and related information as required, to the Department of Justice.The bill would require the Department of Justice to provide a state- or federal-level response, as specified.This bill would require the Department of Real Estate and the Department of Housing and Community Development to require certain services contracts, interagency agreements, or public entity agreements to include a provision requiring the contractor to agree to perform criminal background checks on its employees and subcontractors who will have access to specified information.(2) Existing law establishes the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation in the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency, headed by the Commissioner of Financial Protection and Innovation. Under existing law, the department has charge of the execution of specified laws relating to various financial institutions and financial services, including banks, trust companies, credit unions, finance lenders, and residential mortgage lenders. Existing law authorizes the commissioner to deliver, or cause to be delivered, to local, state, or federal law enforcement agencies fingerprints taken of specified individuals, including, among others, an applicant for employment with the department.This bill would require the department to require fingerprint images from any department employee, prospective employee or applicant seeking employment within the department, contractor, subcontractor, volunteer, or vendor who may have access to criminal offender record information. The bill would require the Department of Justice to forward a request for national-level criminal offender record information to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and compile and disseminate the information returned, as specified.(3) Existing law requires the Department of FISCal to require fingerprint images and associated information from any employee, prospective employee, contractor, subcontractor, volunteer, vendor, or partner agency employee whose duties include, or would include, having access to confidential or sensitive information or data on the network or computing infrastructure, as provided.This bill would instead require the Department of FISCal to require fingerprint images and associated related information from any department employee, pr

CA AB 1536 - Michael A. Gipson
Cash Assistance Program for Aged, Blind, and Disabled Immigrants.
01/30/2024 - Consideration of Governor's veto stricken from file.
AB 1536, Juan Carrillo. Cash Assistance Program for Aged, Blind, and Disabled Immigrants. Existing law requires the State Department of Social Services to establish and supervise a county- or county consortia-administered program to provide cash assistance for aged, blind, or disabled legal immigrants who are not citizens who, due to their immigration status, are not eligible for the Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Program for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled, also known as SSI/SSP benefits. Under existing law, an individual is eligible for this program if their immigration status meets SSI/SSP eligibility criteria but they are not eligible for those benefits solely due to their immigration status, as specified. Existing law also requires any person who is found to be eligible by the department for federally funded SSI to apply for SSI benefits.This bill would expand eligibility for that program to aged, blind, and disabled individuals regardless of immigration status if the individual meets the eligibility criteria for the program and is not eligible solely due to their immigration status. This bill would exempt individuals who are not qualified immigrants, as specified, from having to apply for SSI in order to receive benefits. The bill would also delete several inoperative provisions. The bill would make the implementation of these substantive changes contingent upon an appropriation for its express purposes. By expanding county duties under the program, 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.

CA AB 1549 - Wendy Carrillo
Medi-Cal: federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics.
02/01/2024 - From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
AB 1549, as amended, Wendy Carrillo. Medi-Cal: federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics. Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services, including federally qualified health center services and rural health clinic services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions.Under existing law, to the extent that federal financial participation is available, FQHC and RHC services are reimbursed on a per-visit basis, as specified.This bill would, among other things, require that per-visit rate to account for the costs of the FQHC or RHC that are reasonable and related to the provision of covered services, including the specific staffing and care delivery models used by the FQHC and RHC to deliver those services. The bill would also require the rate for any newly qualified health center to include the cost of care coordination services provided by the health center, as specified.

CA AB 1570 - Evan Low
Optometry: certification to perform advanced procedures.
02/01/2024 - From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
AB 1570, as amended, Low. Optometry: certification to perform advanced procedures. Existing law, the Optometry Practice Act, establishes the State Board of Optometry in the Department of Consumer Affairs for the licensure and regulation of the practice of optometry. Existing law makes a violation of the act a misdemeanor. Existing law excludes certain classes of agents from the practice of optometry unless they have an explicit United States Food and Drug Administration-approved indication, as specified.This bill would add neuromuscular blockers to the list of excluded classes of agents. By expanding the scope of a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.Existing law requires an optometrist who holds a therapeutic pharmaceutical agents certification and meets specified requirements to be certified to medically treat authorized glaucomas.This bill would authorize an optometrist certified to treat glaucoma to obtain certification to perform specified advanced procedures in a patient 18 years of age or older if the optometrist meets certain education, training, examination, and other requirements, as specified. By requiring optometrists, qualified educators, and course administrators to certify or attest specified information relating to advanced procedure competency, thus expanding the crime of perjury, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would require the board to set a fee for the issuance and renewal of the certificate authorizing the use of advanced procedures, which would be deposited in the Optometry Fund. The bill would require an optometrist who performs advanced procedures pursuant to these provisions to report certain information to the board, including any adverse treatment outcomes that required a referral to or consultation with another health care provider. The bill would require the board to compile a report summarizing the data collected and make the report available on the board’s internet website.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.

CA AB 1587 - David K. Min
Financial transactions: firearms merchants: merchant category code.
09/26/2023 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 247, Statutes of 2023.
AB 1587, Ting. Financial transactions: firearms merchants: merchant category code. Existing law, the California Financing Law, generally provides for the licensure and regulation of finance lenders, brokers, and program administrators by the Commissioner of Financial Protection and Innovation.Existing law establishes a firearm industry standard of conduct that requires a firearm industry member to establish, implement, and enforce reasonable controls and to take responsible precautions to ensure that the member does not sell, distribute, or provide a firearm-related product to a downstream distributor or retailer of firearm-related products under specified circumstances. Existing law prohibits a firearm industry member from manufacturing, marketing, importing, offering for wholesale sale, or offering for retail sale a firearm-related product that is abnormally dangerous and likely to create an unreasonable risk of harm to public health and safety in California, as specified. Existing law authorizes, among others, the Attorney General to bring a civil action against a firearm industry member for an act or omission in violation of the firearm industry standard of conduct, as specified. Existing law defines various terms for these purposes.This bill would, by July 1, 2024, require a payment card network to make the merchant category code for firearms and ammunition businesses established by the International Organization for Standardization on September 9, 2022, available for merchant acquirers that provide payment services for firearms merchants. The bill would, beginning May 1, 2025, require a merchant acquirer to assign to a firearms merchant that merchant category code. The bill would provide that the Attorney General has exclusive authority to enforce these provisions, and would authorize the Attorney General to bring a civil action to enforce these provisions and remedy harm caused by a violation of these provisions. The bill would require a court that determines that a person or entity has violated these provisions to award specified relief, including a civil penalty in the amount of $10,000 for each violation. The bill would define various terms for these purposes.

CA AB 1644 - Buffy Wicks
Medi-Cal: medically supportive food and nutrition services.
02/01/2024 - From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
AB 1644, as amended, Bonta. Medi-Cal: medically supportive food and nutrition services. Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions.Existing law requires the department to establish the Medically Tailored Meals Pilot Program and the Short-Term Medically Tailored Meals Intervention Services Program, to operate in specified counties and during limited periods for the purpose of providing medically tailored meal intervention services to eligible Medi-Cal beneficiaries with certain health conditions, including congestive heart failure, cancer, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or renal disease.Existing law, subject to implementation of the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) initiative, authorizes a Medi-Cal managed care plan to elect to cover community supports approved by the department as cost effective and medically appropriate in a comprehensive risk contract that are in lieu of applicable Medi-Cal state plan services. Under existing law, community supports that the department is authorized to approve include, among other things, medically supportive food and nutrition services, including medically tailored meals.This bill would make medically supportive food and nutrition interventions, as defined, a covered benefit under the Medi-Cal program, upon issuance of final guidance by the department. The bill would require medically supportive food and nutrition interventions to be covered when determined to be medically necessary by a health care provider or health care plan, as specified. In order to qualify for coverage under the Medi-Cal program, the bill would require a patient to be offered at least 3 of 6 specified medically supportive food and nutrition interventions and for the interventions to be provided for a minimum duration of 12 weeks, as specified. The bill would only provide coverage for nutrition support interventions when paired with the provision of food through one of the 3 offered interventions. The bill would require a health care provider to match the acuity of a patient’s condition to the intensity and duration of the medically supportive food and nutrition intervention and include culturally appropriate foods whenever possible.The bill would establish a medically supportive food and nutrition benefit advisory workgroup to advise the department in developing final guidance related to eligible populations, the duration and dosage of medically supportive food and nutrition interventions, the ratesetting process, determination of permitted providers, and continuing education for health care providers, as specified. The bill would require the workgroup to include certain stakeholders knowledgeable in medically supportive food and nutrition interventions and stakeholders from Medi-Cal consumer advocacy organizations. The bill would require the workgroup to meet at least quarterly and would require the department to issue final guidance on or before July 1, 2026. The bill would also include findings and declarations of the Legislature relating to the need for medically supportive food and nutrition intervention coverage under the Medi-Cal program.

CA AB 1672 - Henry I. Stern
In-Home Supportive Services Employer-Employee Relations Act.
06/21/2023 - In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
AB 1672, as introduced, Haney. In-Home Supportive Services Employer-Employee Relations Act. (1) Existing law establishes the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program, which is administered by the State Department of Social Services, counties, and other entities, under which qualified aged, blind, or disabled persons are provided with supportive services in order to permit them to remain in their own homes. Existing law authorizes a county board of supervisors to elect to contract with a nonprofit consortium to provide for the delivery of in-home supportive services or to establish, by ordinance, a public authority to provide for the delivery of those services, in accordance with certain procedures. Existing law deems a public authority created under these provisions to be the employer of in-home supportive services personnel under the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act, which governs labor relations between local public employers and employees. Existing law also deems a nonprofit consortium contracting with a county to be the employer of in-home supportive services personnel for purposes of collective bargaining over wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment. Existing law grants recipients of in-home supportive services the right to hire, fire, and supervise the work of any in-home supportive services personnel providing services for them. Existing law prohibits the state and specified local public employers from deterring or discouraging public employees from becoming or remaining members of an employee organization. Existing law also requires specified public employers to provide exclusive employee representatives access to new employee orientations. Existing law generally grants the Public Employment Relations Board jurisdiction over violations of these provisions. Existing law defines “public employers” who are subject to these provisions as including, among others, public agencies, cities, counties, and districts. This bill would expand the definition of “public employer,” for purposes of those provisions, to include an employer who is subject to the In-Home Supportive Services Employer-Employee Relations Act, which the bill would create. The bill would establish a method for resolving disputes regarding wages, benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment between the state and recognized employee organizations representing independent providers. The bill would provide for the right of employees, also known as individual providers under the act, to form, join, and participate in activities of employee organizations for the purposes of representation on all matters within the scope of employee organizations. The bill would define “employee” or “individual provider” for these purposes to mean a person authorized to provide in-home supportive services pursuant to the individual provider mode or waiver personal care services, as prescribed. For purposes of collective bargaining, the bill would deem the state to be the employer of record of individual providers in each county. The bill would grant the in-home supportive services recipient with the right to hire, fire, and supervise the work of the individual providers providing services to them. Among other things, the bill would specify that individual providers employed by a predecessor agency before the effective date of the act shall retain employee status and not be required by the state to requalify to receive payment for providing in-home supportive services. Among other things, for purposes of collective bargaining, the bill would provide that existing bargaining units consisting of individual providers in a single county that are represented by the same recognized employee organization shall be deemed merged into the largest possible multicounty bargaining units represented by that employee organization, upon the effective date of this act. In counties where no recognized employee organization exists as of the effective date of the act, the bill would

CA AB 1675 - Juan Alanis
Foster care: enrichment activities.
02/01/2024 - From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
AB 1675, as amended, Alanis. Foster care: enrichment activities. Existing law establishes the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, which may adjudge children to be dependents of the court under certain circumstances, including when the child suffered or there is a substantial risk that the child will suffer serious physical harm, or a parent fails to provide the child with adequate food, clothing, shelter, or medical treatment. Existing law generally provides for the placement of foster youth in various placement settings, and governs the provision of child welfare services. Existing law entitles every child adjudged a dependent of the juvenile court who is placed in foster care with the right to participate in age-appropriate extracurricular, enrichment, and social activities.Existing law requires a county social worker to create a case plan for foster youth within a specified timeframe, and requires the case plan to be developed considering the recommendations of the child and family team in accordance with certain requirements, including, that the case plan identifies specific goals and the appropriateness of the planned services in meeting those goals. Existing law requires a court to review the status of a dependent child in foster care at least once every 6 months until a subsequent dispositional hearing is completed, and requires the court to consider the safety of the child and make certain determinations, including, among other things, the continuing necessity for and appropriateness of the placement, and the extent of the agency’s compliance with the case plan in making efforts, as specified, to return the child to a safe home and to complete any steps necessary to finalize their permanent placement.This bill would require a caseworker to discuss enrichment and extracurricular activities with each child or nonminor dependent at the monthly caseworker visits in order to identify potential activities and funding for the activities, and would require specified information regarding the enrichment and extracurricular activities in the case plan. The bill would also require the court to make additional determinations regarding the enrichment and extracurricular activities that the child or nonminor dependent is participating in, among other things. By increasing the duties of county child welfare agencies, this bill would create a state-mandated local program. Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services, under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions.This bill would require the State Department of Social Services, State Department of Health Care Services, and State Department of Education to develop a plan to maximize and leverage the usage of any available funds to support participation in enrichment activities for children and youth in foster care. The bill would, if the State Department of Health Care Services’s application for a federal Medicaid demonstration project, known as the California Behavioral Health Community-Based Continuum Demonstration (CalBH-CBC), is granted by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, require the State Department of Health Care Services, in collaboration with the State Department of Social Services, to convene a stakeholder workgroup, as specified, to assist in developing how the activity stipend benefit for current and former foster youth and children who have received or are receiving family maintenance services under the project will be implemented.Existing law, the Budget Act of 2022, appropriates $50,000,000 to the State Department of Social Services to allocate funding to county and tribal entities to, among other things, cover costs to facilitate a foster caregiver’s and child’s participation in child and youth enrichment activities that are not covered by the caregiver-specif

CA AB 1708 - Carlos Villapudua
Theft.
02/01/2024 - From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
AB 1708, as amended, Muratsuchi. Theft. (1) Existing law, the Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act, enacted by Proposition 47, as approved by the voters at the November 4, 2014, statewide general election, defines and prohibits an act of shoplifting and prohibits prosecution for an act of shoplifting under any other law.This bill would refine the definition of shoplifting and would specifically exclude certain offenses from prosecution as shoplifting, including, among others, the theft of a firearm or vehicle, identity theft, and credit card fraud.(2) Existing law requires, except as excluded, the theft of any property valued below $950 to be charged as petty theft, a misdemeanor.This bill would similarly exclude certain offenses from this provision, including, among others, the theft of a vehicle, identity theft, and credit card fraud.(3) Existing law provides that a person with a prior conviction for specified sex offenses may be charged with a felony for shoplifting or for theft of property not exceeding $950 in value.This bill would require a person convicted of petty theft or shoplifting, if the person has 2 or more prior convictions for specified theft-related offenses, to be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for up to one year, or for 16 months, or 2 or 3 years.(4) Existing law, until January 1, 2026, authorizes a city or county prosecuting authority or county probation department to create a diversion or deferred entry of judgment program pursuant to this section for persons who commit a theft offense or repeat theft offenses, as specified.This bill would authorize a city or county prosecuting authority or county probation department to create a diversion program for persons who commit theft or repeat theft offenses, as specified.(5) This bill would provide that the provisions of the bill that amend Proposition 47 would become effective only upon approval of the voters, and would provide for the submission of those provisions to the voters for approval at the next statewide general election.

CA AB 1754 - House Judiciary Committee
Maintenance of the codes.
07/25/2023 - Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.
AB 1754, Committee on Judiciary. Maintenance of the codes. Existing law directs the Legislative Counsel to advise the Legislature from time to time as to legislation necessary to maintain the codes.This bill would make nonsubstantive changes in various provisions of the law to effectuate the recommendations made by the Legislative Counsel to the Legislature.

CA AB 1812 - Jesse Gabriel
Budget Act of 2024.
01/16/2024 - Referred to Com. on BUDGET.
AB 1812, as introduced, Gabriel. Budget Act of 2024. This bill would make appropriations for the support of state government for the 2024–25 fiscal year.This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as a Budget Bill.

CA AB 1825 - David K. Min
Libraries: book bans.
01/12/2024 - From printer. May be heard in committee February 11.
AB 1825, as introduced, Muratsuchi. Libraries: book bans. Existing law establishes a public library system, including school libraries, unified school district and union high school district public libraries, municipal libraries, county free libraries, the California State Library, and library districts. Under existing law, the Legislature declares that the public library is, among other things, a source of information and inspiration to persons of all ages, cultural backgrounds, and economic statuses.This bill would declare the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would prevent public libraries from banning books for partisan or political reasons or in a manner that is motivated by animus based on race, gender, sexuality, religion, disability, or socioeconomic status. The bill would additionally declare the intent of the Legislature to establish procedures for removing books from public libraries, as specified.

CA AB 1832 - Blanca E. Rubio
Civil Rights Department: Labor Trafficking Task Force.
03/14/2024 - From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on PUB. S. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (March 13). Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.
AB 1832, as amended, Blanca Rubio. Civil Rights Department: Labor Trafficking Task Force. Existing law, the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, establishes in the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency the Civil Rights Department (department), headed by the Director of Civil Rights, to protect and safeguard the right and opportunity of all persons to seek, obtain, and hold employment without discrimination or abridgment on account of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, family caregiver status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, reproductive health decisionmaking, or military and veteran status. Existing law requires the department, among other things, to render annually to the Governor and to the Legislature a written report of its activities and recommendations.This bill would establish within the department the Labor Trafficking Task Force, as specified. The bill would require the task force, among other things, to take steps to prevent labor trafficking, coordinate with the Labor Enforcement Task Force, the Department of Justice, and the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement within the Department of Industrial Relations to combat labor trafficking, and refer complaints alleging labor trafficking to the department or other agencies, as appropriate, for potential investigation, civil action, or criminal prosecution. The bill would authorize the task force to coordinate with other relevant agencies to combat labor trafficking, coordinate with specified entities when investigating criminal actions related to labor trafficking, and coordinate with state or local agencies to connect survivors with available services. The bill would require the Division of Occupational Safety and Health within the Department of Industrial Relations to notify the task force when, upon investigating businesses under their purview, there is evidence of labor trafficking. The bill would require the department to include specified information in the annual report described above, including the activities of the task force, the number of complaints referred to the department, and the status or outcome of those complaints. The bill would provide that its provisions become operative only upon appropriation by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act or another measure for the purposes of the bill’s provisions.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.

CA AB 1906 - Michael A. Gipson
California Law Revision Commission: persons with disabilities: terminology.
03/14/2024 - Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.
AB 1906, as amended, Gipson. California Law Revision Commission: persons with disabilities: terminology. Existing law establishes the California Law Revision Commission to, among other things, examine the law for defects or anachronisms and recommend changes to modify or eliminate antiquated or inequitable rules of law. Existing law requires the commission to study any topic that the Legislature, by concurrent resolution or statute, refers to the commission. Existing law establishes the Committee on Revision of the Penal Code, within the commission, to study and make recommendations related to the Penal Code to achieve various objectives, including simplifying criminal law and procedure.Existing law uses the terms “dependent adult” and “dependent person” to refer to a person, regardless of whether the person lives independently, who is between the ages of 18 and 64 and has physical or mental limitations that restrict their ability to carry out normal activities or to protect their rights, as specified. Existing law uses those terms in various provisions related to, among other topics, prohibitions on, prescribes penalties for, mandated reporting of, and settlements, protective orders, and law enforcement training related to, the commission of specified offenses committed against those persons.Existing federal law requires the Governor to designate a private nonprofit corporation in this state for the protection and advocacy of persons with disabilities, as specified. Existing state law refers to this entity as “the protection and advocacy agency.”This bill would require the California Law Revision Commission, with input from stakeholders, including the protection and advocacy agency, to complete and submit to the Legislature a study on how to remove the terms “dependent adult” and “dependent person” from existing code sections, including those that use the term “dependent” in conjunction with the term “elder,” as specified. The bill would require the commission, as part of the study, to convene a working group that includes the protection and advocacy agency, persons described by those terms, and groups representing those persons. The bill would require the study to include recommendations on how to replace the terms “dependent adult” and “dependent person” with new terminology that would respectfully describe those persons and would preserve the legal rights and protections of those and other persons, as specified.The bill would make related findings and declarations.

CA AB 1932 - Christopher M. Ward
California Statewide Housing Plan.
01/26/2024 - From printer. May be heard in committee February 25.
AB 1932, as introduced, Ward. California Statewide Housing Plan. Existing law establishes the California Statewide Housing Plan, developed in cooperation with the private housing industry, regional and local housing and planning agencies, and other agencies of the state, to serve as a state housing plan. Existing law requires the plan to incorporate specified segments, including a review of housing assistance policies, goals, and objectives affecting the homeless.This bill would recast that provision to require the plan to incorporate, in consultation with the Interagency Council on Homelessness and utilizing data from the Homeless Data Integration system, a review of housing assistance, policies, goals, and objectives affecting people experiencing homelessness.

CA AB 1989 - Devon John Mathis
Senior legal services.
02/12/2024 - Referred to Com. on AGING & L.T.C.
AB 1989, as introduced, Mathis. Senior legal services. Existing law requires the California Department of Aging to establish a task force of certain members to study and make recommendations to the Legislature on the improvement of legal services delivery to senior citizens in California by exploring specified matters, including ways to ensure uniformity in the provision of legal services throughout the state and the possible establishment of a statewide legal hotline for seniors. Existing law requires the task force to report and make its recommendations to the Legislature on or before September 1, 2002.This bill would require the department to establish a similar task force to assess the implementation of the recommendations made pursuant to the above-mentioned provisions, make additional recommendations by exploring the same matters explored by the initial task force, and to report the assessment and make its recommendations to the Legislature on or before September 1, 2026.

CA AB 20 - Michael A. Gipson
Postadoption contact agreements: reinstatement of parental rights.
09/13/2023 - Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling.
AB 20, as amended, Gipson. Postadoption contact agreements: reinstatement of parental rights. Existing law provides that a child may be adjudged to be a dependent of the juvenile court because of abuse or neglect. Existing law requires the court to review the status of certain dependent children no less frequently than once every 6 months and requires a supplemental report to be filed as part of that review. Existing law requires, when the report is regarding a child for whom the court has ordered parental rights terminated and who has been ordered placed for adoption, or, for an Indian child for whom parental rights are not being terminated and a tribal customary adoption is being considered, the report to include, among other things, a description of whether the final adoption order should include provisions for postadoptive sibling contact. This bill would instead require the report to include a description, if applicable, of the status of the postadoptive sibling agreement.Existing law provides a procedure for permanently terminating parental rights with regard to a child who has been adjudged a dependent child of the juvenile court. Existing law requires the social worker or probation officer to give notice of a hearing to terminate parental rights to specified individuals, including, among others, any known sibling of the child who is the subject of the hearing if the sibling is either the subject of a dependency proceeding or has been adjudged a dependent child of the juvenile court.This bill would also require that notice be provided to siblings who are nonminor dependents as well as to the child’s Court-Appointed Special Advocate, if one has been appointed. The bill would establish a procedure for certain children and nonminor dependents for whom the parental rights of their biological parent or parents were terminated to petition the court to reinstate or modify their biological parent’s or parents’ parental rights, as specified.Existing law requires, if parental rights are terminated and the court orders a dependent child or ward to be placed for adoption, the county, to the extent practicable, to convene a meeting with the child, the sibling or siblings of the child, the prospective adoptive parent or parents, and a facilitator for the purpose of deciding whether to voluntarily execute a postadoption sibling contact agreement. Existing law provides that the county placing agency is not required to convene a meeting to decide whether to voluntarily execute a postadoption sibling contact agreement if specified circumstances occur. This bill would instead specify that the purpose of the meeting is to discuss a postadoption sibling contact agreement within 90 days after termination of parental rights and prior to finalization of the adoption, as specified.Existing law allows, in an adoption proceeding, for continuing contact between the birth relatives and a child if a postadoption contact agreement is entered into voluntarily and is in the best interests of the child at the time the adoption petition is granted. Existing law specifies that a postadoption contact agreement with siblings with whom the child does not have a preexisting relationship may only include provisions for the sharing of information about the child.This bill would permit a postadoption contact agreement with siblings with whom the child does not have a preexisting relationship to also include provisions for visitation and for future contact.The bill would make conforming changes.By increasing the duties of county placing agencies, 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.This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 8616.5 of

CA AB 2026 - Devon John Mathis
Disabilities: person-first terminology.
03/12/2024 - In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
AB 2026, as introduced, Mathis. Disabilities: person-first terminology. Existing law makes various references to the terms “autistic children,” “developmentally disabled children,” “developmentally disabled adults,” “disabled adults,” “severely disabled children,” and “seriously emotionally disturbed children” in provisions of the Health and Safety Code and Welfare and Institutions Code.This bill would make technical changes to those terms to put the person first, and would make other technical, nonsubstantive changes.

CA AB 2119 - Akilah Weber
Mental health.
03/18/2024 - From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HEALTH. Read second time and amended.
AB 2119, as amended, Weber. Mental health. Existing law makes various references to the descriptive terms “persons with a mental health disorder,” “minors with a mental health condition,” and “children and adolescents with serious emotional disturbance” in various provisions of the Welfare and Institutions Code.This bill would make conforming changes to these provisions for consistency with those descriptor terms to, among other things, put the person first. The bill would also make other technical changes.

CA AB 2121 - Diane B. Dixon
Substance use disorder treatment: licensing.
03/18/2024 - From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HEALTH. Read second time and amended.
AB 2121, as amended, Dixon. Substance use disorder treatment: licensing. Existing law authorizes the State Department of Health Care Services to issue a license to operate an alcoholism or drug abuse recovery or treatment facility if specified conditions are met, including submission of a written application and licensing fee.This bill would additionally require the facility to confirm that it is located more than 300 feet from any alcoholism or drug abuse recovery or treatment facility or any community care facility, as specified, and would require the department to notify in writing the city or the county in which the facility is located of the issuance of a license, as specified.

CA AB 2132 - Evan Low
Health care services.
02/28/2024 - Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.
AB 2132, as amended, Low. Health care services. Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of health facilities and clinics, including primary care clinics, by the State Department of Public Health. A violation of these provisions is a crime. Existing law requires an adult patient receiving primary care services in certain health care settings to be offered a screening test for hepatitis B and hepatitis C, as specified.This bill would require an adult patient receiving primary care services in a facility, clinic, unlicensed clinic, center, office, or other setting, as specified, to be offered a tuberculosis (TB) risk assessment and TB screening test, if TB risk factors are identified, to the extent these services are covered under the patient’s health insurance, unless the health care provider reasonably believes certain conditions apply. The bill would also require the health care provider to offer the patient followup health care or refer the patient to a health care provider who can provide followup health care if a screening test is positive, as specified. The bill would prohibit a health care provider who fails to comply with these provisions from being subject to any disciplinary action related to their licensure or certification, or to any civil or criminal liability for that failure. The bill would make related findings and declarations.

CA AB 2141 - Michael A. Gipson
Cash assistance programs: direct deposit.
02/20/2024 - Referred to Com. on HUM. S.
AB 2141, as introduced, Gipson. Cash assistance programs: direct deposit. Existing law establishes the State Department of Social Services, which implements various public social service programs, including the Cash Assistance Program for Aged, Blind, and Disabled Legal Immigrants, the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKS) program, and general assistance aid, under which each county provides cash assistance and other benefits to qualified low-income families and individuals. Existing law requires counties to annually or periodically redetermine eligibility or benefits under public social service programs.Existing law provides for the establishment of a statewide electronic benefits transfer (EBT) system, administered by the department, for the purpose of providing financial and food assistance benefits and requires certain benefit payments, including payments under CalWORKs, that are directly deposited into an account of the recipient’s choice to be deposited into a qualifying account.This bill would include general assistance benefits among the cash assistance benefits that may be delivered by direct deposit. The bill would also require the applications for programs providing cash assistance benefits to include information on the application regarding the applicant’s right to have their funds directly deposited. The bill would also require each county to inform the recipient of that right during their redetermination for eligibility. By increasing county duties, 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.

CA AB 2207 - Eloise Gomez Reyes
State boards and commissions: representatives of older adults.
03/04/2024 - Referred to Coms. on AGING & L.T.C. and HUM. S.
AB 2207, as introduced, Reyes. State boards and commissions: representatives of older adults. Existing law establishes the California Commission on Aging composed of 25 persons, as specified, and requires the commission to hire an executive director. Existing law also establishes the California Department of Aging and provides for a director of that department. Existing law establishes various state boards and commissions to address public health concerns throughout the state and generally requires that individuals appointed to these state entities be broadly reflective of the general public.This bill would expand the membership of the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Advisory Committee, the California Health Workforce Education and Training Council, the California Workforce Development Board, the California Behavioral Health Planning Council, the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission, and the Interagency Council on Homelessness to include the Executive Director of the California Commission on Aging, the Director of the California Department of Aging, or both, or other persons that serve or advocate for older adults, as specified. This bill would also modify the membership of an advisory committee to the Interagency Council on Homelessness to specifically include representatives from organizations that serve or advocate on behalf of older adults, among others.

CA AB 221 - Philip Y. Ting
Budget Act of 2023.
01/26/2023 - Referred to Com. on BUDGET.
AB 221, as introduced, Ting. Budget Act of 2023. This bill would make appropriations for the support of state government for the 2023–24 fiscal year.This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as a Budget Bill.

CA AB 2237 - Cecilia M. Aguiar-Curry
Children and youth: transfer of specialty mental health services.
03/18/2024 - From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HEALTH. Read second time and amended.
AB 2237, as amended, Aguiar-Curry. Children and youth: transfer of specialty mental health services. Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services (department), under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions. Under existing law, specialty mental health services include federal Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) services provided to eligible Medi-Cal beneficiaries under 21 years of age.This bill would require, when a child or youth 18 years of age or younger changes residence from one county to another, the receiving county to provide specialty mental health services while the receiving county conducts its investigation and casework transfer process, if specified conditions are met, including, but not limited to, that the child or youth has been identified by the county of original residence as high risk or coming from a vulnerable population. The bill also would require the State Department of Health Care Services and the State Department of Social Services to collaborate to create a system of standardized communication between counties that respects the procedures of the receiving county and the needs of the child that is without mental health services, and require the State Department of Social Services to establish care teams to help counties coordinate and expedite the transfer between counties. By increasing duties of counties administering the Medi-Cal program, the 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.

CA AB 2415 - Michael A. Gipson
Cash assistance for aged, blind, and disabled immigrants.
03/18/2024 - From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HUM. S. Read second time and amended.
AB 2415, as amended, Juan Carrillo. Cash assistance for aged, blind, and disabled immigrants. Existing law requires the State Department of Social Services to establish and supervise a county or county consortia-administered program to provide cash assistance for aged, blind, or disabled legal immigrants who are not citizens who, due to their immigration status, are not eligible for the Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Program for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled, also known as SSI/SSP benefits. Under existing law, an individual is eligible for this program if their immigration status meets SSI/SSP eligibility criteria but they are not eligible for those benefits solely due to their immigration status, as specified. Existing law also requires any person who is found to be eligible by the department for federally funded SSI to apply for SSI benefits.This bill would expand eligibility for that program to aged, blind, and disabled individuals regardless of immigration status if the individual meets the eligibility criteria for the program and is not eligible solely due to their immigration status. This bill would exempt individuals who are not qualified immigrants, as specified, from having to apply for SSI in order to receive benefits. The bill would also delete several inoperative provisions. The bill would make the implementation of these substantive changes contingent upon an appropriation for its express purposes. By expanding county duties under the program, 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.

CA AB 2458 - Marc Berman
Public postsecondary education: student parents.
02/26/2024 - Referred to Com. on HIGHER ED.
AB 2458, as introduced, Berman. Public postsecondary education: student parents. Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, the California State University, and the University of California as the 3 public segments of postsecondary education in the state. The missions and functions of these segments are set forth in the Donahoe Higher Education Act.Existing law requires each campus of the California State University and the California Community Colleges, and requests each campus of the University of California, to host on its internet website a student parent internet web page that contains information that clearly lists all on- and off-campus student parent services and resources, as specified, including, among other student parent services and resources, information on the California Earned Income Tax Credit and the Young Child Tax Credit.This bill would require the information on student parent internet web pages to include additional information on student parent services and resources, including several other federal and state tax credits, state and federal financial aid applications and programs, and the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids program. The bill would require each campus of the California Community Colleges and the California State University, and would request each campus of the University of California, to, among other things, (1) develop and implement a campus policy for estimating and adjusting cost of attendance information for student parents, as specified, (2) establish a data field in the campus’s data management information system to identify student parents for certain purposes, and (3) update its campus net price calculator to include a baseline student parent cost estimate, as specified. By imposing new duties on community college districts, the 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.

CA AB 2459 - Michael A. Gipson
Juveniles: mentoring programs.
03/18/2024 - Referred to Coms. on HUM. S. and JUD.
AB 2459, as introduced, Wilson. Juveniles: mentoring programs. Existing law generally provides for the placement of foster youth in various placement settings. Existing law requires the status of every dependent child in foster care to be reviewed periodically, and requires the county welfare department social worker to prepare a supplemental report with supplemental information regarding the child for purposes of the status review hearing. Existing law also requires a probation officer to prepare a social study for purposes of the status review hearing of a ward who is placed in foster care or recommended for placement in foster care.This bill would require the social worker and probation officer to include in the supplemental report or social study, respectively, information regarding voluntary one-to-one mentoring services for the foster youth, as specified. By increasing the duties on county staff, the 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.

CA AB 2466 - Wendy Carrillo
Medi-Cal managed care: network adequacy standards.
03/18/2024 - From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HEALTH. Read second time and amended.
AB 2466, as amended, Wendy Carrillo. Medi-Cal managed care: network adequacy standards. Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions. Existing law authorizes the Director of Health Care Services to terminate a contract or impose sanctions if the director finds that a Medi-Cal managed care plan fails to comply with contract requirements, state or federal law or regulations, or the state plan or approved waivers, or for other good cause.Existing law establishes, until January 1, 2026, certain time and distance and appointment time standards for specified Medi-Cal managed care covered services, consistent with federal regulations relating to network adequacy standards, to ensure that those services are available and accessible to enrollees of Medi-Cal managed care plans in a timely manner, as specified.Under this bill, a Medi-Cal managed care plan would be deemed to be not in compliance with the appointment time standards if either (1) fewer than 85% of the network providers had an appointment available within the standards or (2) the department receives information establishing that the plan was unable to deliver timely, available, or accessible health care services to enrollees, as specified. Under the bill, failure to comply with the appointment time standard may result in contract termination or the issuance of sanctions as described above.Existing law requires a Medi-Cal managed care plan to submit a request for alternative access standards if the plan cannot meet the time or distance standards. Under existing law, a plan is not required to submit a previously approved request on an annual basis, unless the plan requires modifications to its request. Existing law requires the plan to submit this previously approved request at least every 3 years for review and approval when the plan is required to demonstrate compliance with time or distance standards.This bill would instead require a plan that has a previously approved alternative access standard to submit a renewal request on an annual basis, explaining which efforts the plan has made in the previous 12 months to mitigate or eliminate circumstances that justify the use of an alternative access standard, as specified. The bill would require the department to consider the reasonableness and effectiveness of the mitigating efforts as part of the renewal decision.Existing law requires a Medi-Cal managed care plan to demonstrate, annually and upon request by the department, how the plan arranged for the delivery of Medi-Cal covered services to Medi-Cal enrollees, with a report measuring compliance, as specified. Existing law requires the department to annually evaluate a plan’s compliance with the standards and to annually publish a report.This bill would, effective for contract periods commencing on or after July 1, 2025, require the plan’s and department’s reports to include certain information and require the department’s evaluation to be performed using a direct testing method, as specified. Under the bill, failure to comply with these provisions may result in contract termination or the issuance of sanctions.Existing law, as part of the federally required external quality review organization (EQRO) review of Medi-Cal managed care plans, requires the EQRO designated by the department to compile certain data, by plan and by county, for the purpose of informing the status of implementation of the above-described standards.This bill would require that the data include, effective for contract periods commencing on or after July 1, 2025, the number of requests for alternative access standards, categorized by new and returning patients, and the number of allowable exceptions for the appointment time standards, categorized by urgent and nonu

CA AB 2477 - Rick Chavez Zbur
Foster care: independent living.
02/26/2024 - Referred to Com. on HUM. S.
AB 2477, as introduced, Zbur. Foster care: independent living. Existing law establishes the Independent Living Program (ILP), which has among its purposes providing training in daily living skills, budgeting, locating and maintaining housing, and career planning for foster youth up to 21 years of age. Existing federal law authorizes a state, under certain circumstances, to expand eligibility for the ILP to former foster youth who have not attained 23 years of age. Existing law requires the State Department of Social Services, with the approval of the federal government, to amend the foster care state plan to permit all eligible children to be served by the ILP up to 21 years of age.Existing law authorizes a child who is declared a ward or dependent child of the court who is 16 years of age or older, or a nonminor dependent, as defined, who is participating in a transitional independent living case plan to retain resources with a combined value of $10,000, consistent with federal law, and still remain eligible to receive public social services. Existing law requires the written approval of a child’s probation officer or social worker for withdrawal of the child’s savings, as specified.Existing law establishes the Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Foster Care (AFDC-FC) program, under which counties provide payments to foster care providers on behalf of qualified children in foster care.This bill would remove that monetary value limit and instead allow those nonminor dependents to retain resources consistent with federal law. The bill would prohibit those resources from being evaluated after the initial determination for the same foster care episode to determine continued eligibility for a foster care maintenance payment. The bill would also authorize a nonminor dependent who reenters foster care, as specified, and is ineligible for federal financial participation due to cash savings in an amount that is greater than allowed, to receive aid in the form of state AFDC-FC if certain requirements are met. Because counties would administer these extended benefits, 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.

CA AB 2499 - Pilar Schiavo
Unlawful employment practices: discrimination for time off.
02/26/2024 - Referred to Coms. on L. & E. and JUD.
AB 2499, as introduced, Schiavo. Unlawful employment practices: discrimination for time off. Existing law, subject to specified requirements for the employee, prohibits an employer from discharging or in any manner discriminating against an employee for taking time off to serve on a jury, an employee who is a victim of a crime for taking time off to appear in court as a witness in any judicial proceeding, an employee who is a victim for taking time off from work to obtain or attempt to obtain prescribed relief, or an employee because of the employee’s status as a victim of crime or abuse. Existing law requires an employer to provide reasonable accommodations for a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, who requests an accommodation for the safety of the victim while at work. Existing law requires reinstatement and reimbursement for discrimination or retaliation, as prescribed. Existing law makes an employer’s willful refusal to restore an employee or former employee who has been determined to be eligible for rehiring or promotion by a grievance procedure or hearing authorized by law guilty of a misdemeanor. Existing law authorizes an employee who is discriminated or retaliated against because the employee has exercised these rights to file a complaint with the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement of the Department of Industrial Relations. Existing law defines terms for these purposes.Existing law, subject to specified requirements for the employee, also prohibits an employer with 25 or more employees from discharging, or in any manner discriminating or retaliating against, an employee who is a victim, for taking time off from work to seek medical attention for injuries caused by crime or abuse, to obtain certain services as a result of the crime or abuse or related to an experience of crime or abuse, or to participate in safety planning and take other actions to increase safety from future crime or abuse. Existing law requires reinstatement and reimbursement for discrimination or retaliation, as prescribed. Existing law makes an employer’s willful refusal to restore an employee or former employee who has been determined to be eligible for rehiring or promotion by a grievance procedure or hearing authorized by law guilty of a misdemeanor. Existing law authorizes an employee who is discriminated or retaliated against because the employee has exercised these rights to file a complaint with the division. Existing law defines terms for these purposes.Existing law requires an employer to inform each employee of the victim rights above in writing, to be provided upon hire and to other employees upon request. Existing law requires the Labor Commissioner to develop and post a form that an employer may use to comply, as prescribed.This bill would revise and recast the jury, court, and victim time off provisions for employees as unlawful employment practices within the California Fair Employment and Housing Act and, thus, within the enforcement authority of the Civil Rights Department. The bill would remove the threshold of 25 or more employees from the provisions for victims of crime or abuse and, except as specified, apply its provisions to a person who directly employs one or more persons to perform services for a wage or salary. The bill would refer to a “qualifying act of violence,” as defined, instead of crime, or crime or abuse. The bill would substantially revise existing definitions for its purposes, including defining “victim” as an individual against whom a qualifying act of violence is committed. The bill would prohibit an employer from discharging or in any manner discriminating or retaliating against an employee who is a victim or who has a family member who is a victim for taking time off from work to obtain or attempt to obtain any relief. The bill would prohibit an employer from discharging or in any manner discriminating or retaliating against an employee who is a victim or who has a family member

CA AB 2510 - Joaquin Arambula
Dental care for people with developmental disabilities.
03/04/2024 - Referred to Coms. on HUM. S. and HIGHER ED.
AB 2510, as introduced, Arambula. Dental care for people with developmental disabilities. Existing law, the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act, requires the State Department of Developmental Services to contract with regional centers to provide services and supports to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. Under existing law, the regional centers purchase needed services and supports for individuals with developmental disabilities through approved service providers, or arrange for their provision through other publicly funded agencies. The services and supports to be provided to a regional center consumer are contained in an individual program plan (IPP), which is developed by the planning team according to specified procedures. Existing law defines “services and supports for persons with developmental disabilities” to mean specialized services and supports or special adaptations of generic services and supports directed toward the alleviation of a developmental disability or toward the social, personal, physical, or economic habilitation or rehabilitation of an individual with a developmental disability, or toward the achievement and maintenance of an independent, productive, and normal life. Under existing law, specialized medical and dental care are included within that definition. Under existing law, the determination of which services and supports are necessary for each consumer are made through the IPP process.This bill would require the State Department of Developmental Services to contract with California Northstate University (CNU), no later than _____, to establish a statewide program centered in the state’s regional centers, to improve the provision of dental care services to people with developmental and intellectual disabilities, and specifically to prevent or reduce the need for developmental services consumers to receive dental treatment using sedation and general anesthesia. The bill would require the program to establish an Oral Health for People with Disabilities Technical Assistance Center, headquartered at CNU. The bill would require the center, among other responsibilities, to provide practical experience, systems development, and expertise in relevant subject areas, to train, monitor, and provide support for regional center and oral health personnel, and to collect and analyze program data with the support of participating regional centers and oral health providers. The bill would require the department to submit an annual report of the collected data to the Legislature. The bill also would specify regional center duties, including identifying consumers who can benefit from the program, and establishing vendor agreements with interested oral health professionals. Duties of the department would include providing guidance and establishing protocols to support the program, and establish procedures for regional center directors for participation in the program and allowing aggregation and publication by the center of deidentified results data, as specified.This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute to facilitate timely, safe, and adequate dental care for individuals with developmental disabilities.

CA AB 2549 - James M. Gallagher
Patient visitation.
03/04/2024 - Referred to Coms. on HEALTH and HUM. S.
AB 2549, as introduced, Gallagher. Patient visitation. Existing law requires a health facility to allow a patient’s domestic partner, the children of the patient’s domestic partner, and the domestic partner of the patient’s parent or child to visit unless no visitors are allowed, the facility reasonably determines that the presence of a particular visitor would endanger the health or safety of a patient, member of the health facility staff, or other visitor to the health facility, or would significantly disrupt the operations of a facility, or the patient has indicated to the health facility staff that the patient does not want this person to visit.This bill would require a health facility to allow specified persons to visit, including the patient’s children and grandparents. The bill would require the health facility to develop alternate visitation protocols, if circumstances require the health facility to restrict public access to the facility due to health or safety concerns, that allow visitation to the greatest extent possible while maintaining client health and safety. Notwithstanding the requirement mentioned above, the bill would prohibit a health facility from prohibiting in-person visitation in end-of-life situations unless the patient has indicated to the health facility staff that the patient does not want this person to visit.This bill would require the State Department of Public Health to, no later than July 1, 2025, and in consultation with the State Department of Social Services, provide specific clinical guidance related to safe visitation during a pandemic event for hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, intermediate care facilities, and adult and senior care residential facilities licensed by the State Department of Social Services. The bill would prohibit the guidance provided from including a prohibition on visitation rights, and requires the guidance to explicitly consider the potential negative impacts of restrictive visitation policies on patient well-being, mental health, and the overall quality of care.This bill would require all hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, intermediate care facilities, and adult and senior care residential facilities licensed by the State Department of Social Services to adopt visitation policies in compliance with the department’s guidance no later than January 1, 2026.

CA AB 2620 - Jasmeet Bains
California Commission on Aging.
03/04/2024 - Referred to Com. on AGING & L.T.C.
AB 2620, as introduced, Bains. California Commission on Aging. Existing law, the Mello-Granlund Older Californians Act, establishes the California Commission on Aging, comprised of 25 members, appointed as specified, including 19 members appointed by the Governor. Existing law requires the commission to be comprised of actual consumers of services provided under the federal Older Americans Act. Under existing law, the commission’s mission is, among other things, to serve as the principal advocate body in the state on behalf of older individuals, to participate with and advise the California Department of Aging in various ways relating to the State Plan on Aging, and to develop a method for the selection of delegates to the statewide legislative meeting of senior advocates. Existing law sets forth the duties and powers of the commission, including participating with the department in training workshops for community, regional, and statewide senior advocates, to help older individuals to understand legislative, regulatory, and program implementation processes, and meeting at least 6 times annually in order to study problems of older individuals and present findings and make recommendations. This bill would reduce the number of members of the commission to 18, and require 12 members to be appointed by the Governor, with at least 2 appointed from a list of nominees submitted by, among others, area agency on aging directors and the Area Agency on Aging Advisory Council of California. The bill would require the members of the commission be comprised of consumers and providers of services under the federal Older Americans Act, instead of just consumers, who have professional, lived, or academic expertise both within and outside of the field of aging, in specified areas, including health, behavioral health, and housing.The bill would clarify that the commission is an “advisory commission” as described by the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act, and is therefore subject to applicable teleconferencing provisions. The bill would revise the existing duties and purpose of the commission by removing the requirement that the commission develop a method for the selection of delegates to the statewide legislative meeting of senior advocates. The bill would also revise the duties of the commission to require, among other things, the commission’s advisory participation in consideration of initiatives for programs and services affecting older adults, adults with disabilities, and caregivers, as well as to monitor and, when deemed appropriate, engage in federal advocacy efforts on, among others, federal rulemaking packages affecting older adults, adults with disabilities, and caregivers. The bill would also reduce the annual meetings of the commission from 6 to 4.

CA AB 2636 - Jasmeet Bains
Mello-Granlund Older Californians Act.
03/04/2024 - Referred to Com. on AGING & L.T.C.
AB 2636, as introduced, Bains. Mello-Granlund Older Californians Act. Existing law requires the California Department of Aging to administer the Mello-Granlund Older Californians Act (act), which establishes various programs that serve older individuals, defined as persons 60 years of age or older, except as specified. The act requires the department to designate various private nonprofit or public agencies as area agencies on aging to work within a planning and service area and provide a broad array of social and nutritional services. Under the act, the department’s mission is to provide leadership to those agencies in developing systems of home- and community-based services that maintain individuals in their own homes or least restrictive homelike environments.This bill would recast and revise various provisions of the act, including updating findings and declarations relating to statistics and issues of concern to the older adult population, and replacing references throughout the act from “senior,” and similar terminology to “older adult.” The bill would repeal obsolete provisions, such as the Senior Center Bond Act of 1984.The bill would expand existing provisions relating to volunteering, including establishing the Older Adults Volunteer Corps Support Center, to serve as a clearinghouse for volunteer opportunities with older adults. The center would make funds available to area agencies on aging to establish a formally structured volunteer program for specified purposes. The bill would increase flexibility for area agencies on aging to develop and manage community-based program based on local need, as specified. Existing law also provides for the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program under which funds are allocated to local ombudsman programs to assist elderly persons in long-term health care facilities. Existing law, as part of the Mello-Granlund Older Californians Act, establishes the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, under the direction of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, in the California Department of Aging. Existing law requires the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman to investigate and seek to resolve complaints against long-term health care facilities and to provide services to assist residents in the protection of their health, safety, welfare, and rights. Existing law also provides for the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program under which funds are allocated to local ombudsman programs to assist elderly persons in long-term health care facilities. Under existing law, the base allocation to a local ombudsman program is $100,000 per fiscal year.This bill would require additional funds for local ombudsman programs to be sought from the Federal Health Facilities Citation Penalty Account to represent the interests of individuals living in congregate living facilities.

CA AB 2637 - Pilar Schiavo
Health Facilities Financing Authority Act.
03/04/2024 - Referred to Com. on HEALTH.
AB 2637, as introduced, Schiavo. Health Facilities Financing Authority Act. The California Health Facilities Financing Authority Act authorizes the California Health Facilities Financing Authority to, among other things, make loans from the continuously appropriated California Health Facilities Financing Authority Fund to participating health institutions for financing or refinancing the acquisition, construction, or remodeling of health facilities. Under existing law, participating health institutions are specified entities authorized by state law to provide or operate a health facility and undertake the financing or refinancing of the construction or acquisition of a project or of working capital, as defined. Existing law defines “working capital” as moneys to be used by, or on behalf of, a participating health institution for specified expenses in connection with the ownership or operation of a health facility, including interest not to exceed two years on any loan for working capital made pursuant to these provisions. Existing law requires a participating health institution that is a private nonprofit corporation or association and that borrows money to finance working capital to repay and discharge the loan within 24 months of the loan date.This bill would change the definition of “working capital” to remove the 2-year cap on interest on any loan for working capital. The bill would delete the provision requiring a participating health institution that is a private nonprofit corporation or association to repay and discharge a loan for working capital within 24 months.By expanding the purpose for which the above-described continuously appropriated fund may be used, the bill would make an appropriation from that fund. The bill would make legislative findings relating to the purpose of the bill.

CA AB 2650 - Rick Chavez Zbur
Licensed adult residential facilities and residential care facilities for the elderly: data collection.
03/18/2024 - From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HUM. S. Read second time and amended.
AB 2650, as amended, Zbur. Licensed adult residential facilities and residential care facilities for the elderly: data collection. The California Community Care Facilities Act provides for the licensure and regulation of community care facilities by the State Department of Social Services, including various adult residential facilities, as described. The act includes legislative findings and declarations that there is an urgent need to establish a coordinated and comprehensive statewide service of quality community care for persons with a mental illness, persons with developmental and physical disabilities, and children and adults who require care or services. A person who violates the California Community Care Facilities Act is guilty of a misdemeanor. Existing law, the California Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly Act, provides for the licensure and regulation of residential care facilities for the elderly, as defined, by the department and expresses the intent of the Legislature to require that those facilities be licensed as a separate category within the existing licensing structure of the department.Existing law requires the department to collect information and send a report to each county’s department of mental health or behavioral health, beginning May 1, 2021, and annually thereafter, of all licensed adult residential facilities and residential care facilities for the elderly, as described, that accept a specified federal rate and accept residents with a serious mental disorder, as defined, and the number of licensed beds at each facility.This bill would require the department, beginning May 1, 2026, and annually thereafter until January 1, 2029, to collect information and send a report to each county’s department of mental health or behavioral health of all licensed adult residential facilities and residential care facilities for the elderly, as described, that accept the above-described specified federal rate and accept residents with a serious mental disorder, as defined, and the number of licensed beds at each facility. The bill would also require the department to collect additional information, including the total number of residents occupying beds at licensed adult residential facilities and residential care facilities for the elderly who are a public benefits recipient, as defined, or a person diagnosed with a serious mental illness, as defined, who is currently receiving regional center funding or who has a previous history of homelessness, incarceration, or institutionalization. The bill would require the department to post the report on its internet website. Because a violation of the California Community Care Facilities Act is crime, the bill would create new crimes, thereby imposing 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.

CA AB 2674 - Pilar Schiavo
The California Affordable and Foster Youth Housing Finance Innovation Act.
03/04/2024 - Referred to Coms. on H. & C.D. and HUM. S.
AB 2674, as introduced, Schiavo. The California Affordable and Foster Youth Housing Finance Innovation Act. Existing law establishes the California Housing Finance Agency within the Department of Housing and Community Development, and authorizes the agency to, among other things, make loans to finance affordable housing, including residential structures, housing developments, multifamily rental housing, special needs housing, and other forms of housing, as specified.This bill would establish the California Affordable and Foster Youth Housing Finance Innovation Program and would require the agency to issue credit instruments, as defined, to qualified housing sponsors, as defined, for the construction, acquisition, and renovation of qualified projects, as defined. For all dwelling units in a qualified project that are reserved for specified tenants, the bill would require the qualified housing sponsor to, upon request of the agency, verify each tenant that satisfies specified provisions is either a current or former foster youth or a low-income household and would prohibit the qualified housing sponsor from charging such tenants a rent that exceeds the fair market rent, as specified.The bill would set forth the requirements for the agency to administer the program including, among other requirements, to provide to an applicant a written notice informing the applicant whether the agency has approved or disapproved the application, and if disapproved, the reason for the disapproval, as specified. The bill would require the agency, upon appropriation, to issue loan guarantees for qualified loans made by financial institutions to qualified housing sponsors for the construction, acquisition, and renovation of qualified projects. The bill would also require the agency to, upon appropriation, enter into agreements to make lines of credit available, as specified, to obligors in the form of direct loans to be made by the agency for a qualified project. The bill would also make related findings and declarations.

CA AB 2680 - Cecilia M. Aguiar-Curry
Alzheimer’s disease.
03/04/2024 - Referred to Com. on HEALTH.
AB 2680, as introduced, Aguiar-Curry. Alzheimer’s disease. Existing law requires the Secretary of California Health and Human Services to be responsible for oversight and coordination of programs serving people living with Alzheimer’s disease and related conditions, and their families. Existing law establishes the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Advisory Committee in the California Health and Human Services agency, and specifies the committee’s duties, including requirements for making policy and plan recommendations.This bill would rename the advisory committee to the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Conditions Advisory Committee, and expand the number of members serving on the committee from 14 to at least 21, but not more than 25, members. The bill would prescribe the qualifications of certain members on the committee. The bill would, in the provisions governing the committee, revise references to Alzheimer’s disease to also refer to related conditions.

CA AB 2685 - Liz Ortega
Older individuals: case management services.
03/04/2024 - Referred to Com. on AGING & L.T.C.
AB 2685, as introduced, Ortega. Older individuals: case management services. Existing law requires the California Department of Aging to administer the Mello-Granlund Older Californians Act, which establishes various programs that serve older individuals, defined as persons 60 years of age or older except as specified. The act requires the department to designate various private nonprofit or public agencies as area agencies on aging to work within a planning and service area and provide a broad array of social and nutritional services. Under the act, the department’s mission is to provide leadership to those agencies in developing systems of home- and community-based services that maintain individuals in their own homes or least restrictive homelike environments.This bill would, until January 1, 2031, and subject to an appropriation, require the department to establish a case management services pilot program. Under the bill, the purpose of the program would be to expand statewide the local capacity of supportive services programs by providing case management services to older individuals who need assistance to maintain health and economic stability. The bill would require the Counties of Alameda, Marin, and Sonoma to participate in the pilot program.The bill would require the 3 counties to coordinate with their respective area agencies on aging or other county- or community-based entities to deliver the services. The bill would also require those counties to measure performance outcomes during the course of implementing the program. The bill would require those counties, on an annual basis, for the first 5 years during which an appropriation is made, to submit reports to the department containing data on the performance outcomes, in order to determine program efficacy and to inform and shape solutions under a master plan for aging that has been established pursuant to a specified executive order. By creating new duties for the 3 counties relating to participation in the pilot program, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the Counties of Alameda, Marin, and Sonoma.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.

CA AB 2703 - Cecilia M. Aguiar-Curry
Federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics: psychological associates.
03/04/2024 - Referred to Com. on HEALTH.
AB 2703, as introduced, Aguiar-Curry. Federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics: psychological associates. Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services, including federally qualified health center (FQHC) services and rural health clinic (RHC) services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions.Existing law requires the department to seek any necessary federal approvals and issue appropriate guidance to allow an FQHC or RHC to bill, under a supervising licensed behavioral health practitioner, for an encounter between an FQHC or RHC patient and an associate clinical social worker or associate marriage and family therapist when certain conditions are met, including, among others, that the FQHC or RHC is otherwise authorized to bill for services provided by the supervising practitioner as a separate visit.This bill would add a psychological associate to those provisions, requiring the department to seek any necessary federal approvals and issue appropriate guidance to allow an FQHC or RHC to bill for an encounter between a patient and a psychological associate under those conditions. The bill would make conforming changes with regard to supervision by a licensed psychologist as required by the Board of Psychology.

CA AB 2704 - Rick Chavez Zbur
In-home supportive services: criminal background checks.
03/04/2024 - Referred to Com. on HUM. S.
AB 2704, as introduced, Zbur. In-home supportive services: criminal background checks. Existing law establishes the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program, administered by the State Department of Social Services and counties, under which qualified aged, blind, or disabled persons are provided with supportive services in order to permit them to remain in their own homes.Existing law requires a county to investigate the background of a person who seeks to become a supportive services provider and who is not listed on the registry of a public authority or nonprofit consortium. Existing law also requires a county, by no later than July 1, 2010, to complete a criminal background check for a provider who is providing in-home supportive services prior to October 1, 2009, and who is not listed on a public authority or nonprofit consortium registry, as a condition of the provider’s continued enrollment in the IHSS program. Existing law requires these investigations to include criminal background checks conducted by the Department of Justice, as specified. Existing law requires these background checks to be conducted at the provider’s expense.This bill would instead require these criminal background checks to be conducted at the county’s expense. To the extent the bill would create new duties for counties for the provision of criminal background checks, the 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.

CA AB 2802 - Brian K. Maienschein
Transitional housing placement providers.
03/04/2024 - Referred to Com. on HUM. S.
AB 2802, as introduced, Maienschein. Transitional housing placement providers. Existing law, the California Community Care Facilities Act, requires the State Department of Social Services to license and regulate transitional housing placement providers pursuant to the act. Under existing law, a transitional housing placement provider is an organization licensed by the department to provide transitional housing to foster children at least 16 years of age and not more than 18 years of age and to nonminor dependents to promote their transition to adulthood. Existing law requires a transitional housing unit to include, among other things, a host family certified by a transitional housing placement provider or other designated entity, as prescribed. Existing law requires the department to adopt regulations governing transitional housing placement living arrangements requirements for minors and nonminor dependents, as prescribed. Under existing law, a violation of the act is a misdemeanor.This bill would require those regulations to include allowing a minor or nonminor dependent participant to share a bedroom or unit in a transitional housing placement with a nonparticipant roommate or partner, as approved by the provider on a case-by-case basis, or the participant’s coparent, as specified. The bill also would require the regulations to require counties to allow for gender identification flexibility in contracts and vacancies to allow for providers, counties, and individual program participants to jointly decide on best unit sharing matches, and to prohibit program contracts from requiring participants to identify as the same gender in order to share a unit or bathroom, in order to allow for all transitional housing placement living arrangements. The bill would authorize the department to implement, interpret, or make specific the requirements of the bill by means of all-county letters or similar instructions from the department until regulations are adopted. By changing requirements for transitional housing placement program providers, a violation of which 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 specified reasons.

CA AB 2819 - Jasmeet Bains
In-home supportive services: collective bargaining penalty.
03/04/2024 - Referred to Coms. on HUM. S. and P.E. & R.
AB 2819, as introduced, Bains. In-home supportive services: collective bargaining penalty. Existing law establishes the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program, administered by the State Department of Social Services and counties, under which qualified aged, blind, and disabled persons are provided with services in order to permit them to remain in their own homes. Existing law requires a specified mediation process, including a factfinding panel recommending settlement terms, to be held if a public authority or nonprofit consortium and the employee organization fail to reach agreement on a bargaining contract with IHSS workers. Existing law subjects a county to a withholding of 1991 Realignment funds if, among other things, the county does not reach an agreement with the employee organization within 90 days after the release of the factfinding panel’s recommended settlement terms. Existing law specifies that the amount of the 1991 Realignment funding withholding would be 10% of the county’s prior fiscal year IHSS Maintenance of Effort requirement and would require that the withholding continue once each fiscal year, until the county enters into a collective bargaining agreement.This bill would change the amount of the 1991 Realignment funding withholding to an unspecified percentage.

CA AB 283 - James Norwood Patterson Jr.
Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission.
09/07/2023 - Ordered to inactive file at the request of Senator Niello.
AB 283, as introduced, Jim Patterson. Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission. Existing law, the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), an initiative measure enacted by the voters as Proposition 63 at the November 2, 2004, statewide general election, establishes the Mental Health Oversight and Accountability Commission to oversee the implementation of the MHSA. Existing law specifies the composition of the 16-member commission, including the Attorney General or their designee, the Superintendent of Public Instruction or their designee, specified members of the Legislature, and 12 members appointed by the Governor, as prescribed. Existing law authorizes the MHSA to be amended by a 2/3 vote of the Legislature if the amendments are consistent with, and further the purposes of, the MHSA, or by a majority vote to clarify procedures and terms. This bill would urge the Governor, in making appointments, to consider ensuring geographic representation among the 10 regions of California defined by the 2020 census.

CA AB 2929 - Juan Carrillo
Dependents: family finding.
03/11/2024 - Referred to Coms. on JUD. and HUM. S.
AB 2929, as introduced, Juan Carrillo. Dependents: family finding. Existing law provides that a child may be adjudged to be a dependent of the juvenile court because of abuse or neglect, and generally provides for the placement of dependent children in various foster care placement settings. Existing law requires the court to review the status of every dependent child in foster care no less frequently than once every 6 months and requires the county social worker to file a supplemental report as part of that review.This bill would additionally require the court, in conducting the periodic status review for a child or nonminor dependent who is not residing with their relatives, kin, or an Indian custodian, to determine whether the social worker has continued efforts, and in the case of an Indian child, the active efforts, to locate any relatives or kin who could provide family support or possible placement of the child and the names of those relatives or kin. The bill would also require the supplemental report for a child or nonminor dependent who does not reside with their relatives, kin, or an Indian custodian to additionally include the efforts, and in the case of an Indian child, the active efforts, and findings that the social worker has made to locate any relatives or kin who could provide family support or possible placement of the child or nonminor dependent and the name of those relatives or kin. By imposing additional duties on county officials, the 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.

CA AB 304 - Christopher R. Holden
Domestic violence: probation.
01/03/2024 - Consideration of Governor's veto pending.
AB 304, Holden. Domestic violence: probation. Existing law specifies that the terms of probation granted to a person who has been convicted of domestic violence are required to include, among other things, successful completion of a batterer’s program, as defined, or, if such a program is not available, another appropriate counseling program designated by the court, for a period of not less than one year, and a protective order protecting the victim from further acts of violence, threats, stalking, sexual abuse, and harassment. Existing law requires the court to order the defendant to comply with all probation requirements, including the payment of program fees based upon the ability to pay. If the court finds that a defendant does not have the ability to pay the program fee, existing law authorizes the court to reduce or waive the program fee. Existing law requires a batterer’s program to develop and utilize a sliding fee schedule based on a defendant’s ability to pay. The bill would require program providers, as defined, to publicly post, including on an internet website, a comprehensive description of their sliding fee scales. The bill would require the court to inform the defendant of the availability of a program fee waiver, if they do not have the ability to pay for the program, and to provide each defendant with a selection of available program providers and those providers’ standard fees and sliding fee scales before the defendant agrees to the conditions of probation. Existing law requires the probation department, when investigating the appropriate batterer’s program for a defendant, to take into account, among other factors, the defendant’s age, medical history, and educational background. Existing law requires a program to meet certain requirements, including immediately reporting any violation of the terms of the protective order to the court, the prosecutor, and, if formal probation has not been ordered, to the probation department. The bill would require the probation department, when investigating the appropriate program, to also take into account the defendant’s sexual orientation, gender identity, and financial means and to promptly notify each program in which the defendant is required to participate the defendant’s other required, court-mandated programs and probation violations pertaining to a domestic violence offense. The bill would require a program provider to report a violation of the protective order within 7 business days. Existing law requires the court to refer persons to batterer’s programs that have been approved by the probation department. Existing law requires the probation department to design and implement an approval and renewal process for batterer’s programs, to regulate those programs, as specified, and to fix a yearly fee, not to exceed $250 to approve an application or renewal.The bill would place these requirements, instead, in the Department of Justice.The bill, when referencing a batterer’s program, would specifically indicate another appropriate counseling program if a batterer’s program is not available. The bill would, by April 1, 2024, to ensure compliance with state law, make the Department of Justice responsible for collaborating with the Judicial Council and relevant stakeholders to set program provider standards, approving, monitoring, and renewing approvals of program providers, conducting periodic audits of program providers, and developing, in consultation with the Injury and Violence Prevention Branch of the State Department of Public Health, comprehensive statewide standards through regulations, among other responsibilities. The bill would, by April 1, 2024, require the Judicial Council to establish guidelines and training for judges to ensure the consistent adjudication of probation violations.Existing law requires the Judicial Council to establish judicial training programs for individuals who perform duties in domestic violence matters. Existing law requires the tra

CA AB 311 - Melissa Hurtado
California Food Assistance Program: eligibility and benefits.
06/15/2023 - In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
AB 311, as introduced, Santiago. California Food Assistance Program: eligibility and benefits. Existing federal law provides for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known in California as CalFresh, under which supplemental nutrition assistance benefits allocated to the state by the federal government are distributed to eligible individuals by each county.Existing law requires the State Department of Social Services to establish a food assistance program, known as the California Food Assistance Program (CFAP), to provide assistance to a noncitizen of the United States if the person’s immigration status meets the eligibility criteria of SNAP in effect on August 21, 1996, but the person is not eligible for SNAP benefits solely due to their immigration status, as specified. Existing law also makes eligible for the program an applicant who is otherwise eligible for the program, but who entered the United States on or after August 22, 1996, if the applicant is sponsored and the applicant meets one of a list of criteria, including that the applicant, after entry into the United States, is a victim of the sponsor or the spouse of the sponsor if the spouse is living with the sponsor.Existing law, to become operative on the date that the department notifies the Legislature that the Statewide Automated Welfare System (SAWS) has been updated to perform the necessary automation, and subject to an appropriation in the annual Budget Act, makes an individual 55 years of age or older eligible for the program if the individual’s immigration status is the sole basis for their ineligibility for CalFresh benefits.This bill would remove that age limitation and make any individual eligible for the program if the individual’s immigration status is the sole basis for their ineligibility for CalFresh benefits. By extending eligibility for CFAP, which is administered by the counties, 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.

CA AB 3127 - Tina McKinnor
Reporting of crimes: mandated reporters.
03/11/2024 - Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
AB 3127, as introduced, McKinnor. Reporting of crimes: mandated reporters. Existing law requires a health practitioner, as defined, to make a report to law enforcement when they suspect a patient has suffered physical injury that is either self-inflicted, caused by a firearm, or caused by assaultive or abusive conduct, including elder abuse, sexual assault, or torture. A violation of these provisions is punishable as a misdemeanor.This bill would remove the requirement that a health practitioner make a report to law enforcement when they suspect a patient has suffered physical injury caused by assaultive or abusive conduct. The bill would instead require that a health practitioner make a report when the injury is life threatening or results in death, or is the result of child abuse or elder or dependent adult abuse. The bill would require the health practitioner to additionally make a report when a person is seeking care for injuries related to domestic, sexual, or any nonaccidental violent injury if the patient requests a report be sent, as specified.The bill would also require a health practitioner who suspects that a patient has suffered physical injury that is caused by domestic violence, as defined, to provide brief counseling and a referral to local and national domestic violence or sexual violence advocacy services, as specified.This bill would make other conforming changes.Because a violation of these requirements 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.

CA AB 3207 - Joe Patterson
The Secure Seniors Online Protection Act.
03/11/2024 - Referred to Coms. on AGING & L.T.C. and P. & C.P.
AB 3207, as introduced, Joe Patterson. The Secure Seniors Online Protection Act. Existing law, the Mello-Granlund Older Californians Act, establishes the California Department of Aging in the California Health and Human Services Agency and sets forth its mission to provide leadership to the area agencies on aging in developing systems of home- and community-based services that maintain individuals in their own homes or least restrictive homelike environments.Existing law establishes the State Department of Social Services in the California Health and Human Services Agency. Existing law designates the department as the single state agency with full power to supervise every phase of the administration of public social services, except health care services and medical assistance, as specified.This bill, the Secure Seniors Online Protection Act, would require the State Department of Social Services to, subject to an appropriation, on or before January 1, 2026, establish and administer a 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, toll-free hotline to assist all Californians in dealing with online scams, as provided. The bill would require the State Department of Social Services to ensure that the program and its staff are equipped to meet the needs of individuals who are 60 years of age and older. The bill would require, on or before January 31, 2027, and annually thereafter, the State Department of Social Services to submit a report to the Legislature and the relevant policy committees containing, among other things, the number of seniors served, the types of problems the program assisted seniors with, and recommendations for improving the program.

CA AB 3218 - Robert A. Rivas
Unflavored Tobacco List.
03/11/2024 - Referred to Coms. on HEALTH and JUD.
AB 3218, as introduced, Wood. Unflavored Tobacco List. Existing law prohibits a person from selling or otherwise furnishing tobacco products, as defined, to a person under 21 years of age. Existing law, the Stop Tobacco Access to Kids Enforcement (STAKE) Act, provides for enforcement of that prohibition by the Attorney General.Existing law prohibits a tobacco retailer, as defined, from offering for sale any flavored tobacco product or tobacco product flavor enhancer, as specified. A violation of this prohibition is an infraction.This bill would require the Attorney General to, by no later than July 1, 2025, establish and maintain on the Attorney General’s internet website a list of tobacco product brand styles that lack a characterizing flavor, as defined.This bill would require each manufacturer or importer of tobacco products to submit to the Attorney General a list of all brand styles, as defined, of tobacco products that they manufacture or import for sale or distribution in or into California. The bill would require a manufacturer or importer that submits a product pursuant to these provisions to, under penalty of perjury, describe each brand style and state that it lacks a characterizing flavor and provide documentation demonstrating compliance with specified federal requirements. By expanding the scope of the crime of perjury, this bill would create a state-mandated local program. The bill would require the Attorney General to determine whether each brand style has a characterizing flavor, as specified. The bill would require any manufacturer or importer that submits a product in this way to, among other things, consent to the jurisdiction of the California courts for the purpose of enforcing these provisions and to appoint an agent for service of process, as specified. The bill would authorize the Attorney General to seek injunctive relief and a civil penalty up to $50,000 against any manufacturer or importer who falsely certifies that brand style determined to have a characteristic flavor, lacks a characteristic flavor.The bill would refine the definition of characteristic flavor for purposes of the prohibition and these provisions.This bill would prohibit a distributor from selling any tobacco product not listed on the Unflavored Tobacco List to any person, as specified, for sale in the state and would authorize the Attorney General to assess civil penalties, as specified, for violations of this prohibition. This bill would authorize the Attorney General to recover reasonable attorney’s fees, investigative costs, and other related costs, against a nonprevailing party in a civil action brought pursuant to these provisions. The bill would require moneys recovered by the Attorney General in an action pursuant to these provisions to be deposited in the Public Rights Law Enforcement Special Fund, as specified.The bill would deem certain tobacco products possessed in violation of these provisions that are seized by the California Tax and Fee Administration to be forfeited to the state.This bill would also ban the retail sale of any tobacco product not on the Unflavored Tobacco List, as specified. By expanding the scope of an existing 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.

CA AB 331 - Rebecca Bauer-Kahan
Automated decision tools.
05/18/2023 - In committee: Held under submission.
AB 331, as amended, Bauer-Kahan. Automated decision tools. The Unruh Civil Rights Act provides that all persons within the jurisdiction of this state are free and equal, and regardless of their sex, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship, primary language, or immigration status are entitled to the full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities, privileges, or services in all business establishments of every kind whatsoever. The California Fair Employment and Housing Act protects and safeguards the right and opportunity of all persons to seek, obtain, and hold employment without discrimination, abridgment, or harassment on account of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, reproductive health decisionmaking, or veteran or military status. The act establishes the Civil Rights Department within the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency and requires the department to, among other things, bring civil actions to enforce the act.This bill would, among other things, require a deployer, as defined, and a developer of an automated decision tool, as defined, to, on or before January 1, 2025, and annually thereafter, perform an impact assessment for any automated decision tool the deployer uses that includes, among other things, a statement of the purpose of the automated decision tool and its intended benefits, uses, and deployment contexts. The bill would require a deployer or developer to provide the impact assessment to the Civil Rights Department within 60 days of its completion and would punish a violation of that provision with an administrative fine of not more than $10,000 to be recovered in an administrative enforcement action brought by the Civil Rights Department. The bill would authorize certain public attorneys, including the Attorney General, to bring a civil action against a deployer or developer for a violation of the bill. The bill would require a public attorney to, before commencing an action for injunctive relief, provide 45 days’ written notice to a deployer or developer of the alleged violations of the bill and would provide a deployer or developer a specified opportunity to cure those violations, if, among other things, the deployer or developer provides the person who gave the notice an express written statement, under penalty of perjury, that the violation has been cured and that no further violations shall occur. By expanding the scope of the crime of perjury, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.This bill would require a deployer to, at or before the time an automated decision tool is used to make a consequential decision, as defined, notify any natural person that is the subject of the consequential decision that an automated decision tool is being used to make, or be a controlling factor in making, the consequential decision and to provide that person with, among other things, a statement of the purpose of the automated decision tool. The bill would, if a consequential decision is made solely based on the output of an automated decision tool, require a deployer to, if technically feasible, accommodate a natural person’s request to not be subject to the automated decision tool and to be subject to an alternative selection process or accommodation, as prescribed. This bill would prohibit a deployer from using an automated decision tool that results in algorithmic discrimination, which the bill would define to mean the condition in which an automated decision tool contributes to unjustified differential treatment or impacts disfavoring people based on their actual or perceived race, color, ethnicity, sex, religion, age, national origin, limited English proficiency, disability, veteran s

CA AB 365 - Cecilia M. Aguiar-Curry
Medi-Cal: diabetes management.
09/12/2023 - Ordered to inactive file at the request of Senator Limón.
AB 365, as amended, Aguiar-Curry. Medi-Cal: diabetes management. Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions. Existing law sets forth a schedule of benefits under the Medi-Cal program. This bill would add continuous glucose monitors and related supplies required for use with those monitors as a covered benefit under the Medi-Cal program for the treatment of diabetes when medically necessary, subject to utilization controls. The bill would require the department, by July 1, 2024, to review, and update as appropriate, coverage policies for continuous glucose monitors, as specified. The bill would authorize the department to require a manufacturer of a continuous glucose monitor to enter into a rebate agreement with the department. The bill would limit its implementation to the extent that any necessary federal approvals are obtained and federal financial participation is available. The bill would make related findings and declarations.

CA AB 366 - Cottie Petrie-Norris
County human services agencies: workforce development.
09/11/2023 - Ordered to inactive file at the request of Senator Ashby.
AB 366, as amended, Petrie-Norris. County human services agencies: workforce development. Existing law  generally provides for various human services programs, including, but not limited to, child welfare services. Existing law requires the state, through the department and county welfare departments, to establish and support a public system of statewide child welfare services to be available in each county of the state, and requires all counties to establish and maintain specialized organizational entities within the county welfare department, which have sole responsibility for the operation of the child welfare services program.This bill would require the State Department of Social Services to establish a stipend program, subject to an appropriation by the Legislature, for the purpose of providing grants in the form of educational stipends to community college students who have an interest in public child welfare work. The bill would require the department to administer the program through existing mechanisms applicable to other postsecondary education stipend programs administered by the department for which the state receives matching funds pursuant to specified federal law. The bill would require the program to provide stipends to students who either reside in, or are enrolled in a community college in, counties with a population of 500,000 or less, and who are in a relevant program of coursework, as specified.Existing law vests the Department of Human Resources with the jurisdiction and responsibility of establishing and maintaining personnel standards on a merit basis, and administering merit systems for local government agencies where those merit systems of employment are required by statute or regulation as a condition of a state-funded program or a federal grant-in-aid program established under federal law, including, but not limited to, the Social Security Act, as specified. Existing law requires the department, for the purposes of administering those state or federally supported programs, by regulation, to establish and maintain personnel standards on a merit basis for local agencies, as specified, as necessary for proper and efficient administration, and to ensure state conformity with applicable federal requirements. Existing law requires the department to administer the merit system for employees engaged in administering state-funded and federal grant-in-aid programs in a local agency not administering its own merit system, as specified.This bill, notwithstanding those provisions, would require the department, for specified local agencies with an employment vacancy rate of 20% or greater for 30 consecutive days in any state-funded or federal grant-in-aid program, to allow those agencies to use alternate processes to screen applications and establish eligibility lists for recruitment of new staff, and advancement of existing staff, until the vacancy rate falls below 20 percent continuously for 3 consecutive months. The bill would authorize those alternatives to include allowing counties to screen and establish eligibility lists directly with oversight by the department, implementing alternative examination requirements without advance approval by the department, and waiving examination components. If the employees are represented by an employee organization, as specified, the bill would authorize a local agency to implement alternative examination requirements or waive examination components only after meeting and conferring with, and obtaining mutual agreement from, the employee organization. The bill would authorize the alternative processes to be implemented until January 1, 2029. The bill would require the department, by July 1, 2026, to convene representatives of local agencies and applicable state departments, including, but not limited to, the State Department of Social Services, the Department of Child Support Services, and representatives from employee organizations that represent local agency employees,

CA AB 369 - Rick Chavez Zbur
Foster care: independent living.
09/01/2023 - In committee: Held under submission.
AB 369, as amended, Zbur. Foster care: independent living. Existing law establishes the Independent Living Program (ILP), which has among its purposes providing training in daily living skills, budgeting, locating and maintaining housing, and career planning for foster youth up to 21 years of age. Existing federal law authorizes a state, under certain circumstances, to expand eligibility for the ILP to former foster youth who have not attained 23 years of age. Existing law requires the State Department of Social Services, with the approval of the federal government, to amend the foster care state plan to permit all eligible children to be served by the ILP up to 21 years of age.This bill would require, by June 30, 2025, the department to develop a plan, in consultation with, among others, county ILP administrators, to, among other things, update and upgrade curriculum to facilitate successful transitions to adulthood. This bill would expand the age for all eligible children to be served by the ILP up to 23 years of age, in those counties that opt to provide those extended services.Existing law authorizes a child who is declared a ward or dependent child of the court who is 16 years of age or older, or a nonminor dependent, as defined, who is participating in a transitional independent living case plan to retain resources with a combined value of $10,000, consistent with federal law, and still remain eligible to receive public social services. Existing law requires the written approval of a child’s probation officer or social worker for withdrawal of the child’s savings, as specified.Existing law establishes the Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Foster Care (AFDC-FC) program, under which counties provide payments to foster care providers on behalf of qualified children in foster care.This bill would remove that monetary value limit and instead allow those nonminor dependents to retain resources consistent with federal law. The bill would prohibit those resources from being evaluated after the initial determination for the same foster care episode to determine continued eligibility for a foster care maintenance payment. The bill would also authorize a nonminor dependent who reenters foster care, as specified, and is ineligible for federal financial participation due to cash savings in an amount that is greater than allowed, to receive aid in the form of state AFDC-FC if certain requirements are met. Because counties would administer these extended benefits, 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.

CA AB 385 - Tri Ta
Alzheimer’s disease: public awareness campaign.
05/18/2023 - In committee: Held under submission.
AB 385, as introduced, Ta. Alzheimer’s disease: public awareness campaign. Existing law requires the State Department of Public Health to provide, or contract for the provision of, public and professional education on Alzheimer’s disease for consumers, caregivers, and health care providers.This bill would require the department to implement a public awareness campaign, as specified, and include education for unpaid caregivers. The bill would also make related legislative findings and declarations.

CA AB 386 - Stephanie Nguyen
California Right to Financial Privacy Act.
09/12/2023 - In Assembly. Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling.
AB 386, as amended, Stephanie Nguyen. California Right to Financial Privacy Act. Existing law, the California Right to Financial Privacy Act, generally provides for the confidentiality of, and restricts access to, the financial records of people who transact business with, or use the services of, financial institutions or for whom a financial institution has acted as a fiduciary. Existing law establishes an exception by authorizing various state and local agencies, when certification is made to a bank, credit union, or savings association by specified law enforcement entities that a crime report has been filed that involves the alleged fraudulent use of orders drawn upon a bank, credit union, or savings association in this state, to request from such a bank, credit union, or savings association, and requires the bank, credit union, or savings association to furnish, a statement setting forth certain information with respect to a customer account specified by the requesting party, for a period of 30 days before, and up to 30 days following, the date of occurrence of the alleged illegal act involving the account.This bill would expand the period covered by that statement of information to a period 90 days before, and up to 60 days following, the date of occurrence. The bill would require specified additional items of information to be included in the statement about the account.

CA AB 387 - Cecilia M. Aguiar-Curry
Alzheimer’s disease.
09/01/2023 - In committee: Held under submission.
AB 387, as amended, Aguiar-Curry. Alzheimer’s disease. Existing law requires the Secretary of California Health and Human Services to be responsible for oversight and coordination of programs serving people living with Alzheimer’s disease and related conditions, and their families. Existing law establishes the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Advisory Committee in the California Health and Human Services Agency, and specifies the committee’s duties, including requirements for making policy and plan recommendations.This bill would rename the advisory committee to the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Conditions Advisory Committee, and expand the number of members serving on the committee from 14 to at least 21, but not more than 25, members. This bill would specify the qualifications of certain members on the committee. The bill would, in the provisions governing the committee, revise references to Alzheimer’s disease to also refer to related conditions.

CA AB 408 - Damon Connolly
Climate-resilient Farms, Sustainable Healthy Food Access, and Farmworker Protection Bond Act of 2024.
09/01/2023 - In committee: Held under submission.
AB 408, as amended, Wilson. Climate-resilient Farms, Sustainable Healthy Food Access, and Farmworker Protection Bond Act of 2024. Existing law requires the Department of Food and Agriculture to promote and protect the agricultural industry of the state. Existing law under Article XVI of the California Constitution requires measures authorizing general obligation bonds to specify the single object or work to be funded by the bonds and further requires a bond act to be approved by a 2/3 vote of each house of the Legislature and a majority of the voters.This bill would enact the Climate-resilient Farms, Sustainable Healthy Food Access, and Farmworker Protection Bond Act of 2024, which, if approved by the voters, would authorize the issuance of bonds in the amount of $3,650,000,000 pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law, to finance programs related to, among other things, agricultural lands, food and fiber infrastructure, climate resilience, agricultural professionals, including farmers, ranchers, and farmworkers, workforce development and training, air quality, tribes, disadvantaged communities, nutrition, food aid, meat processing facilities, and fishing facilities.The bill would make its provisions severable.The bill would provide for the submission of the bond act to the voters at the November 5, 2024, statewide general election.This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

CA AB 423 - Brian K. Maienschein
Department of Justice: missing persons.
05/18/2023 - In committee: Held under submission.
AB 423, as introduced, Maienschein. Department of Justice: missing persons. Existing law requires the Attorney General to establish and maintain the Violent Crime Information Center to assist, as specified, in the identification and apprehension of persons responsible for specific violent crimes and for the disappearance and exploitation of persons, particularly children and at-risk adults.This bill would require the Attorney General to convene a working group, as specified, within the Department of Justice Missing and Unidentified Persons Section, to study and propose legislative solutions to the problem of “wandering,” described as the phenomenon of cognitively impaired persons, including those with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, or autism, wandering away from home, care facilities, or other familiar surroundings and becoming lost or confused about their surroundings. The bill would require the working group to prepare and submit a report to the Legislature, as specified.

CA AB 425 - David Alvarez
Medi-Cal: pharmacogenomic testing.
09/21/2023 - Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3:30 p.m.
AB 425, Alvarez. Medi-Cal: pharmacogenomic testing. Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions. Existing law sets forth a schedule of covered benefits under the Medi-Cal program.This bill would, commencing on July 1, 2024, add pharmacogenomic testing as a covered benefit under Medi-Cal, as specified. The bill would define pharmacogenomic testing as laboratory genetic testing that includes, but is not limited to, a panel test, to identify how a person’s genetics may impact the efficacy, toxicity, and safety of medications.The bill would condition implementation of this benefit coverage on receipt of any necessary federal approvals and the availability of federal financial participation. The bill would authorize the department to implement these provisions through all-county letters or similar instructions.The bill would also make related legislative findings.

CA AB 435 - Sabrina Cervantes
Public social services: automated application process.
02/01/2024 - From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
AB 435, as amended, Cervantes. Public social services: automated application process. Existing law requires the Office of Systems Integration within the California Health and Human Services Agency to implement a statewide automated welfare system, known as the California Statewide Automated Welfare System (CalSAWS), for various public assistance programs, including the CalWORKs program, CalFresh, and the Medi-Cal program. Under existing law, among other duties, the state is consolidating existing consortia systems into the single CalSAWS.Existing law requires the State Department of Social Services to establish and supervise the Cash Assistance Program for Aged, Blind, and Disabled Legal Immigrants (CAPI), which provides cash assistance to aged, blind, and disabled legal immigrants who are not citizens of the United States, as specified. Existing law establishes the state-funded Trafficking and Crime Victim Assistance Program (TCVAP), which provides critical benefits and services to noncitizen victims of human trafficking, domestic violence, and other serious crimes. Existing law also requires the department, after setting aside state administrative funds, to allocate social services funds derived from appropriated federal funds and federally targeted assistance to eligible counties. Existing law requires these funds, known as Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA), to be used by the county, pursuant to a plan developed by the county, to provide services to refugees that lead to successful self-sufficiency and social integration for the refugees.This bill would require CalSAWS to accept and process applications for CAPI, TCVAP, and RCA. The bill would require a county social services department to post on its internet website general information identifying available immigrant benefit services, including, but not limited to, those programs. By increasing the duties of county human services departments, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would require the State Department of Social Services, with 60 days of the effective date of the bill, to report to the budget committees and relevant policy committees of the Legislature the department’s plan to ensure that potential beneficiaries are able to apply online for those programs by December 1, 2024, or when the department notifies the Legislature that CalSAWS can perform the necessary automation to implement it, as specified. The bill would require the department to implement the bill’s requirements by all-county letters or similar instructions, beginning no later than March 1, 2024, or when the department notifies the Legislature that CalSAWS can perform the necessary automation to implement it, until regulations are adopted. The bill also would make findings and declarations relating to CalSAWS automation activities.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.

CA AB 438 - Blanca E. Rubio
Pupils with exceptional needs: individualized education programs: postsecondary goals and transition services.
09/12/2023 - Ordered to inactive file at the request of Senator Portantino.
AB 438, as amended, Blanca Rubio. Pupils with exceptional needs: individualized education programs: postsecondary goals and transition services. Existing law requires local educational agencies to identify, locate, and assess individuals with exceptional needs and to provide those pupils with a free appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment, with special education and related services as reflected in an individualized education program. Existing law requires, beginning not later than the first individualized education program to be in effect when a pupil is 16 years of age, or younger if determined appropriate by the individualized education program team, and updated annually thereafter, the individualized education program to include appropriate measurable postsecondary goals and transition services, as defined, needed to assist the pupil in reaching those goals.This bill would instead require an individualized education program, commencing July 1, 2025, to include measurable postsecondary goals and transition services beginning when an individual with exceptional needs enters grade 9. By imposing additional requirements on local educational agencies in relation to individualized education programs, the 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.

CA AB 448 - Juan Carrillo
Juveniles: relative placement: family finding.
01/30/2024 - Consideration of Governor's veto stricken from file.
AB 448, Juan Carrillo. Juveniles: relative placement: family finding. (1) Existing law requires a county social worker to investigate the circumstances of each child taken into temporary custody by a peace officer under specified circumstances. Existing law requires the social worker to conduct an investigation, within 30 days of the child’s removal, to identify and locate adult relatives of the child, as specified, and to provide them with a notification that the child has been removed from the custody of the child’s parents, guardians, or Indian custodian, and an explanation of the various options to participate in the care and placement of the child. This bill would require the social worker to conduct the investigation to identify and locate adult relatives, immediately, and no later than 30 days, after the child has been taken into temporary custody.(2) Existing law establishes procedures for an initial petition hearing by the juvenile court if a child is being taken into temporary custody. Existing law requires a social worker to report to the court the reasons the child was removed from the parent’s, guardian’s, or Indian custodian’s physical custody and the need, if any, for continued detention, available services, and if there are any relatives who are willing and able to take temporary physical custody of the child.This bill would additionally require the social worker to report to the court what efforts, and in the case of an Indian child, the active efforts, as defined, and findings the social worker has made to locate any relatives or kin who could provide family support or possible placement of the child or nonminor dependent and the names of those relatives or kin.(3) Existing law provides that a child may be adjudged to be a dependent of the juvenile court because of abuse or neglect, and that after this determination, the court is required to hear evidence on the question of the proper disposition to be made of the child. Existing law requires that before determining the appropriate disposition, the court receive in evidence, among other things, the social study of the child made by the social worker and evaluation made by a child advocate appointed by the court. Existing law further prescribes the information that is required to be included in that social study or evaluation, including the appropriateness of any relative placement. Existing law requires the court to review the status of every dependent child in foster care no less frequently than once every 6 months and requires a supplemental report to be filed as part of that review.This bill would additionally require the social study, and any supplemental report, to include the efforts, and in the case of an Indian child, the active efforts, as defined, and findings that the social worker has made to locate any relatives or kin who could provide family support or possible placement of the child or nonminor dependent and the name of those relatives or kin. The bill would also require the court, in conducting the periodic status review, to additionally determine whether the social worker has continued efforts, and in the case of an Indian child, the active efforts, as defined, to locate any relatives or kin who could provide family support or possible placement of the child and the names of those relatives or kin.(4) Existing law requires a probation officer, upon delivery of a minor who has been taken into temporary custody, to immediately investigate the circumstances of the minor and the facts surrounding the minor being taken into custody and to immediately release the minor to the custody of their parent, legal guardian, or responsible relative, including a grandparent, adult sibling, or other relative, unless evidence before the court demonstrates that continuance in the home is contrary to the child’s welfare, as specified.This bill would additionally require that the probation officer, if it is known or there is reason to know the child is an Indian

CA AB 471 - Ash Kalra
Cannabis catering.
02/01/2024 - From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
AB 471, as amended, Kalra. Cannabis catering. Existing law, 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. Under MAUCRSA, the Department of Cannabis Control has sole authority to license and regulate commercial cannabis activity, which MAUCRSA defines to include, among other activities, the delivery and sale of cannabis and cannabis products as provided for therein, and acting as a cannabis event organizer for temporary cannabis events.This bill would add acting as a cannabis caterer for a private event to the definition of commercial cannabis activity.MAUCRSA does not supersede or limit the authority of a local jurisdiction to adopt and enforce local ordinances to regulate commercial cannabis businesses within that local jurisdiction. MAUCRSA authorizes the department to issue a state temporary event license to a licensee authorizing onsite cannabis sales and consumption at a county fair event, district agricultural association event, or at another venue expressly approved by a local jurisdiction if, among other requirements, (1) access to the area where cannabis consumption is allowed is restricted to persons 21 years of age or older; (2) cannabis consumption is not visible from any public place or nonage-restricted area; and (3) sale or consumption of alcohol or tobacco is not allowed on the premises.This bill would authorize the department to issue a state caterer license authorizing the licensee to serve cannabis or cannabis products at a private event approved by a local jurisdiction for the purpose of allowing event attendees 21 years of age or older to consume the cannabis or cannabis products that is not hosted, sponsored, or advertised by the caterer. In determining whether to issue a state caterer license, the bill would require the department to consider the proximity of the private event to a youth recreation center, school, or location where persons under 21 years of age congregate. Under the bill, consumption of alcohol or tobacco would be authorized on the premises of that event, as specified. The bill would prohibit a caterer licensee from serving cannabis or cannabis products at any one premises for more than 36 events in one calendar year, except as specified, and would authorize a caterer licensee to reuse cannabis at a subsequent event, as provided.MAUCRSA requires a cannabis license applicant to provide certain information relating to the proposed premises where the license privileges would be exercised.This bill would exempt a caterer license application from those requirements, except that the bill would require an applicant for a cannabis caterer license to provide proof that the owner of the property on which the private event will be held acknowledges the use of the property for the private event.AUMA authorizes the Legislature to amend its provisions with a 2/3 vote of both houses to further its purposes and intent.This bill would state that the bill furthers the purposes and intent of AUMA.

CA AB 488 - Stephanie Nguyen
Medi-Cal: skilled nursing facilities: vision loss.
02/01/2024 - From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
AB 488, as introduced, Stephanie Nguyen. Medi-Cal: skilled nursing facilities: vision loss. Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions.Existing law requires the department, subject to any necessary federal approvals, for managed care rating periods that begin between January 1, 2023, and December 31, 2026, inclusive, to establish and implement the Workforce and Quality Incentive Program under which a network provider furnishing skilled nursing facility services to a Medi-Cal managed care enrollee may earn performance-based directed payments from the Medi-Cal managed care plan with which they contract, as specified. Existing law, subject to an appropriation, requires the department to set the amounts of those directed payments under a specified formula.Existing law requires the department to establish the methodology or methodologies, parameters, and eligibility criteria for the directed payments, including the milestones and metrics that network providers of skilled nursing facility services must meet in order to receive a directed payment from a Medi-Cal managed care plan, with at least 2 of these milestones and metrics tied to workforce measures.This bill would require that the measures and milestones include program access, staff training, and capital improvement measures aimed at addressing the needs of skilled nursing facility residents with vision loss. The bill would make related legislative findings.

CA AB 510 - Corey A. Jackson
Public social services: purposes.
02/01/2024 - From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
AB 510, as amended, Jackson. Public social services: purposes. Existing law establishes various public social services programs, including, among others, CalWORKs and the State Supplementary Program for Aged, Blind and Disabled. Existing law sets forth the purposes of public social services for which state grants are made to counties that include, among others, providing reasonable support and maintenance for needy and dependent families and persons.This bill would instead state that providing reasonable support and maintenance for needy and vulnerable children, adults, and families is a purpose of public social services.

CA AB 524 - Buffy Wicks
Discrimination: family caregiver status.
01/29/2024 - Consideration of Governor's veto stricken from file.
AB 524, Wicks. Discrimination: family caregiver status. Existing law, the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), which is enforced by the Civil Rights Department, prohibits various forms of employment discrimination and recognizes the opportunity to seek, obtain, and hold employment without specified forms of discrimination as a civil right. The act also makes it an unlawful employment practice for an employer, among other things, to refuse to hire or employ a person because of various personal characteristics, conditions, or traits.This bill would prohibit employment discrimination on account of family caregiver status, as defined, and would recognize the opportunity to seek, obtain, and hold employment without discrimination because of family caregiver status as a civil right, as specified.This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 12926 of the Government Code proposed by SB 403 to be operative only if this bill and SB 403 are enacted and this bill is enacted last.

CA AB 551 - Steve Bennett
Medi-Cal: specialty mental health services: foster children.
07/05/2023 - From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (July 3). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
AB 551, as amended, Bennett. Medi-Cal: specialty mental health services: foster children. Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services (department), under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions. Under existing law, specialty mental health services include federal Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) services provided to eligible Medi-Cal beneficiaries under 21 years of age. Existing law requires each local mental health plan to establish a procedure to ensure access to outpatient specialty mental health services, as required by the EPSDT program standards, for youth in foster care who have been placed outside their county of adjudication, as described.Existing law requires the department to issue policy guidance on the conditions for, and exceptions to, presumptive transfer of responsibility for providing or arranging for specialty mental health services to a foster youth from the county of original jurisdiction to the county in which the foster youth resides, as prescribed. On a case-by-case basis, and when consistent with the medical rights of children in foster care, existing law authorizes the waiver of presumptive transfer, with the responsibility for the provision of specialty mental health services remaining with the county of original jurisdiction if certain exceptions exist. Under existing law, the county probation agency or the child welfare services agency is responsible for determining whether waiver of the presumptive transfer is appropriate, with notice provided to the person requesting the exception.Under existing law, commencing July 1, 2023, in the case of placement of foster children in short-term residential therapeutic programs, community treatment facilities, or group homes, or in the case of admission of foster children to children’s crisis residential programs, the county of original jurisdiction is required to retain responsibility and presumptive transfer provisions apply only if certain circumstances exist.This bill, for purposes of foster children placed or admitted in those specific settings, would delay, until July 1, 2024, the requirement on the county of original jurisdiction to retain responsibility and the limitation on the presumptive transfer provisions. By extending the period during which a county agency is responsible for making determinations about presumptive transfer waivers and making certain notifications, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.Existing law conditions implementation of the above-described provisions on the availability of federal financial participation and receipt of all necessary federal approvals. If the department makes the determination that it is necessary to seek federal approval, existing law requires the department to make an official request for approval from the federal government no later than July 1, 2024.This bill would delay the deadline for any necessary federal approval requests to July 1, 2025.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 an urgency statute.

CA AB 559 - Tasha Boerner Horvath
Personal income tax: California Senior Citizen Advocacy Voluntary Tax Contribution Fund.
07/11/2023 - Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.
AB 559, Boerner. Personal income tax: California Senior Citizen Advocacy Voluntary Tax Contribution Fund. Existing law authorizes an individual to contribute amounts in excess of the individual’s personal income tax liability for the support of specified funds. Existing law allows a taxpayer to designate an amount in excess of personal income tax liability to be deposited into the California Senior Citizen Advocacy Voluntary Tax Contribution Fund, which is continuously appropriated to the California Senior Legislature for the purpose of funding the activities of the California Senior Legislature. Existing law requires the Franchise Tax Board to revise the return for taxable years 2017 to 2023, inclusive, to include a space for that designation, and repeals these voluntary contribution provisions on January 1, 2025.This bill would require the Franchise Tax Board to revise the return for taxable years 2017 to 2030, inclusive, to allow a taxpayer to designate an amount in excess of personal income tax liability to be deposited into the California Senior Citizen Advocacy Voluntary Tax Contribution Fund, and would extend the repeal date for these provisions to January 1, 2032. By extending a continuously appropriated fund, the bill would make an appropriation.

CA AB 659 - Cecilia M. Aguiar-Curry
Cancer Prevention Act.
09/20/2023 - Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.
AB 659, Aguiar-Curry. Cancer Prevention Act. Existing law prohibits the governing authority of a school or other institution from unconditionally admitting any person as a pupil of any private or public elementary or secondary school, childcare center, day nursery, nursery school, family daycare home, or development center, unless prior to their admission to that institution they have been fully immunized. Existing law requires the documentation of immunizations for certain diseases, including, among others, measles, mumps, pertussis, and any other disease deemed appropriate by the State Department of Public Health, as specified. Existing law authorizes certain exemptions from these provisions subject to specified conditions.This bill, the Cancer Prevention Act, would declare that pupils in the state are advised to adhere to current immunization guidelines, as recommended by specified health entities, regarding full human papillomavirus (HPV) immunization before admission or advancement to the 8th grade level of any private or public elementary or secondary school. The bill would, upon a pupil’s admission or advancement to the 6th grade level, require the governing authority to submit to the pupil and their parent or guardian a notification containing a statement about that public policy and advising that the pupil adhere to current HPV immunization guidelines before admission or advancement to the 8th grade level, as specified. The bill would require that the notification also include a statement containing certain health information. The bill would incorporate that notification into existing provisions relating to notifications by school districts. By creating new notification duties for school districts, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.Existing law requires the Trustees of the California State University and, subject to a resolution, the Regents of the University of California to require the first-time enrollees at those institutions who are 18 years of age or younger to provide proof of full immunization against the hepatitis B virus prior to enrollment, with certain exemptions.This bill would declare the public policy of the state that students who are 26 years of age or younger are advised to adhere to current immunization guidelines, as specified, regarding full HPV immunization before first-time enrollment at an institution of the California State University, the University of California, or the California Community Colleges. The bill would make a conforming change to a consultation-related provision.Existing law, the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975, provides for the licensure and regulation of health care service plans by the Department of Managed Health Care, and makes a willful violation of the act a crime. Existing law provides for the regulation of health insurers by the Department of Insurance. Existing law requires a health care service plan contract or health insurance policy issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2002, as specified, to provide coverage for an annual cervical cancer screening test, including an HPV screening test that is approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).This bill would expand the coverage requirement for an annual cervical cancer screening test to disability insurance policies that provide coverage for hospital, medical, or surgical benefits and would require a health care service plan contract, or a disability insurance policy that provides coverage for hospital, medical, or surgical benefits, issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2024, to provide coverage without cost sharing for the HPV vaccine for persons for whom the vaccine is FDA approved. Because a willful violation of the bill’s requirements relative to health care service plans would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts

CA AB 719 - Tasha Boerner
Medi-Cal: nonmedical and nonemergency medical transportation.
01/25/2024 - Consideration of Governor's veto stricken from file.
AB 719, Boerner. Medi-Cal: nonmedical and nonemergency medical transportation. Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions. Existing law establishes a schedule of benefits under the Medi-Cal program, including medical transportation and nonmedical transportation for a beneficiary to obtain covered Medi-Cal services. Existing law requires nonmedical transportation to be provided by the beneficiary’s managed care plan or by the department for a Medi-Cal fee-for-service beneficiary.This bill would require the department to require Medi-Cal managed care plans that are contracted to provide nonmedical transportation or nonemergency medical transportation to contract with public paratransit service operators who are enrolled Medi-Cal providers for the purpose of establishing reimbursement rates for nonmedical and nonemergency medical transportation trips provided by a public paratransit service operator. The bill would require the rates reimbursed by the managed care plan to the public paratransit service operator to be based on the department’s fee-for-service rates for nonmedical and nonemergency medical transportation service, as specified. The bill would condition implementation of these provisions on receipt of any necessary federal approvals and the availability of federal financial participation.

CA AB 729 - Mia Bonta
Elder abuse.
02/01/2024 - Died at Desk.
AB 729, as introduced, Bonta. Elder abuse. Existing law makes a person who violates any provision of law proscribing theft, embezzlement, forgery, or fraud, or identity theft, with respect to the property or personal identifying information of an elder or a dependent adult, and who knows or reasonably should know that the victim is an elder or a dependent adult, punishable as a misdemeanor or a felony, as specified.This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation pertaining to scams targeting vulnerable seniors and their communities.

CA AB 786 - Jasmeet Bains
Restraining orders: filing fees.
02/01/2024 - From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
AB 786, as amended, Bains. Restraining orders: filing fees. Existing law provides the procedure by which a restraining order prohibiting harassment or abuse may be sought by, or on behalf of, specified persons. Existing law prohibits the imposition of a fee for filing a petition that alleges that a person has inflicted or threatened violence against the petitioner, stalked the petitioner, or acted or spoken in any other manner that has placed the petitioner in reasonable fear of violence, and that seeks a protective or restraining order restraining stalking, future violence, or threats of violence.This bill would prohibit a filing fee for a civil harassment petition if the petitioner is 60 years of age or older.

CA AB 793 - Mia Bonta
Privacy: reverse demands.
06/30/2023 - In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
AB 793, as amended, Bonta. Privacy: reverse demands. The United States Constitution generally requires a state to give full faith and credit to the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state. Existing law sets forth procedures by which a person may enforce a judgment for the payment of money issued by the court of a state other than California. Existing law, the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, determines how governmental entities may access information on electronic devices and from electronic communication service providers, as defined. Existing law requires a California corporation that provides electronic communication services or remote computing services to the general public to comply with a warrant issued by another state to produce records that would reveal the identity of the customers using those services, data stored by, or on behalf of, the customer, the customer’s usage of those services, the recipient or destination of communications sent to or from those customers, or the content of those communications as if that warrant had been issued by a California court, except as specified.This bill would prohibit any government entity from seeking, or any court from enforcing, assisting, or supporting, a reverse-keyword or reverse-location demand, as defined, issued by a government entity or court in this state or any other state. The bill would prohibit a person or California entity from complying with a reverse-keyword or reverse-location demand. The bill would require a court to suppress any information obtained or retained in violation of these provisions, the United States Constitution, or California Constitution. The bill would authorize the Attorney General to commence a civil action for compliance with these provisions.The bill would require a government entity to immediately notify any person whose information was obtained in violation of these provisions of the violation and of the legal recourse available, as specified. The bill would authorize an individual whose information was obtained, or a service provider or other recipient of the reverse-keyword or reverse-location demand to file a petition to void or modify the demand or order the destruction of information obtained in violation of these provisions. The bill would authorize an individual whose information was obtained by a government entity in violation of these provisions to bring a civil suit against the government entity for damages, injunctive or declaratory relief, or other relief that the court deems proper.The California Constitution provides for the Right to Truth-in-Evidence, which requires a 2/3 vote of the Legislature to exclude any relevant evidence from any criminal proceeding, as specified.Because the bill would require any information obtained or retained in violation of the bill’s provisions to be suppressed in a trial, hearing, or other proceeding, it would require a 2/3 vote.The bill would make these provisions severable.

CA AB 81 - James C. Ramos
Indian children: child custody proceedings.
09/11/2023 - Ordered to inactive file at the request of Senator Limón.
AB 81, as amended, Ramos. Indian children: child custody proceedings. Existing federal law, the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 (ICWA), governs the proceedings for determining the placement of an Indian child when that child is removed from the custody of the child’s parent or guardian. Existing law states findings and declarations of the Legislature regarding Indian children, including that the state is committed to protecting the essential tribal relations and best interest of an Indian child by promoting practices in accordance with the ICWA, and it is in the interest of an Indian child that the child’s membership or citizenship in the child’s Indian tribe and connection to the tribal community be encouraged and protected, and requires the court to consider those findings in all Indian child custody proceedings.This bill would add to those findings and declarations by stating that the State of California is committed to protecting essential tribal relations by recognizing a tribe’s right to protect the health, safety, and welfare of its citizens. The bill would also declare that provisions of the Family Code, Health and Safety Code, Probate Code, and the Welfare and Institutions Code that apply to proceedings involving an Indian child, as defined, are to be collectively known as the California Indian Child Welfare Act. Existing provisions of state law govern child custody proceedings, adoption proceedings, dependency proceedings, including termination of parental rights, the voluntary relinquishment of a child by a parent, and guardianship proceedings. Existing law provides various definitions for these purposes, including “Indian child,” as provided in the ICWA.This bill would define various terms, including “Indian child,” consistent with provisions of the ICWA. The bill would also make conforming changes and cross-references throughout various provisions.This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

CA AB 820 - Eloise Gomez Reyes
State boards and commissions: seniors.
09/01/2023 - In committee: Held under submission.
AB 820, as amended, Reyes. State boards and commissions: seniors. Existing law requires the Governor and every other appointing authority to, in making appointments to state boards and commissions, be responsible for nominating a variety of persons of different backgrounds, abilities, interests, and opinions in compliance with the policy that the composition of state boards and commissions shall be broadly reflective of the general public including ethnic minorities and women.This bill would require the composition of various advisory groups and bodies to include a state agency official responsible for administering programs that serve, or state commission official that advocates on behalf of, older adults, as defined, or a representative from an organization that serves or advocates on behalf of older adults.

CA AB 839 - Dawn Addis
Residential care facilities for the elderly: financing.
09/07/2023 - Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling.
AB 839, as amended, Addis. Residential care facilities for the elderly: financing. Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of residential care facilities for the elderly (RCFEs) by the State Department of Social Services.Under existing law, the California Health Facilities Financing Authority Act, the California Health Facilities Financing Authority is authorized to make and fund loans through the issuance of revenue bonds, and award grants, to finance or refinance projects by participating health institutions, as defined. Under the act, projects include construction, expansion, remodeling, renovation, furnishing, or equipping, or funding, financing, or refinancing of a health facility, as defined, or acquisition of a health facility to be financed or refinanced with funds provided in whole or in part pursuant to the act. Under the act, the California Health Facilities Financing Authority Fund is created, with moneys in the fund continuously appropriated to the authority for carrying out the purposes of the act.This bill would expand the above-described program to include RCFEs by adding an RCFE to the definition of “health facility” under the program. The bill would make conforming changes to related provisions. The bill would clarify that other provisions under existing law relating to health facilities would not be affected by the expanded definition, as specified. Under existing law, an RCFE is defined as a housing arrangement chosen voluntarily by persons 60 years of age or over, or their authorized representative, where varying levels and intensities of care, supervision, and certain services are provided, and whereby persons under 60 years of age with compatible needs may be allowed to be admitted or retained in an RCFE, as specified.Under the California Health Facilities Financing Authority Act, one of the types of health facilities is a multilevel facility, which is an institutional arrangement where an RCFE is operated as a part of, or in conjunction with, an intermediate care facility, a skilled nursing facility, or a general acute care hospital. Under that provision, “elderly” means a person 62 years of age or older.This bill would modify that definition of “elderly” to mean a person 60 years of age or older.By expanding the purpose for which the above-described continuously appropriated fund may be used, with regard to RCFE projects, the bill would make an appropriation from that fund. The bill would make legislative findings relating to the purpose of the bill.

CA AB 845 - David Alvarez
Behavioral health: older adults.
02/01/2024 - From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
AB 845, as amended, Alvarez. Behavioral health: older adults. Existing law, the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), an initiative measure enacted by the voters as Proposition 63 at the November 2, 2004, statewide general election, establishes the continuously appropriated Mental Health Services Fund to fund various county mental health programs, including the Adult and Older Adult Mental Health System of Care Act. Existing law authorizes the MHSA to be amended by a 2/3 vote of the Legislature if the amendments are consistent with and further the intent of the MHSA.This bill would establish within the State Department of Health Care Services an Older Adult Behavioral Health Services Administrator to oversee behavioral health services for older adults. The bill would require that position to be funded with administrative funds from the Mental Health Services Fund. The bill would prescribe the functions of the administrator and their responsibilities, including, but not limited to, developing outcome and related indicators for older adults for the purpose of assessing the status of behavioral health services for older adults, monitoring the quality of programs for those adults, and guiding decisionmaking on how to improve those services. The bill would require the administrator to receive data from other state agencies and departments to implement these provisions, subject to existing state or federal confidentiality requirements. The bill would require the administrator to report to the entities that administer the MHSA on those outcome and related indicators by July 1, 2024, and would require the report to be posted on the department’s internet website. The bill would also require the administrator to develop a strategy and standardized training for all county behavioral health personnel in order for the counties to assist the administrator in obtaining the data necessary to develop the outcome and related indicators. By expanding the purposes for which funds from a continuously appropriated fund may be spent, this bill would make an appropriation.This bill would declare that it is consistent with and furthers the intent of the MHSA.

CA AB 847 - Luz Maria Rivas
Medi-Cal: pediatric palliative care services.
09/21/2023 - Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3:30 p.m.
AB 847, Luz Rivas. Medi-Cal: pediatric palliative care services. Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions.Existing law requires the department to develop a pediatric palliative care benefit as a pilot program to Medi-Cal beneficiaries under 21 years of age, to be implemented only to the extent that any necessary federal approvals are obtained and federal financial participation is available. Existing law requires that program to include, among other things, hospice services to individuals whose conditions may result in death, regardless of the estimated length of the individual’s remaining period of life.Pursuant to the above-described provisions, the department established the Pediatric Palliative Care (PPC) Waiver in 2009, upon receiving federal approval in December 2008. After the waiver ended on December 31, 2018, the department implemented a plan in 2019 to transition some pediatric palliative care services to the Early and Periodic, Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) benefit, which is available to Medi-Cal beneficiaries under 21 years of age, as specified.This bill, Sophia’s Act, would authorize extended eligibility for pediatric hospice services and palliative care services for those individuals who have been determined eligible for those services prior to 21 years of age to after 21 years of age, as specified. To the extent that these provisions would alter the eligibility of individuals for these services, the bill would create a state-mandated local program. The bill would require the department to seek any federal approvals it deems necessary to implement these provisions. The bill would implement these provisions only to the extent that necessary federal approvals are obtained and federal financial participation is available and not otherwise jeopardized.This bill would state the Legislature’s intent to investigate future legislation to make pediatric palliative and hospice care more accessible to families.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.

CA AB 963 - Pilar Schiavo
The End the Foster Care-to-Homelessness Pipeline Act.
02/01/2024 - From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
AB 963, as amended, Schiavo. The End the Foster Care-to-Homelessness Pipeline Act. Existing law, Bergeson-Peace Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank Act, establishes the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (I-Bank) in the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, that is governed by a board of directors. The act, among other things, authorizes the I-Bank to make loans, issue bonds, and provide financial assistance for various types of projects that qualify as economic development or public development facilities.This bill, the End the Foster Care-to-Homelessness Pipeline Act, would establish the End the Foster Care-to-Homelessness Pipeline Program within the I-Bank to guarantee qualified loans made by financial institutions to qualified nonprofit and for-profit businesses for the construction, acquisition, and renovation of housing for current and former foster youth between 18 and 25 years of age and who qualify for specified programs. The bill would authorize the bank, in determining whether to guarantee a qualified loan, to give preference to counties with high housing inelasticity and high rates of foster youth, as specified. The bill would authorize the bank to reimburse up to 80% of the guaranteed portion of principal and interest that result from a qualified loan that is in default, not to exceed $250,000,000, and would require the Controller to transfer moneys from the General Fund to the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank Fund, at the direction of the bank, for that purpose. By requiring the Controller to transfer moneys into a continuously appropriated fund, the bill would make an appropriation.

CA SB 100 - Nancy Skinner
Budget Acts of 2021 and 2022.
05/08/2023 - Re-referred to Com. on BUDGET pursuant to Assembly Rule 97.
SB 100, as amended,  Skinner. Budget Acts of 2021 and 2022. The Budget Act of 2021 and Budget Act of 2022 made appropriations for the support of state government for the 2021–22 and 2022–23 fiscal years.This bill would amend the Budget Act of 2021 and Budget Act of 2022 by amending and adding items of appropriation and making other changes.The bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as a Budget Bill.

CA SB 101 - Nancy Skinner
Budget Act of 2023.
06/15/2023 - Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 11:20 a.m.
SB 101, Skinner. Budget Act of 2023. This bill would make appropriations for the support of state government for the 2023–24 fiscal year.This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as a Budget Bill.

CA SB 1010 - Angelique Ashby
Drowning prevention.
02/14/2024 - Referred to Com. on ED.
SB 1010, as introduced, Ashby. Drowning prevention. Existing law, the Neng Thao Drowning Prevention Safety Act, authorizes specified organizations to provide informational materials, in electronic or hardcopy form, to a public school regarding specified topics relating to drowning prevention. Existing law authorizes, beginning with the 2024–25 school year, upon receipt of the informational materials, a public school to provide the informational materials to parents, legal guardians, or caregivers of pupils at the time the pupil enrolls at the school and at the beginning of each school year.This bill would revise and recast various provisions of the Neng Thao Drowning Prevention Safety Act to, among other things, prohibit the distribution of these informational materials from taking place later than the end of the first week of May in the year of distribution. The bill would authorize an authorized school official, as defined, to consider specified factors when selecting which drowning or injury prevention organization, as defined, to work with. In order to provide informational materials to a public school, the bill would require a drowning or injury prevention organization to, among other requirements, provide written evidence to an authorized school official demonstrating that the informational materials provided by the drowning or injury prevention organization align with the drowning, drowning prevention, water safety, and swim skills lesson access information of at least one expert organization, as defined. The bill would also deem swim instruction provided by certain qualified and certified persons, and open to children of all ages, an essential public health service, as provided.

CA SB 1012 - Marie Waldron
The Regulated Psychedelic-assisted Therapy Act and the Regulated Psychedelic Substances Control Act.
02/14/2024 - Referred to Coms. on B., P. & E. D. and PUB S.
SB 1012, as introduced, Wiener. The Regulated Psychedelic-assisted Therapy Act and the Regulated Psychedelic Substances Control Act. (1) Existing law provides for the regulation of various professions and vocations by boards established under the jurisdiction of the Department of Consumer Affairs. Existing law, the California Uniform Controlled Substances Act, classifies controlled substances into 5 schedules, and places the greatest restrictions and penalties on the use of those substances placed in Schedule I. Existing law classifies dimethyltryptamine, mescaline, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), ibogaine, psilocybin, and psilocyn as Schedule I substances, and prohibits various actions related to those substances, including their sale, possession, transportation, manufacture, or cultivation.(2) This bill would enact the Regulated Psychedelic-assisted Therapy Act, which would establish the Board of Regulated Psychedelic Facilitators in the Department of Consumer Affairs to license and regulate psychedelic-assisted therapy facilitators, as defined. The bill would require the board to be appointed, as specified, by April 1, 2025. The bill would require the board to establish education, training, and other qualifications and requirements for obtaining a license as a regulated psychedelic-assisted therapy facilitator and would establish conditions of licensure. The bill would require the board to establish license fees for the reasonable regulatory costs to the board to administer the act. The bill would require the board to begin accepting license applications by April 1, 2026. The bill would make a license subject to renewal every 2 years. The bill would create the Regulated Psychedelic-assisted Therapy Fund in the State Treasury, would require all funds received pursuant to the act to be credited to the fund, and would make moneys in the fund available to the board for the act’s purposes upon appropriation by the Legislature. The bill would require the board, in consultation with the Regulated Psychedelic Substances Advisory Committee, which would be created by the bill, to adopt regulations, on or before January 1, 2026, governing the safe provision of regulated psychedelic-assisted therapy, including regulations governing the scope of practice for regulated psychedelic-assisted therapy facilitators and recordkeeping requirements, provided the recordkeeping does not result in the disclosure of personally identifiable information of participants. The bill would require the board to determine which schools and programs meet the requirements of the act and to adopt regulations governing the requirements and process for approving schools and programs related to the provision of regulated psychedelic-assisted therapy. The bill would authorize the board to charge a reasonable fee for the inspection or approval of schools or programs. The bill would make a violation of the act a misdemeanor and subject a licenseholder’s license to suspension for 3 years and a $1,000 fine. The bill would make a violation of specified acts subject to discipline by the board in accordance with specified procedures. By creating a new crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would make specified practices unfair business practices, including a person without a license holding themselves out as a licensed psychedelic-assisted therapy facilitator. The bill would prohibit a local government from enacting or enforcing an ordinance that conflicts with the act.(3) This bill would enact the Regulated Psychedelic Substances Control Act to establish a comprehensive system to control and regulate the cultivation, distribution, transportation, storage, processing, manufacturing, testing, quality control, and sale of regulated psychedelic substances for use in conjunction with regulated psychedelic-assisted therapy. The bill would define “regulated psychedelic substances” to include dimethyltryptamine; mescaline; 3,4-methylenedi

CA SB 102 - Nancy Skinner
Budget Act of 2023.
06/26/2023 - Ordered to third reading.
SB 102, as amended,  Skinner. Budget Act of 2023. The Budget Act of 2023 made appropriations for the support of state government for the 2023–24 fiscal year.This bill would amend the Budget Act of 2023 by amending, adding, and repealing items of appropriation and making other changes.This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as a Budget Bill.

CA SB 103 - Nancy Skinner
Budget Acts of 2021 and 2022.
06/26/2023 - Ordered to third reading.
SB 103, as amended,  Skinner. Budget Acts of 2021 and 2022. The Budget Act of 2021 and Budget Act of 2022 made appropriations for the support of state government for the 2021–22 and 2022–23 fiscal years. This bill would amend the Budget Act of 2021 and Budget Act of 2022 by amending and adding items of appropriation and making other changes. The bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as a Budget Bill.

CA SB 1031 - Philip Y. Ting
San Francisco Bay area: local revenue measure: transportation improvements.
03/18/2024 - From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.
SB 1031, as amended, Wiener. San Francisco Bay area: local revenue measure: transportation improvements. (1) Existing law creates the Metropolitan Transportation Commission as a local area planning agency for the 9-county San Francisco Bay area with comprehensive regional transportation planning and other related responsibilities. Existing law creates various transit districts located in the San Francisco Bay area, with specified powers and duties relating to providing public transit services. This bill would authorize the commission to raise and allocate new revenue and incur and issue bonds and other indebtedness, as specified. In this regard, the bill would authorize the commission to impose a retail transactions and use tax, a regional payroll tax, a parcel tax, and a regional vehicle registration surcharge in all or a subset of the 9 counties of the San Francisco Bay area, in accordance with applicable constitutional requirements. The bill would require the parcel tax to be collected by counties and the other 3 taxes to be collected by specified state agencies, and would require the net revenues from those taxes to be remitted to the commission, as prescribed. The bill would require the revenue generated pursuant to these provisions to be used for transportation improvements in the San Francisco Bay area, including for various transit purposes, and would require the commission to distribute those revenues in accordance with specified requirements and expressions of legislative intent. By adding to the duties of local officials with respect to elections procedures for revenue measures on behalf of the commission, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (2) Existing law establishes the Transportation Agency, consisting of various state agencies under the supervision of an executive officer known as the Secretary of Transportation, who is required to develop and report to the Governor on legislative, budgetary, and administrative programs to accomplish comprehensive, long-range, and coordinated planning and policy formulation in the matters of public interest related to the agency. This bill would require the Transportation Agency to select a transportation institute, as defined, to conduct an assessment of the associated advantages and disadvantages of consolidating all of the transit agencies, as defined, that are located in the 9-county San Francisco Bay area, as specified. The bill would require that assessment to be completed on or before January 1, 2026, and would require, as part of that assessment, the transportation institute to provide recommendations on how to consolidate those transit agencies and to include certain information in the assessment. Based on the findings of the assessment, the bill would require the Transportation Agency, on or before January 1, 2027, to recommend a comprehensive plan to consolidate all of the transit agencies located in the San Francisco Bay area, as provided. The bill would establish the Bay Area Transit Consolidation Technical Assistance Fund in the State Treasury for the deposit of moneys that can be used for specified purposes, including paying for the cost of conducting the assessment and preparing the comprehensive plan, as specified. The bill would require the assessment and the comprehensive plan to be submitted to the Legislature upon completion. (3) Existing law requires the Metropolitan Transportation Commission to adopt rules and regulations to promote the coordination of fares and schedules for all public transit systems within its jurisdiction, as specified.This bill would revise and recast this provision by, among other things, providing that the commission is responsible for implementing a seamless transit rider experience across the San Francisco Bay area and requiring those rules and regulations to also promote the coordination of mapping and wayfinding, real-time transit information, and other customer-facing operating policies, as specified. The b

CA SB 1038 - Catherine S. Blakespear
Firearms.
03/11/2024 - From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on PUB S.
SB 1038, as amended, Blakespear. Firearms. (1) Existing law, as enacted by the Safety for All Act of 2016, an initiative statute approved by voters as Proposition 63 at the November 8, 2016, statewide general election, requires a person to report the loss or theft of a firearm that the person owns or possesses to a local law enforcement agency in the jurisdiction in which the theft or loss occurred within 5 days of the time that the owner or possessor knew or should have known that the firearm had been stolen or lost, as specified.Proposition 63 allows its provisions to be amended by a vote of 55% of the Legislature so long as the amendments are consistent with, and further the intent of, the act.This bill would amend Proposition 63 by requiring a person to report the loss or theft within 48 hours of the time that the owner or possessor knew or should have known that the firearm had been stolen or lost.(2) Existing law directs law enforcement agencies to submit the description of a firearm that has been reported stolen, lost, found, recovered, or under observation directly to an automated Department of Justice system. Existing law requires these law enforcement agencies to report to the Department of Justice any information in their possession necessary to identify and trace the history of a recovered firearm that is illegally possessed, has been used in a crime, or is suspected of having been used in a crime. Existing law requires the department to analyze this data and to submit an annual report to the Legislature summarizing this analysis, as specified.This bill would require the department to inspect the 25 firearm dealer locations in the annual report that are the source or origin of the highest gross number of firearms that were illegally possessed, used in a crime, or suspected to have been used in a crime, as specified.(3) Existing law generally regulates the sale and transfer of firearms, including, among other requirements, that every dealer keep a record of electronic or telephonic transfers of firearms.This bill would require a firearm dealer to annually certify their inventory to the Department of Justice, as specified. Upon request by a local law enforcement agency, the bill would require the Department of Justice to send a copy of the annual certifications to the agency. The bill would authorize the Attorney General, a city attorney, or county counsel to impose a civil penalty on a person who violates this provision in the amount of $3,000 per day for the first violation, $5,000 per day for a 2nd violation, and $10,000 per day for a 3rd and subsequent violation, as specified.(4) Existing law requires, with certain exceptions, a firearm dealer to report an acquisition of a firearm to the Department of Justice, as specified.This bill would, commencing January 1, 2027, remove specified exceptions to those provisions.

CA SB 104 - Nancy Skinner
Budget Acts of 2022 and 2023.
09/13/2023 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 189, Statutes of 2023.
SB 104, Skinner. Budget Acts of 2022 and 2023. The Budget Act of 2022 and the Budget Act of 2023 made appropriations for the support of state government for the 2022–23 and 2023–24 fiscal years.This bill would amend the Budget Act of 2022 and the Budget Act of 2023 by amending and adding items of appropriation and making other changes.This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as a Budget Bill.

CA SB 1082 - Susan Talamantes Eggman
Augmented residential care facilities.
03/14/2024 - From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.
SB 1082, as amended, Eggman. Augmented residential care facilities. Existing law, the Bronzan-McCorquodale Act, contains provisions governing the operation and financing of community mental health services in every county through locally administered and locally controlled community mental health programs.Existing law, the California Community Care Facilities Act, provides for the licensing and regulation of various community care facilities, including, but not limited to, adult residential facilities and enhanced behavioral supports homes, as defined, by the State Department of Social Services. Under existing law, the department similarly regulates residential care facilities for the elderly. A violation of provisions relating to these facilities is a misdemeanor.This bill would require the State Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), jointly with the County Behavioral Health Directors Association of California, to implement a certification program to provide augmented services to adults with serious mental illness in homelike community settings, and would require those settings to be licensed by the State Department of Social Services (DSS) as a type of enhanced behavioral supports home known as an augmented residential care facility (ARCF). The bill would require an ACRF to have a maximum capacity of 6 residents, and to conform with the requirements of a specified federal regulation relating to community-based settings and specified provisions of the California Community Care Facilities Act. The bill would require the DHCS to issue a certification of program approval to an ARCF before DSS issues a license. The bill would require the DHCS to establish by regulation a rate methodology for ARCFs that includes a fixed-facility component for residential services and an individualized services and support component based on each consumer’s needs, as specified. The bill would prohibit a local mental or behavioral health agency from paying a rate to an ARCF for a consumer that exceeds the rate in the DHCS-approved ARCF placement plan for the facility unless certain conditions are met. The bill would authorize a local mental or behavioral health agency to recommend an applicant for certification to the DHCS as part of an approved community placement plan if the applicant meets specified requirements. The bill would authorize DHCS to decertify an ARCF that does not comply with program requirements, and to make recommendations to DSS regarding the facility’s license. The bill also would authorize DHCS to initiate proceedings for temporary suspension of the license, as specified. The bill would be implemented only to the extent that funds for its purposes are made available through an appropriation in the annual Budget Act.By creating requirements for augmented residential care facilities, a violation of which would be a crime, and by imposing new duties on local behavioral health agencies, the 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 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.

CA SB 1112 - Caroline Menjivar
Medi-Cal: families with subsidized childcare.
03/01/2024 - Set for hearing March 20.
SB 1112, as introduced, Menjivar. Medi-Cal: families with subsidized childcare. Existing law establishes a system of childcare and development services, administered by the State Department of Social Services, for children from infancy to 13 years of age. Existing law authorizes, upon departmental approval, the use of appropriated funds for alternative payment programs to allow for maximum parental choice. Existing law authorizes those programs to include, among other things, a subsidy that follows the family from one childcare provider to another, or choices among hours of service. Existing law requires the department to contract with local contracting agencies for alternative payment programs so that services are provided throughout the state.Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services, through managed care or fee-for-service delivery systems. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions. Under existing law, early and periodic screening, diagnostic, and treatment (EPSDT) services are covered Medi-Cal benefits for individuals under 21 years of age.This bill, subject to any necessary federal approvals and the availability of federal funding, would require the State Department of Health Care Services and the State Department of Social Services to enter into a memorandum of understanding to facilitate coordination between Medi-Cal managed care plans and alternative payment agencies.For purposes of children of families receiving subsidized childcare services through an alternative payment program, and upon the consent of the parent or guardian, the bill would require the plans and agencies to collaborate on assisting the family with the Medi-Cal enrollment of a child who is eligible but not a beneficiary, and on referring a Medi-Cal beneficiary to developmental screenings that are available under EPSDT services and administered through the plan. The bill would authorize the agency to perform certain related functions.

CA SB 114 - Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee
Education finance: education omnibus budget trailer bill.
06/27/2023 - Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4:45 p.m.
SB 114, as amended, Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review. Education finance: education omnibus budget trailer bill. (1) Existing law establishes a public school financing system that requires state funding for school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools to be calculated pursuant to a local control funding formula, as specified. Existing law requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to annually calculate a county local control funding formula for each county superintendent of schools that includes, among other things, an alternative education grant, as specified. Existing law includes, among other things, a base grant based upon average daily attendance as a component of that alternative education grant.This bill would revise the alternative education grant by, among other things, increasing the base grant component of the alternative education grant, revising the calculation of average daily attendance for purposes of the alternative education grant, as specified, and establishing add-ons of $200,000 for each county office of education that operates a juvenile court school and $200,000 for each county office of education that operates a county community school. The bill would require the Superintendent to allocate $3,000 per unit of average daily attendance for a Student Support and Enrichment Block Grant, as provided. The bill would make these provisions applicable commencing with the 2023–24 fiscal year.(2) Existing law, commencing with the 2018–19 fiscal year, requires the Superintendent to add $200,000 and other specified amounts, that are dependent upon the number and size of school districts under its jurisdiction and that are determined to be in need of differentiated assistance, to a county superintendent of school’s local control funding formula allocation, as specified.This bill, commencing with the 2023–24 fiscal year, would increase the above-described add-on by $100,000.(3) Existing law, commencing with the 2015–16 fiscal year, requires the Superintendent to add $2,000,000 to the Los Angeles County Office of Education’s local control funding formula allocation for the purpose of supporting statewide professional development and leadership training for education professionals related to antibias education and the creation of inclusive and equitable schools.This bill would, commencing with the 2023–24 fiscal year, increase that add-on for the Los Angeles County Office of Education by $1,000,000 to instead be $3,000,000.(4) The Early Education Act requires the Superintendent to administer the California state preschool program. The act also requires the Superintendent, in consultation with the Director of Social Services and the executive director of the State Board of Education, to convene a statewide interest holder workgroup to provide recommendations on best practices for increasing access to high-quality universal preschool programs for 3- and 4-year-old children offered through a mixed-delivery model that provides equitable learning experiences across a variety of settings. The act requires the Superintendent, in consultation with the director, to provide a report to the appropriate fiscal and policy committees of the Legislature and the Department of Finance with the recommendations of the workgroup no later than January 15, 2023.This bill would delay the reporting of those recommendations described above to instead be no later than March 31, 2024.(5) Existing law establishes the California Prekindergarten Planning and Implementation Grant Program as a state early learning initiative with the goal of expanding access to classroom-based prekindergarten programs. Existing law appropriates $300,000,000 from the General Fund to the State Department of Education in both the 2021–22 fiscal year and the 2022–23 fiscal year for allocation to local educational agencies as base grants, enrollment grants, and supplemental grants, as specified.The bill would authorize the department to allo

CA SB 1161 - Josh Becker
Juveniles.
03/05/2024 - Set for hearing March 19.
SB 1161, as introduced, Becker. Juveniles. (1) Existing law subjects a minor between 12 and 17 years of age, inclusive, who violates any federal, state, or local law or ordinance, and a minor under 12 years of age who is alleged to have committed specified serious offenses, to the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, which may adjudge the minor to be a ward of the court. Under existing law, juvenile court proceedings to declare a minor a ward of the court are commenced by the filing of a petition by the probation officer, the district attorney after consultation with the probation officer, or the prosecuting attorney, as specified. Existing law requires the juvenile court to order the petition of a minor who is subject to the jurisdiction of the court dismissed if the minor satisfactorily completes a term of probation or an informal program of supervision, as specified, and requires the court to seal all records pertaining to that dismissed petition in the custody of the juvenile court and in the custody of law enforcement agencies, the probation department, or the Department of Justice in accordance with a specified procedure.Existing law also generally authorizes a person who is the subject of a juvenile court record, or the county probation officer, to petition the court to seal the person’s records, including records of arrest, relating to the person’s case in the custody of the juvenile court and the probation officer and any other agencies, including law enforcement agencies and public officials. Existing law prohibits the sealing of records under this provision if, following termination of the juvenile court’s jurisdiction, the person has been convicted of a felony or of any misdemeanor involving moral turpitude.This bill would prohibit defense counsel for a minor from being ordered to seal their records pursuant to these provisions. The bill would additionally authorize a person to petition for record sealing under these provisions if their felony or misdemeanor involving moral turpitude has been dismissed, vacated, pardoned, or reduced to misdemeanors that do not involve moral turpitude.(2) Existing law requires the probation officer to immediately make any investigation the probation officer deems necessary to determine whether proceedings in the juvenile court shall be commenced. Existing law authorizes the probation officer, if they deem it appropriate, to recommend services to prevent or eliminate the need for removal of the minor from the minor’s home. Existing law authorizes the prosecutory attorney, rather than instituting proceedings, to refer the matter to the probation officer for whatever action the probation officer may deem appropriate.This bill would require, when the probation officer determines proceedings should not be commenced, or the prosecutor refers the matter to the probation officer, the probation officer to promptly release, upon request, copies of the juvenile probation record, as defined, to the minor who is the subject of the juvenile probation record, their parent or guardian, or their counsel. The bill would require the removal of information pertaining to any other juvenile, except as specified.(3) Existing law authorize a probation officer who concludes that a minor is within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court or would come within the jurisdiction of the court if a petition was filed, in lieu of filing a petition to declare a minor a ward of the court or requesting that a petition be filed by the prosecuting attorney to declare a minor a ward of the court, as specified, to refer the minor to services provided by a health agency, community-based organization, local educational agency, an appropriate non-law-enforcement agency, or the probation department.This bill would specify that a minor is eligible for informal probation pursuant to these provisions regardless of whether the minor lives in the county where the offense occurred.(4) Existing law authorizes a person who has been arre

CA SB 118 - Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee
Budget Act of 2023: health.
06/26/2023 - Ordered to third reading.
SB 118, as amended, Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review. Budget Act of 2023: health. (1) Existing law, the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975, provides for the licensure and regulation of health care service plans by the Department of Managed Health Care and makes a willful violation of the act a crime. Existing law requires a health care service plan to provide disclosures regarding the benefits, services, and terms of the plan contract, as specified, to provide the public, subscribers, and enrollees with a full and fair disclosure of the provisions of the plan.This bill would require the department to develop standard templates for the disclosure form and evidence of coverage, to include, among other things, standard definitions, benefit descriptions, and any other information that the director determines, consistent with the goals of providing fair disclosures of the provisions of a health care service plan. The bill would require the department to consult with the Department of Insurance and interested stakeholders in developing the standard templates. The bill would require health care service plans, beginning January 1, 2025, to use the standard templates for any disclosure form or evidence of coverage published or distributed, except as specified. Because a willful violation of these requirements is a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.This bill would authorize the department to develop standard templates for a schedule of benefits, an explanation of benefits, a cost-sharing summary, or any similar document. The bill would authorize the department to require health care service plans to use the standard templates, except as specified, and would authorize the director to require health care service plans to submit forms the health care service plan created based on the department’s templates for the purpose of compliance review. The bill would additionally specify that the department may implement these provisions by issuing and modifying templates and all-plan letters or similar instructions, without taking regulatory action. The bill would also update cross-references in various provisions.(2) Existing law requires a health care service plan contract or disability insurance policy to cover mental health and substance use disorder treatment, including medically necessary treatment of a mental health or substance use disorder provided by an in-network or out-of-network 988 center or mobile crisis team. Existing law prohibits a health care service plan or insurer from requiring prior authorization for medically necessary treatment of a mental health or substance use disorder provided by a 988 center or mobile crisis team.This bill would instead specify that mental health and substance use disorder treatment includes behavioral health crisis services that are provided by a 988 center, mobile crisis team or other provider of behavioral health crisis services. The bill would prohibit a health care service plan or health insurer from requiring prior authorization for behavioral health crisis stabilization services and care, but would authorize prior authorization for medically necessary mental health or substance use disorder services following stabilization from a behavioral health crisis addressed by services provided through the 988 system.This bill would require a health care service plan or health insurer that is contacted by a 988 center, mobile crisis team, or other provider of behavioral health crisis services to, within 30 minutes of initial contact, either authorize poststabilization care or inform the provider that it will arrange for the prompt transfer of the enrollee’s care to another provider. The bill would require the plan or insurer to reimburse a provider for poststabilization care in specified circumstances, including if the plan or insurer did not respond within 30 minutes to authorize care or arrange for transfer. The bill would require a plan or insurer to promine

CA SB 120 - Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee
Human services.
06/26/2023 - Ordered to third reading.
SB 120, as amended, Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review. Human services. (1) Existing law, the California Community Care Facilities Act, provides for the licensing and regulation of community care facilities, including group home facilities, short-term residential therapeutic programs (STRTPs), and adult residential facilities (ARFs), by the State Department of Social Services. Under existing law, the department similarly regulates residential care facilities for the elderly. A violation of provisions relating to these facilities is a misdemeanor. Existing law requires administrators of these facilities, with specified exemptions, to complete a department-approved certification program, uniformly referred to as administrator certification training programs. Under existing law, these programs require a specified minimum number of hours, depending on the facility type, of classroom instruction that provides training on a uniform core of knowledge in specified areas. Existing law also requires administrator certificates to be renewed every 2 years, conditional upon the certificate holder submitting documentation of a specified number of hours of continuing education, based on the facility type. Existing law permits up to one-half of the required continuing education hours to be satisfied through online courses, and the remainder to be completed in a classroom instructional setting, as prescribed.This bill would revise those provisions by deleting the classroom instruction requirement for initial certification and continuing education purposes, and instead would require instruction that is conducive to learning and allows participants to simultaneously interact with each other as well as with the instructor. The bill would authorize up to one-half of continuing education hours to be satisfied through self-paced courses, rather than online courses. The bill would make various conforming changes.Existing law authorizes the department to license as ARFs, subject to specified conditions, adult residential facilities for persons with special health care needs (ARFPSHNs), which provide 24-hour services to up to 5 adults with developmental disabilities who have special health care and intensive support needs, as defined. Existing law requires the department to ensure that an ARFPSHN meets specified administrative requirements, including requirements related to fingerprinting and criminal records.This bill additionally would require an ARFPSHN to meet the administrator certification requirements of an ARF, including, but not limited to, completing a department-approved administrator certification training program requiring a designated minimum number of hours of instruction conducive to learning, in which participants are able to simultaneously interact with each other as well as with the instructor, that provides training on the uniform core of knowledge applicable to ARFs, as specified. The bill would require an applicant for an administrator’s certificate to submit an application for certification to the department and pass an examination, as prescribed.Because a violation of the above-described requirements would be a crime, this bill would create a state-mandated local program.Existing law includes within the definition of a community care facility, full-service adoption agencies and noncustodial adoption agencies, both of which are licensed entities authorized to provide specified adoption services. Under existing law, a facility is deemed to be an unlicensed community care facility and maintained and operated to provide nonmedical care if it is unlicensed, not exempt from licensure, and if it satisfies one of several specified conditions, including, among others, performing any of the functions of an adoption agency or holding itself out as performing any of the functions of an adoption agency, as specified. Existing law prohibits the operation of an unlicensed community care facility in the state and makes a violation of these p

CA SB 1249 - Richard Dale Roth
Mello-Granlund Older Californians Act.
02/29/2024 - Referred to Coms. on HUMAN S. and G.O.
SB 1249, as introduced, Roth. Mello-Granlund Older Californians Act. Existing law, the Mello-Granlund Older Californians Act, establishes the California Department of Aging in the California Health and Human Services Agency, and sets forth its mission to provide leadership to the area agencies on aging in developing systems of home- and community-based services that maintain individuals in their own homes or the least restrictive homelike environments. Existing law requires the department to designate various private nonprofit or public agencies as area agencies on aging to work within a planning and service area and provide a broad array of social and nutritional services. Existing law includes various findings and declarations relating to the purposes of the act This bill would update and revise those legislative findings and declarations, including recognizing the state’s major demographic shift towards an older, more diverse population and declaring the intent to reform provisions of the act related to various functions of the area agencies on aging. The bill, within specified time periods, would require the department to take various actions to reform the act, including giving counties the option to petition the department to assume control of the area agency on aging that serves the local jurisdiction, developing core programs and services, and developing a statewide public awareness engagement strategy. The bill would authorize the department to enter into exclusive or nonexclusive contracts, as specified, for purposes of administering and implementing the act, and to implement, interpret, or make specific that authority by means of information notices, provider bulletins, or other similar instructions.

CA SB 127 - Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee
State government.
06/26/2023 - Ordered to third reading.
SB 127, as amended, Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review. State government. (1) Existing law, the California Age-Appropriate Design Code Act, among other things, requires a business that provides an online service, product, or feature likely to be accessed by children to comply with specified requirements, including a requirement to configure all default privacy settings offered by the online service, product, or feature to the settings that offer a high level of privacy, unless the business can demonstrate a compelling reason that a different setting is in the best interests of children, and to provide privacy information, terms of service, policies, and community standards concisely, prominently, and using clear language suited to the age of children likely to access that online service, product, or feature.Existing law establishes the California Children’s Data Protection Working Group to deliver a report to the Legislature on or before January 1, 2024, and every 2 years thereafter, regarding best practices for the implementation of these provisions, as specified. Existing law requires the working group to select a chair and a vice chair from among its members and requires the working group to consist of 10 members, as specified.This bill would specify that the working group is within the Office of the Attorney General, and would require the report to, instead, be delivered on or before July 1, 2024, and every 2 years thereafter. The bill would instead require the working group to consist of 9 members, as specified. The bill would permit meetings of the working group to be conducted by means of remote communication, as specified.(2) The California Constitution generally prohibits the total annual appropriations subject to limitation of the state and each local government from exceeding the appropriations limit of the entity of government for the prior fiscal year, adjusted for the change in the cost of living and the change in population, and prescribes procedures for making adjustments to the appropriations limit. The California Constitution defines “appropriations subject to limitation” of the state to mean any authorization to expend during a fiscal year the proceeds of taxes levied by or for the state, exclusive of, among other things, state subventions for the use and operation of local government, except as specified. The California Constitution defines “appropriations subject to limitation” of an entity of local government to mean any authorization to expend during a fiscal year the proceeds of taxes levied by or for that entity and the proceeds of state subventions to that entity, except as specified, exclusive of refunds of taxes.Existing statutory provisions implementing these constitutional provisions establish the procedure for establishing the appropriations limit of the state and of each local jurisdiction for each fiscal year. Under existing law, revenues and appropriations for a local jurisdiction include subventions and with respect to the state, revenues and appropriations exclude those subventions. Existing law defines, for those purposes, “state subventions” as only including money received by a local agency from the state, the use of which is unrestricted by the statute providing the subvention.For fiscal years commencing with the 2020–21 fiscal year, existing law defines “state subventions” to additionally include money provided to a local agency pursuant to certain state programs and requires any money received by a local agency pursuant to that provision to be included within the appropriations limit of the local agency, up to the full appropriations limit of the local agency, as prescribed.This bill would require the Department of Finance to, no later than February 1 of each year, calculate the individual subvention amounts for each of those state programs and provide this information on an annual basis to the California State Association of Counties and the League of California Cities for distribu

CA SB 1278 - John Laird
World AIDS Day.
03/18/2024 - From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.
SB 1278, as amended, Laird. World AIDS Day. Existing law requires the Governor to proclaim various days as holidays and days of remembrance.This bill would require the Governor to annually proclaim December 1 as World AIDS Day.

CA SB 1289 - Richard Dale Roth
Medi-Cal: county call centers: data.
03/18/2024 - From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.
SB 1289, as amended, Roth. Medi-Cal: county call centers: data. Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions. Existing law sets forth various responsibilities for counties relating to eligibility determinations and enrollment functions under the Medi-Cal program.Existing federal law sets forth Medicaid reporting requirements for each state during the period between April 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024, inclusive, relating to eligibility redeterminations, including, among other information, the total call-center volume, average wait times, and average abandonment rate for each call center of the state agency responsible for administering the state plan, as specified.This bill would require the department to establish statewide minimum standards for assistance provided by county call centers to applicants or beneficiaries applying for, renewing, or requesting help in obtaining or maintaining Medi-Cal coverage. The bill would require promulgation of the standards in regulation by July 1, 2026, as specified.The bill would require a county to collect and submit to the department call-center data metrics, including, among other information, call volume, average call wait times by language, and callbacks. By creating new duties for counties relating to call-center data, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.The bill would require the department to prepare a report, excluding any personally identifiable information, on county call-center data, identifying challenges and targets or standards for improvement. The bill would require the department to post the report on its internet website on a quarterly basis no later than 45 calendar days after the conclusion of each quarter, with the initial report due on May 15, 2025.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.

CA SB 1322 - Aisha Wahab
Foster youth: Chafee Educational and Training Vouchers Program.
03/01/2024 - Set for hearing March 20.
SB 1322, as introduced, Wahab. Foster youth: Chafee Educational and Training Vouchers Program. Existing law establishes the Student Aid Commission as the state agency primarily responsible for the administration and coordination of student financial aid programs at California postsecondary educational institutions. Existing federal law establishes the Chafee Educational and Training Vouchers Program for the purposes of providing financial aid to current and former foster youth who are attending qualifying postsecondary educational institutions. Existing law provides that the Student Aid Commission, through an interagency agreement with the State Department of Social Services, currently operates the program in California, and, commencing with the 2018–19 award year, and contingent upon an appropriation of sufficient funds in the annual Budget Act for this purpose, requires the commission to make a new Chafee grant award to a student only if the student will not be 26 years of age or older by July 1 of the award year and the student attends specified qualifying institutions.This bill would, commencing with the 2025–26 award year and contingent upon an appropriation of sufficient funds in the annual Budget Act for this purpose, require the commission to make a new Chafee grant award to a student if, in addition to the above-referenced conditions, the youth, between 14 and 18 years of age, (1) is or was a dependent or ward of the court, living in foster care, (2) exited foster care to Kin-GAP, a nonrelated legal guardianship, or adoption, or (3) was placed in out-of-home care by a tribe or tribal organization.

CA SB 1353 - Aisha Wahab
Youth Bill of Rights.
03/08/2024 - Set for hearing March 19.
SB 1353, as introduced, Wahab. Youth Bill of Rights. Existing law establishes the Youth Bill of Rights for all youth confined in a juvenile facility, which includes the right to live in a safe, healthy, and clean environment conducive to treatment and rehabilitation, to contact attorneys, ombudspersons, and other advocates regarding conditions of confinement or violations of rights, and to receive a quality education.This bill would add to the Youth Bill of Rights the right to not be deprived of mental health resources, including daily access to counselors, therapists, mentors, or any related services necessary for mental well-being, rehabilitation, and the promotion of positive youth development while detained in a juvenile facility.

CA SB 1355 - Aisha Wahab
Medi-Cal: in-home supportive services: redetermination.
03/13/2024 - Referred to Coms. on HEALTH and G.O.
SB 1355, as introduced, Wahab. Medi-Cal: in-home supportive services: redetermination. Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services, under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services, including in-home supportive services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions. Existing law generally requires a county to redetermine a Medi-Cal beneficiary’s eligibility to receive Medi-Cal benefits every 12 months and whenever the county receives information about changes in a beneficiary’s circumstances that may affect their eligibility for Medi-Cal benefits.Existing law provides for the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program, administered by the State Department of Social Services and counties, under which qualified aged, blind, and disabled persons are provided with supportive services in order to permit them to remain in their own homes. Existing law authorizes certain Medi-Cal beneficiaries to receive IHSS as a covered Medi-Cal benefit.This bill would, to the extent that any necessary federal approvals are obtained, and federal financial participation is available and not otherwise jeopardized, require an IHSS recipient to be continuously eligible for Medi-Cal for 3 years, and would prohibit a redetermination of Medi-Cal eligibility before 3 years, except as specified. The bill would make the implementation of its provisions contingent upon the department obtaining all necessary federal approvals, the department determining that systems have been programmed to implement these provisions, and the Legislature has appropriated funding to implement these provisions after a determination that ongoing General Fund resources are available to support the ongoing implementation of these provisions. To the extent the bill would increase county duties in administrating the IHSS program, the 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.

CA SB 1401 - Catherine S. Blakespear
Family childcare home: United States Armed Forces.
02/29/2024 - Referred to Com. on HUMAN S.
SB 1401, as introduced, Blakespear. Family childcare home: United States Armed Forces. Existing law generally requires the State Department of Social Services to license and regulate various types of child daycare facilities, including, among others, daycare centers and family daycare homes. Under existing law, a willful or repeated violation of those provisions is a crime. Existing law exempts from those provisions various entities, including, among others, community care facilities, certain program facilities administered by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and extended daycare programs operated by public or private schools.This bill would also exempt, from the above-described licensing and regulation provisions, a family childcare home administered by a person certified as a family childcare provider by a branch of the United States Armed Forces and that exclusively provides care for children of eligible federal personnel, as defined, and surviving spouses.

CA SB 1423 - Brian Dwain Dahle
Medi-Cal: critical access hospitals.
02/29/2024 - Referred to Com. on HEALTH.
SB 1423, as introduced, Dahle. Medi-Cal: critical access hospitals. Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions. Under existing law, each hospital designated by the department as a critical access hospital, and certified as such by the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services under the federal Medicare rural hospital flexibility program, is eligible for supplemental payments for Medi-Cal covered outpatient services rendered to Medi-Cal eligible persons. Existing law conditions those payments on receipt of federal financial participation and an appropriation in the annual Budget Act for the nonfederal share of those payments, with supplemental payments being apportioned among critical access hospitals based on their number of Medi-Cal outpatient visits.This bill would remove the provisions relating to supplemental payments and would instead require the reimbursement to a critical access hospital for Medi-Cal covered outpatient services at a rate equal to the actual cost to the hospital of providing the services or the amount charged by the hospital for the services, whichever is less. The bill would also require reimbursement to those hospitals, under the same terms, for swing-bed services, relating to beds licensed for general acute care that may be used as skilled nursing beds.Existing law sets forth various Medi-Cal payment reductions by specified percentages for certain providers, including rural swing-bed facilities.This bill would make an exception to those payment reductions for rural-swing bed facilities in the case of critical access hospitals under the above-described reimbursement provisions.

CA SB 1451 - Angelique V. Ashby
Professions and vocations.
02/29/2024 - Referred to Com. on B., P. & E. D.
SB 1451, as introduced, Ashby. Professions and vocations. (1) Existing law, the Dental Practice Act, establishes the Dental Hygiene Board of California to license and regulate dental hygienists. Existing law authorizes a registered dental hygienist in alternative practice to perform specified duties in dental health professional shortage areas, as certified by the Department of Health Care Access and Information, in accordance with specified guidelines. This bill would authorize a registered dental hygienist in alternative practice with an existing practice in a dental health professional shortage area to continue to provide dental hygiene services if certification by the department is removed.(2) Existing law, the Nursing Practice Act, provides for the licensure and certification of nurse practitioners by the Board of Registered Nursing. Existing law requires the Office of Professional Examination Services in the Department of Consumer Affairs, or an equivalent organization, to perform an occupational analysis of nurse practitioners performing specified functions, and requires the board and the office to assess the alignment of competencies tested in the national nurse practitioner certification examination with the occupational analysis.This bill would make the provision requiring the assessment of the alignment of competencies inapplicable to a national nurse practitioner certification examination discontinued before January 1, 2017.(3) Existing law, the Respiratory Care Practice Act, establishes the Respiratory Care Board of California to license and regulate the practice of respiratory care. Existing law authorizes a licensed vocational nurse who is employed by a home health agency to perform respiratory tasks and services identified by the board if, on or before January 1, 2025, the licensed vocational nurse has completed patient-specific training satisfactory to their employer, and, on and after January 1, 2025, the licensed vocational nurse has completed that training in accordance with guidelines promulgated by the Respiratory Care Board of California, in collaboration with the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians of the State of California.This bill would extend those dates to January 1, 2028. The bill, on and after January 1, 2028, would also authorize a licensed vocational nurse to perform respiratory care services identified by the board while practicing in certain settings identified in the bill if the license vocational nurse has completed patient-specific training satisfactory to their employer and holds a current and valid certification of competency for each respiratory task to be performed, as specified. (4) Existing law, the Barbering and Cosmetology Act, establishes the State Board of Barbering and Cosmetology to license and regulate barbering and cosmetology, and establishes a hairstylist application and examination fee of $50 or a fee determined by the board, not to exceed the reasonable cost of developing, purchasing, grading, and administering the examination.This bill would instead require the hairstylist application and examination fee to be the actual cost to the board for developing, purchasing, grading, and administering the examination, and would establish that an initial licensee fee for a hairstylist shall be not more than $50.(5) Existing law establishes the Structural Pest Control Board in the Department of Consumer Affairs to license and regulate structural pest control operators, structural pest control field representatives, and structural pest control applicators. Existing law requires those licensees, as a condition of license renewal, to submit proof to the board that they have informed themselves of the developments in the field of pest control by completing continuing education courses or equivalent activity approved by the board, or taking and completing an examination given by the board, as specified.This bill would delete the authorization for a licenseholder to

CA SB 152 - Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee
Background checks and fingerprinting: state employment, licensing, and contracting.
09/13/2023 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 198, Statutes of 2023.
SB 152, Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review. Background checks and fingerprinting: state employment, licensing, and contracting. (1) Existing law requires the Department of Justice to maintain state summary criminal history information, as defined, and to furnish this information to various state and local government officers, officials, and other prescribed entities, as specified. Existing law authorizes the Department of Justice to transmit fingerprint images and related information to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the purpose of obtaining a federal criminal history information check pursuant to a referencing statute. Existing law requires the department to review the information returned from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and to compile and disseminate a response or a fitness determination to the agency or entity identified in the referencing statute.This bill would require the Office of Youth and Community Restoration, the State Department of State Hospitals, the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, the California Horse Racing Board, the Department of Toxic Substances Control, the Department of Real Estate, the Department of Housing and Community Development, the Department of General Services, the California Conservation Corps, the Treasurer’s office, and the Controller’s office to submit to the Department of Justice fingerprint images and related information required by the Department of Justice for specified individuals, including employees, prospective employees, and contractors, as applicable.This bill would also require the State Department of Public Health to require an applicant for a human prescription drug manufacturing license to submit fingerprint images, and related information as required, to the Department of Justice.The bill would require the Department of Justice to provide a state- or federal-level response, as specified.This bill would require the Department of Real Estate and the Department of Housing and Community Development to require certain services contracts, interagency agreements, or public entity agreements to include a provision requiring the contractor to agree to perform criminal background checks on its employees and subcontractors who will have access to specified information.(2) Existing law establishes the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation in the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency, headed by the Commissioner of Financial Protection and Innovation. Under existing law, the department has charge of the execution of specified laws relating to various financial institutions and financial services, including banks, trust companies, credit unions, finance lenders, and residential mortgage lenders. Existing law authorizes the commissioner to deliver, or cause to be delivered, to local, state, or federal law enforcement agencies fingerprints taken of specified individuals, including, among others, an applicant for employment with the department.This bill would require the department to require fingerprint images from any department employee, prospective employee or applicant seeking employment within the department, contractor, subcontractor, volunteer, or vendor who may have access to criminal offender record information. The bill would require the Department of Justice to forward a request for national-level criminal offender record information to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and compile and disseminate the information returned, as specified.(3) Existing law requires the Department of FISCal to require fingerprint images and associated information from any employee, prospective employee, contractor, subcontractor, volunteer, vendor, or partner agency employee whose duties include, or would include, having access to confidential or sensitive information or data on the network or computing infrastructure, as provided.This bill would instead require the Department of FISCal to require fingerprint images and associated related inf

CA SB 1525 - Senate Judiciary Committee
Maintenance of the codes.
03/18/2024 - Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
SB 1525, as introduced, Committee on Judiciary. Maintenance of the codes. Existing law directs the Legislative Counsel to advise the Legislature from time to time as to legislation necessary to maintain the codes.This bill would make nonsubstantive changes in various provisions of the law to effectuate the recommendations made by the Legislative Counsel to the Legislature.

CA SB 17 - Anna Marie Caballero
Senior housing: tax credits.
01/25/2024 - Veto sustained.
SB 17, Caballero. Senior housing: tax credits. Existing law, enacted to implement a specified low-income housing tax credit established by federal law, requires the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee to annually determine and allocate the state ceiling in accordance with those provisions and in conformity with federal law. Existing law authorizes the committee to adopt, amend, or repeal rules and regulations for the allocation of housing credits. Existing law requires that specified amounts of the low-income housing tax credits be set aside for allocation to rural areas, small developments, and farmworker housing, as specified.This bill would require the committee to revise its regulations to increase the housing type goal for senior developments to 20 percent.This bill would include a change in state statute that would result in a taxpayer paying a higher tax within the meaning of Section 3 of Article XIII?A of the California Constitution, and thus would require for passage the approval of 2/3 of the membership of each house of the Legislature.

CA SB 245 - Miguel Santiago
California Food Assistance Program: eligibility and benefits.
06/20/2023 - June 20 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author.
SB 245, as amended, Hurtado. California Food Assistance Program: eligibility and benefits. Existing federal law provides for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known in California as CalFresh, under which supplemental nutrition assistance benefits allocated to the state by the federal government are distributed to eligible individuals by each county.Existing law requires the State Department of Social Services to establish a food assistance program, known as the California Food Assistance Program (CFAP), to provide assistance to a noncitizen of the United States if the person’s immigration status meets the eligibility criteria of SNAP in effect on August 21, 1996, but the person is not eligible for SNAP benefits solely due to their immigration status, as specified. Existing law also makes eligible for the program an applicant who is otherwise eligible for the program, but who entered the United States on or after August 22, 1996, if the applicant is sponsored and the applicant meets one of a list of criteria, including that the applicant, after entry into the United States, is a victim of the sponsor or the spouse of the sponsor if the spouse is living with the sponsor.Existing law, to become operative on the date that the department notifies the Legislature that the Statewide Automated Welfare System (SAWS) has been updated to perform the necessary automation, and subject to an appropriation in the annual Budget Act, makes an individual 55 years of age or older eligible for the program if the individual’s immigration status is the sole basis for their ineligibility for CalFresh benefits.This bill would remove that age limitation and make any individual eligible for the program if the individual’s immigration status is the sole basis for their ineligibility for CalFresh benefits. By extending eligibility for CFAP, which is administered by the counties, 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.

CA SB 28 - Steven M. Glazer
Education finance: school facilities: Public Preschool, K–12, and College Health and Safety Bond Act of 2024.
09/01/2023 - September 1 hearing postponed by committee.
SB 28, as introduced, Glazer. Education finance: school facilities: Public Preschool, K–12, and College Health and Safety Bond Act of 2024. (1) Existing law authorizes the governing board of any school district or community college district to order an election and submit to the electors of the district the question of whether the bonds of the district shall be issued and sold to raise money for specified purposes. Existing law generally requires, to pass a school bond measure, that either at least 2/3 of the votes cast on the proposition of issuing bonds be in favor of issuing the bonds to pass the measure, or, if certain conditions are met, at least 55% of the votes cast on the proposition of issuing bonds be in favor of issuing the bonds. Existing law prohibits the total amount of bonds issued by a school district or community college district from exceeding 1.25% of the taxable property of the district, as provided.This bill would raise that limit to 2%.(2) Existing law also authorizes a unified school district to issue bonds receiving at least 55% of the votes cast on the proposition of issuing the bonds that, in aggregation with bonds issued with a 2/3 favorable vote, do not exceed 2.5% of the taxable property of the district, as provided.This bill would raise that limit to 4%. The bill would make a similar percentage increase for community college districts.(3) The Leroy F. Greene School Facilities Act of 1998 provides for the adoption of rules, regulations, and procedures, under the administration of the Director of General Services, for the allocation of state funds by the State Allocation Board for the construction and modernization of public school facilities.This bill would, among other things, require a school district to submit to the Department of General Services a 5-year school facilities master plan or updated 5-year school facilities master plan, as provided, as a condition of participating in the school facilities program under the act, would require the school district to submit specified information in the school district’s application for an apportionment of state funds, and would make other changes to requirements a school district is required to comply with before participating in programs under the act. The bill would require the department to process applications to participate in the program, as specified, and would make other changes to the method by which the board makes apportionments of moneys under the act.This bill would establish the 2024 State School Facilities Fund, and authorize the board to apportion, and make disbursements of, moneys in the fund, as provided. The bill would require, for bonds approved by voters in 2024 or thereafter, the board to adjust a school district’s required local and state contribution, as specified. The bill would authorize new construction and modernization grants to be used for seismic mitigation purposes and, among other things, to establish schoolsite-based infrastructure to provide broadband internet access. The bill would also authorize modernization grants to be used, among other things, for the control, management, or abatement of lead and for the demolition and construction of a building on an existing schoolsite that meets specified conditions. The bill would prohibit the use of new construction and modernization grants for the purchase of portable electronic devices with a useful life of less than 3 years.This bill would authorize funding for health and safety projects by a school district, as provided.This bill would authorize the board to provide a grant to test for lead in water outlets used for drinking or preparing food on schoolsites serving kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, as provided. The bill would specify procedures that small school districts, as defined, may use to obtain project and construction management, new construction grants, and modernization grants.The bill would also make conforming changes in, and remove inopera

CA SB 282 - James D. Wood
Medi-Cal: federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics.
09/01/2023 - September 1 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.
SB 282, as amended, Eggman. Medi-Cal: federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics. Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services, including federally qualified health center (FQHC) services and rural health clinic (RHC) services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions. Under existing law, to the extent that federal financial participation is available, FQHC and RHC services are reimbursed on a per-visit basis, as specified. “Visit” is defined as a face-to-face encounter between a patient of an FQHC or RHC and a physician or other specified health care professionals. Under existing law, “visit” also includes an encounter using video or audio-only synchronous interaction or an asynchronous store and forward modality, as specified.This bill would authorize reimbursement for a maximum of 2 visits that take place on the same day at a single site, whether through a face-to-face or telehealth-based encounter, if after the first visit the patient suffers illness or injury that requires additional diagnosis or treatment, or if the patient has a medical visit and either a mental health visit or a dental visit, as defined. The bill would require the department, by July 1, 2024, to submit a state plan amendment to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services reflecting those provisions.The bill would include a licensed acupuncturist within those health care professionals covered under the definition of a “visit.” The bill would also make a change to the provision relating to physicians and would make other technical changes.

CA SB 302 - Henry I. Stern
Compassionate Access to Medical Cannabis Act.
09/21/2023 - Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.
SB 302, Stern. Compassionate Access to Medical Cannabis Act. Existing law, the Compassionate Access to Medical Cannabis Act or Ryan’s Law, requires specified types of health care facilities to allow a terminally ill patient’s use of medicinal cannabis within the health care facility, as defined, subject to certain restrictions. Existing law requires that health care facilities permitting patient use of medicinal cannabis comply with other drug and medication requirements, as specified, and makes those facilities subject to enforcement actions by the State Department of Public Health. Existing law authorizes a health care facility to suspend compliance with these provisions if a regulatory agency, the United States Department of Justice, or the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services takes specified actions, including initiating an enforcement action against a health care facility related to the facility’s compliance with a state-regulated medical marijuana program.This bill would expand those provisions to a patient who is over 65 years of age with a chronic disease. The bill would expand the definition of health care facility to also include a home health agency, as defined. The bill would additionally require a health care facility permitting patient use of medicinal cannabis, as specified, to ensure a denial of admission to the health care facility is not because of the patient’s use of medicinal cannabis. The bill would also authorize a health care facility to suspend compliance with these provisions if a regulatory agency, the United States Department of Justice, or the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services makes an inquiry about the health care facility’s activities.

CA SB 321 - Angelique Ashby
Literacy: libraries: Local Public Library Partnership Program.
09/13/2023 - Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.
SB 321, Ashby. Literacy: libraries: Local Public Library Partnership Program. Existing law declares that it is in the interest of the people and of the state that there be a general diffusion of knowledge and intelligence through the establishment and operation of public libraries. Existing law authorizes the State Librarian to give advisory, consultive, and technical assistance with respect to public libraries to librarians and library authorities, and assist all other authorities, state and local, in assuming their full responsibility for library services.This bill would establish the Local Public Library Partnership Program, under the administration of the State Librarian, for purposes of ensuring that all pupils have access to a local public library by 3rd grade.The bill would require the State Librarian to offer resources to assist each local public library, as defined, to find student success card dispensing strategies that work best for their communities, coordinate with each local public library to determine the most effective means to ensure each pupil in each local educational agency, as defined, is issued a student success card by 3rd grade, and, ensure, on or before January 1, 2026, that partnerships between local public libraries and local educational agencies have been established to enable each pupil enrolled at a schoolsite of each local educational agency to be issued a student success card by 3rd grade, as provided. To the extent these provisions impose additional duties on public libraries and local educational agencies, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.The bill would require, on or before January 1, 2029, and each year thereafter, the State Librarian to report to the Legislature on the Local Public Library Partnership Program, as provided.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.

CA SB 323 - Anthony J. Portantino Jr.
Comprehensive school safety plans: individualized safety plans.
09/21/2023 - Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.
SB 323, Portantino. Comprehensive school safety plans: individualized safety plans. Existing law requires local educational agencies to identify, locate, and assess individuals with exceptional needs and to provide those pupils with a free appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment, with special education and related services as reflected in an individualized education program.Existing law provides that school districts and county offices of education are responsible for the overall development of a comprehensive school safety plan for each of its schools operating a kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive. Existing law requires the schoolsite council or school safety planning committee, before adopting the plan, to hold a public meeting at the schoolsite in order to allow members of the public the opportunity to express an opinion about the plan. Existing law requires the plan to include specified components, including, among other components, disaster procedures, routine and emergency, including adaptations for pupils with disabilities in accordance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.Existing law requires a petition to establish a charter school to include, among other things, a reasonably comprehensive description of the procedures that the charter school will follow to ensure the health and safety of pupils and staff, including requiring the development and annual update of a school safety plan that includes specified comprehensive school safety plan topics and procedures, including the disaster procedures.This bill would require those disaster procedures to also include adaptations for pupils with disabilities in accordance with the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and would require the annual evaluation of the comprehensive school safety plan and the annual review of a charter school’s school safety plan to also include ensuring that the plan includes appropriate adaptations for pupils with disabilities, as specified. The bill would expressly authorize a school employee, a pupil’s parent, guardian, or educational rights holder, or a pupil, after the first evaluation or review for those purposes is conducted, to bring concerns about an individual pupil’s ability to access disaster safety procedures described in the comprehensive school safety plan or the school safety plan to the school principal, and would require the school principal, if they determine there is merit to a concern, to direct the schoolsite council, school safety planning committee, or charter school, as applicable, to appropriately modify the comprehensive school safety plan or school safety plan, as applicable, as specified. The bill would also expressly provide that its provisions do not prohibit a school employee, a pupil’s parent, guardian, or educational rights holder, or a pupil themselves from bringing their concerns to the school principal before an evaluation or review for those purposes.By imposing additional requirements on local educational agencies, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 32282 of the Education Code proposed by SB 10 and SB 671 to be operative only if this bill and either or both of those bills are enacted and this bill is enacted last.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.

CA SB 326 - Susan Talamantes Eggman
The Behavioral Health Services Act.
09/21/2023 - Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.
SB 326, Eggman. The Behavioral Health Services Act. (1) Existing law, the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), an initiative measure enacted by the voters as Proposition 63 at the November 2, 2004, statewide general election, funds a system of county mental health plans for the provision of mental health services. Existing law authorizes the MHSA to be amended by a 2/3 vote of the Legislature if the amendments are consistent with and further the intent of the MHSA. Existing law authorizes the Legislature to add provisions to clarify procedures and terms of the MHSA by majority vote.If approved by the voters at the March 5, 2024, statewide primary election, this bill would recast the MHSA by, among other things, renaming it the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA), expanding it to include treatment of substance use disorders, changing the county planning process, and expanding services for which counties and the state can use funds. The bill would revise the distribution of MHSA moneys, including allocating up to $36,000,000 to the department for behavioral health workforce funding. The bill would authorize the department to require a county to implement specific evidence-based practices.This bill would require a county, for behavioral health services eligible for reimbursement pursuant to the federal Social Security Act, to submit the claims for reimbursement to the State Department of Health Care Services (the department) under specific circumstances. The bill would require counties to pursue reimbursement through various channels and would authorize the counties to report issues with managed care plans and insurers to the Department of Managed Health Care or the Department of Insurance.The MHSA establishes the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission and requires it to adopt regulations for programs and expenditures for innovative programs and prevention and early intervention programs established by the act. Existing law requires counties to develop plans for innovative programs funded under the MHSA.This bill would rename the commission the Behavioral Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission and would change the composition and duties of the commission, as specified. The bill would delete the provisions relating to innovative programs and instead would require the counties to establish and administer a program to provide housing interventions. The bill would provide that “low rent housing project,” as defined, does not apply to a project that meets specified criteria.This bill would make extensive technical and conforming changes.(2) Existing law, the Bronzan-McCorquodale Act, contains provisions governing the operation and financing of community mental health services for persons with mental disorders in every county through locally administered and locally controlled community mental health programs. Existing law further provides that, to the extent resources are available, community mental health services should be organized to provide an array of treatment options in specified areas, including, among others, case management and individual service plans. Under existing law, mental health services are provided through contracts with county mental health programs.The bill would authorize the State Department of Health Care Services to develop and revise documentation standards for individual service plans, as specified. The bill would revise the contracting process, including authorizing the department to temporarily withhold funds or impose monetary sanctions on a county behavioral health department that is not in compliance with the contract. (3) The bill would provide that its provisions are severable.(4) The bill would provide for the submission of specified sections of this bill and AB 531 to the voters at the March 5, 2024, statewide primary election, as specified.(5) This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

CA SB 37 - Anna Marie Caballero
Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities Housing Stability Act.
01/29/2024 - In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
SB 37, as amended, Caballero. Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities Housing Stability Act. Existing law establishes various programs to address homelessness, including requiring the Governor to create an Interagency Council on Homelessness and establishing the Homeless Emergency Aid program for the purpose of providing localities with one-time grant funds to address their immediate homelessness challenges, as specified. Existing law commits to the Department of Housing and Community Development the administration of various housing assistance programs, including provisions relating to residential hotel rehabilitation and tasks the department, in consultation with each council of governments, with the determination of each region’s existing and projected housing need.This bill would, upon an appropriation by the Legislature for this express purpose, require the Department of Housing and Community Development, commencing January 1, 2025, to begin developing the Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities Housing Stability Pilot Program. The bill would require the department, in administering the program, to offer competitive grants to nonprofit community-based organizations, continuums of care, public housing authorities, and area agencies on aging, as specified, to administer a housing subsidy program for older adults and adults with disabilities who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness, as defined, in up to 5 geographic regions or counties.This bill would require the department, in establishing the program guidelines, to prioritize communities in which a higher proportion of older adult renters face severe rental cost burden than the state average. The bill would create the Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities Housing Stability Fund from which funds would be allocated by the department to selected recipients for a 3-year period for these purposes.This bill would require an award recipient to use grant funds for specified activities, including housing subsidies up to the rent cap, as defined, until the participant is able to access a longer-term subsidy, no longer requires the housing subsidy, or the specified expenditure period expires and relocation costs if a landlord decides not to continue participating in the program or evicts a tenant, as specified. The bill would authorize a grantee to utilize up to 15% of its allocation for landlord recruitment and tenancy acquisition services, landlord incentives, and housing navigation and tenancy transition services, as defined.This bill would require the department to conduct specified oversight activities, including imposing reporting requirements on award recipients and contracting with an independent evaluator to conduct an evaluation of program outcomes and submit that report to the Legislature, as specified.

CA SB 403 - Aisha Wahab
Discrimination on the basis of ancestry.
01/25/2024 - Veto sustained.
SB 403, Wahab. Discrimination on the basis of ancestry. Existing law, the Unruh Civil Rights Act, provides that all persons within the jurisdiction of this state are free and equal, and no matter what their sex, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship, primary language, or immigration status are entitled to the full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities, privileges, or services in all business establishments of every kind whatsoever.This bill would define “ancestry” for purposes of the act to include, among other things, caste, as defined.Existing law states the policy of the State of California to afford all persons in public schools, regardless of their disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or specified other characteristics, equal rights and opportunities in the educational institutions of the state, and states that the purpose of related existing law is to prohibit acts that are contrary to that policy and to provide remedies therefor.This bill would additionally include ancestry as a protected characteristic in that policy statement and would define ”ancestry” and “caste” for purposes of those provisions.Existing law, the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), establishes the Civil Rights Department to enforce civil rights laws with respect to housing and employment, as prescribed. The FEHA declares the public policy of the state that it is necessary to protect and safeguard the right of all persons to seek, obtain, and hold employment without discrimination, and recognizes and declares to be a civil right the opportunity to seek, obtain, and hold employment without discrimination, based on specified characteristics, including ancestry. The FEHA makes certain discriminatory employment practices based on those characteristics unlawful.This bill would define “ancestry” for purposes of the FEHA to include, among other things, caste, and would also define “caste” for purposes of those provisions.This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 12926 of the Government Code proposed by AB 524 to be operative only if this bill and AB 524 are enacted and this bill is enacted last.

CA SB 408 - Angelique Ashby
Foster youth with complex needs: regional health teams.
07/13/2023 - Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
SB 408, as amended, Ashby. Foster youth with complex needs: regional health teams. Existing law generally provides for the placement of foster youth in various placement settings, and governs the provision of child welfare services, which is defined to mean public social services that are directed toward the accomplishment of specified purposes, including protecting and promoting the welfare of all children, preventing the unnecessary separation of children from their families, and restoring to their families children who have been removed. Existing federal law, the Family First Prevention Services Act of 2018, among other things, provides states with an option to use federal funds under Title IV of the federal Social Security Act to provide mental health and substance abuse prevention and treatment services and in-home parent skill-based programs to a child who is a candidate for foster care or a child in foster care who is a pregnant or parenting foster youth, as specified.This bill would require the State Department of Health Care Services, in consultation with the State Department of Social Services, to establish up to 10 regional health teams throughout the state, to serve foster youth and youth who may be at risk of entering foster care. The bill would require the department to submit a state plan amendment to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services no later than July 1, 2024, to implement the Medicaid Health Home State Plan Option, as specified, in establishing the regional health teams. The bill would require the department to coordinate with the State Department of Social Services and the State Department of Developmental Services, and to convene and engage specified stakeholders, to develop the regional health teams.The bill would make regional health teams available to children and youth and any adult caregiver or other adult connected with the child or youth under 26 years of age, who are experiencing severe mental illness, emotional disturbance, substance use, intellectual or developmental disability, or special health care needs or chronic health issues, or any combination of those conditions. The bill would specify the required membership of the regional health teams, including, but not limited to, a physician, a licensed clinical social worker, and a public health nurse. The duties of the regional health team would include, but not be limited to, receiving and responding to referrals received from staff from county child welfare agencies, county probation departments, regional centers, and others, developing a person-centered care plan, and coordinating and delivering various categories of care and services.The bill would require the department to provide grants, upon appropriation, to create the necessary startup infrastructure for 10 health teams that are geographically situated to support access to services equitably throughout the state, as specified. The bill would require the regional health teams to be funded by the department pursuant to a competitive procurement process. The bill would declare the intent of the Legislature that the health home state plan option begin no later than December 1, 2024, as specified.The bill would condition implementation of these provisions on the availability of federal financial participation and receipt of any necessary federal approvals. The bill would authorize the department to implement these provisions through all-county letters or similar instructions.

CA SB 417 - Catherine S. Blakespear
Firearms: licensed dealers.
09/11/2023 - Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.
SB 417, Blakespear. Firearms: licensed dealers. Existing law requires any sale or transfer of a firearm to be processed through a licensed dealer. Existing law requires each dealer to conspicuously post certain warnings and notices within their licensed premises, including safe storage requirements, requirements regarding the reporting of lost and stolen firearms, and information regarding the suicide prevention lifeline.This bill would revise this required posting, as specified.

CA SB 426 - Roger Niello
Charter schools: flex-based instruction.
02/01/2024 - Died on file pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
SB 426, as amended, Niello. Charter schools: flex-based instruction. The Charter Schools Act of 1992 authorizes the establishment, operation, and governance of charter schools. Existing law authorizes a charter school that has an approved charter to receive funding for nonclassroom-based instruction only if a determination for funding is made by the State Board of Education, as specified.This bill would replace the term “nonclassroom-based instruction” with “flex-based instruction” and define a “flex-based charter school” as a charter school that receives a determination for funding from the state board, as described above.. The bill would also make numerous nonsubstantive and conforming changes.

CA SB 431 - Janet Q. Nguyen
Grandparents: caregivers support.
02/01/2024 - Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
SB 431, as amended, Nguyen. Grandparents: caregivers support. Existing law establishes the California Department of Aging within the California Health and Human Services Agency to provide leadership to the area agencies on aging in developing systems of home- and community-based services that maintain individuals in their own homes or least restrictive homelike environments. Existing law requires the Secretary of California Health and Human Services, in coordination with the Director of the California Department of Aging, to lead the development and implementation of the Master Plan for Aging established pursuant to Executive Order N-14-19.Existing law also establishes the grounds for removal of a dependent child from the custody of the dependent child’s parent or guardian and establishes procedures to determine the placement of a dependent child. Existing law requires foster care placement, if possible, to be made in the home of a relative unless the placement would not be in the best interest of the child. Existing law establishes the Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment Program (Kin-GAP), which provides aid on behalf of eligible children who are placed in the home of a relative guardian, and the Kinship Support Services Program to provide community-based support services to relative caregivers and children placed in their homes.This bill would require the California Department of Aging, in consultation with the Department of Justice and the State Department of Social Services, to conduct a study to examine the issues faced by grandparents who are 60 years of age or older and are primary caregivers for their grandchildren, and requires the California Department of Aging to report the findings of the study to the Legislature.

CA SB 435 - Lena A. Gonzalez
Collection of demographic data: CalFresh program and State Department of Public Health.
01/25/2024 - Veto sustained.
SB 435, Gonzalez. Collection of demographic data: CalFresh program and State Department of Public Health. (1) Existing law requires specified state agencies, boards, and commissions, in the course of collecting demographic data as to the ancestry or ethnic origin of Californians, to use separate collection categories and tabulations for specified groups. Existing federal law provides for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known in California as CalFresh, under which supplemental nutrition assistance benefits allocated to the state by the federal government are distributed to eligible individuals by each county. Under existing law, the State Department of Social Services (department) administers the CalFresh program. Existing law requires the department to publicly report specified information, including certain data specific to students enrolled in an institution of higher learning who receive CalFresh benefits, as specified. This bill would require the department, in the course of collecting demographic data directly or by contract as to the ancestry or ethnic origin of California residents for any report on the CalFresh program, to use separate collection categories and tabulations for each major Latino group, Mesoamerican Indigenous nation, and Mesoamerican Indigenous language group, as specified.Existing law requires specific state agencies, boards, and commissions to report, as specified, data on collection categories and tabulations for specified groups. Existing law requires the collected data to be made available to the public except for personal identifying information, which shall be deemed confidential.This bill would require the department to include the collected data in every demographic report on ancestry or ethnic origins of California residents that the department publishes or releases on or after July 1, 2027. On or before July 1, 2027, and annually thereafter, the bill would require the department to report to the Legislature on the above-described data collection and methods used to collect that data. The bill would require the department to make available to the public the collected data, except for personal identifying information, as specified. The bill would require the department to update its data collection to reflect additional Latino groups, Mesoamerican Indigenous nations, and Mesoamerican Indigenous language groups as they are reported by the United States Census Bureau, as specified. The bill would require the department to comply with the bill’s requirements as early as possible, but no later than July 1, 2027.On or after January 1, 2026, the bill would require the State Department of Public Health to comply with the bill’s requirements if funding is appropriated for this express purpose, as specified.(2) 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.

CA SB 456 - Scott D. Wiener
Multifamily Housing Program: nonprofit corporations: homeless or at-risk youth.
09/01/2023 - September 1 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.
SB 456, as amended, Menjivar. Multifamily Housing Program: nonprofit corporations: homeless or at-risk youth. Existing law establishes the Multifamily Housing Program administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development. Existing law requires assistance for projects under the program to be provided in the form of deferred payment loans to pay for eligible costs of specified types of development, as provided. Existing law requires that specified funds appropriated to provide housing for individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness or who are at risk of homelessness and who are inherently impacted by or at increased risk for medical diseases or conditions due to the COVID-19 pandemic or other communicable diseases be disbursed in accordance with the Multifamily Housing Program for specified uses.Existing law exempts these specified funds from the deferred payment loan requirement, as specified. Existing law also requires at least 8 percent of these specified funds to be available for projects serving homeless youth, or youth at risk of homelessness, as defined.This bill would, instead, require that at least 8 percent of the specified funds be available for units, rather than projects, serving homeless youth, or youth at risk of homelessness. The bill would also require that at least one-half of these funds be prioritized for units to house current foster youth between 18 to 21 years of age, inclusive. The bill would prohibit units that house current or former foster youth between 18 to 21 years of age, inclusive, from requiring a referral through the coordinated entry system for a person under juvenile court jurisdiction, as specified.This bill would specify that nonprofit corporations that provide emergency shelter or transitional housing and submit to the department a letter of support from a county, city, or other local public entity, as specified, are eligible to receive grants disbursed for housing projects solely serving homeless youth, youth at risk of experiencing homelessness, or current or former foster youth and would require the department to give preference to applications from those nonprofit corporations, and partner organizations, that have experience providing those direct services.

CA SB 541 - Caroline Menjivar
Sexual health: contraceptives.
01/25/2024 - Veto sustained.
SB 541, Menjivar. Sexual health: contraceptives. (1) Existing law, the California Healthy Youth Act, requires school districts, defined to include county boards of education, county superintendents of schools, the California School for the Deaf, the California School for the Blind, and charter schools, to ensure that all pupils in grades 7 to 12, inclusive, receive comprehensive sexual health education and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention education, as specified.This bill would, in order to prevent and reduce unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections, on or before the start of the 2024–25 school year, require each public school, including schools operated by a school district or county office of education, charter schools, and state special schools, to make internal and external condoms available to all pupils in grades 9 to 12, inclusive, free of charge, as provided. The bill would require these public schools to, at the beginning of each school year, inform pupils through existing school communication channels that free condoms are available and where the condoms can be obtained on school grounds. The bill would require a public school to post at least one notice regarding these requirements, as specified. The bill would require this notice to include certain information, including, among other information, information about how to use condoms properly. The bill would require each public school serving any of grades 7 to 12, inclusive, to allow condoms to be made available during the course of, or in connection with, educational or public health programs and initiatives, as provided. The bill would authorize a state agency, the State Department of Education, or a public school to accept gifts, grants, and donations from any source for the support of a public school carrying out these provisions, including, but not limited to, the acceptance of condoms from a manufacturer or wholesaler. The bill would, in order to comply with these provisions, encourage public schools to explore partnerships, including, but not limited to, partnerships with local health jurisdictions, as defined, community health centers, nonprofit organizations, and the State Department of Public Health. By imposing additional duties on public schools, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would additionally prohibit a public school, as defined, maintaining any combination of classrooms from grades 7 to 12, inclusive, a school district, the State Department of Education, or a county office of education from prohibiting certain school-based health centers, as defined, from making internal and external condoms available and easily accessible to pupils at the school-based health center site.(2) Under existing law, the Sherman Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Law, the State Department of Public Health generally regulates the packaging, labeling, advertising, and sale of food, drugs, devices, and cosmetics, in accordance with the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. A violation of those provisions is generally a crime. Existing law sets forth various other provisions relating to the furnishing and health care coverage of certain types of contraception.This bill would, with certain exceptions, prohibit a retail establishment, as defined, from refusing to furnish nonprescription contraception to a person solely on the basis of age by means of any conduct, including, but not limited to, requiring the customer to present identification for purposes of demonstrating their age. Under the bill, a violation of that prohibition would be exempt from the above-described criminal penalty.(3) 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, reim

CA SB 551 - Anthony J. Portantino Jr.
Beverage containers: recycling.
02/22/2024 - Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES. pursuant to Assembly Rule 96.
SB 551, as amended, Portantino. Beverage containers: recycling. The California Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Reduction Act requires plastic beverage containers sold by a beverage manufacturer, as specified, to contain a specified average percentage of postconsumer recycled plastic per year. The act requires the manufacturer of a beverage sold in a plastic beverage container subject to the California Redemption Value to report to the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery certain information about the amounts of virgin plastic and postconsumer recycled plastic used for plastic beverage containers subject to the California Redemption Value for sale in the state in the previous calendar year. Existing law provides that a violation of the act or a regulation adopted pursuant to the act is a crime.This bill would authorize certain beverage manufacturers to submit with other beverage manufacturers a consolidated report that identifies the postconsumer recycled plastic content for beverage containers and the amounts of virgin plastic and postconsumer recycled plastic used in beverage containers, as specified. The bill would require the consolidated report to be submitted under penalty of perjury. The bill would authorize the department to adopt regulations to implement the bill’s provisions, as specified. Because these provisions would expand the scope of a crime and would create a new perjury crime, the 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.This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

CA SB 639 - S. Monique Limon
Alzheimer’s disease.
09/14/2023 - Ordered to inactive file on request of Senator Limón.
SB 639, as amended, Limón. Alzheimer’s disease. Existing law requires the State Department of Public Health to administer grants to postsecondary higher educational institutions that establish diagnostic and treatment centers for Alzheimer’s disease, and requires the grant funds to be used for purposes of those diagnostic and treatment centers, as specified. Existing law makes various findings and declarations regarding Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders.This bill would revise those provisions, including replacing references to “diagnostic and treatment centers” with “diagnostic hubs,” and “related disorders” and “dementia” with “related conditions.” The bill would add additional findings and declarations regarding the impacts of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia over the next 20 years and encouraging the development of diagnostic hubs for Alzheimer’s disease. The bill would declare the purpose of the diagnostic hubs to be, among other things, to increase the training of health care professionals with respect to Alzheimer’s disease and other acquired brain impairments by expanding educational relationships that support primary care, develop thorough care plans, and improve diagnostics so that health care professionals have the requisite training and expertise to know when to refer and feel comfortable with detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia. The bill would require a state department or partner organization to obtain and maintain approval from the State Department of Health Care Services to host any Dementia Care Aware materials on internet websites not owned by the State Department of Health Care Services. The bill would require the Dementia Care Aware program to collaborate with the State Department of Public Health and the Alzheimer’s diagnostic hubs in the dissemination of cognitive health assessment training to health care providers. The implementation of these provisions would be subject to an appropriation by the Legislature.

CA SB 657 - Anna Marie Caballero
Homelessness services staff training.
01/25/2024 - Veto sustained.
SB 657, Caballero. Homelessness services staff training. Existing law establishes the California Department of Aging in the California Health and Human Services Agency. Existing law requires the department to designate various private nonprofit or public agencies as area agencies on aging to work for the interests of older Californians within a planning and service area and provide a broad array of social and nutritional services. Existing law requires the area agencies on aging to develop systems of home- and community-based services that maintain individuals in their own homes or least restrictive homelike environments and to function as the community link at the local level for the development of those services. Existing law requires each area agency on aging to maintain a professional staff that is supplemented by volunteers, governed by a board of directors or elected officials, and whose activities are reviewed by an advisory council consisting primarily of older individuals from the community.Existing federal law defines continuums of care as the groups organized to carry out specified responsibilities, including responsibilities related to homelessness, including certain nonprofit entities, victim service providers, faith-based organizations, governments, businesses, and advocates. Existing state law establishes specified grants and programs available to continuums of care.Existing law requires the Governor to create the Interagency Council on Homelessness for specified purposes, including to create partnerships among various entities for the purpose of arriving at specific strategies to end homelessness, including participants in the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Continuum of Care program and the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, and to identify mainstream resources, benefits, and services that can be accessed to prevent and end homelessness in California.This bill would require the council to coordinate with the California Department of Aging, the California continuums of care, and the area agencies on aging to convene a working group no later than March 1, 2024, to develop recommendations on best practices for assisting older adults to prevent and overcome homelessness and for training those who assist older adults to prevent and overcome homelessness. The bill would require the working group to develop a training for those who assist older adults with housing needs to help those individuals access resources to prevent and overcome homelessness, as specified, no later than March 1, 2025. The bill would require the working group, on or before March 1, 2025, to report to specified committees of the Legislature on their recommendations.

CA SB 72 - Nancy Skinner
Budget Act of 2023.
02/01/2024 - Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
SB 72, as introduced, Skinner. Budget Act of 2023. This bill would make appropriations for the support of state government for the 2023–24 fiscal year.This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as a Budget Bill.

CA SB 815 - Marc Berman
Healing arts.
09/21/2023 - Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.
SB 815, Roth. Healing arts. (1) Existing law governs professions and vocations that are regulated by various boards within the Department of Consumer Affairs, including the Medical Board of California and the Dental Board of California. Existing law requires those boards to require a licensee, at the time of issuance of a license, to provide specified federal taxpayer information, including the applicant’s social security number or individual taxpayer identification number. Existing law prohibits a licensing board from processing an application for an initial license unless the applicant provides that information where requested on the application.Existing law, the Licensed Physicians and Dentists from Mexico Pilot Program, allows licensed physicians and dentists from Mexico to be issued a license by the Medical Board of California or a permit by the Dental Board of California to practice medicine or dentistry in California for a period not to exceed 3 years and establishes requirements for the participants in the program, as specified.This bill, for purposes of the pilot program, notwithstanding the above-described requirements to provide specified federal taxpayer information, would require the Medical Board of California (board) to issue a 3-year nonrenewable license to an applicant who has not provided an individual taxpayer identification number or social security number if the applicant meets specified conditions. The bill would require the applicant to immediately seek an appropriate 3-year visa and social security number from the federal government within 14 days of being issued the medical license and immediately provide the board with their social security number within 10 days of issuance of that card by the federal government. The bill would prohibit the applicant from engaging in the practice of medicine until the board determines that these conditions have been met. The bill would require the board to notify the applicant of their eligibility to practice medicine if the board determines the applicant has met these conditions. The bill would permit the board to extend the 3-year nonrenewable license period, as specified. The bill would require, for a licensee to be eligible for an extension, certain documents to be submitted to the board no later than January 30, 2024, including a declaration signed by the licensee under penalty of perjury that the licensee meets the requirements for an extension. By expanding the crime of perjury, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would prohibit an extension from extending the license period beyond September 30, 2026, and would make an extension dependent upon the program having sufficient funding appropriated in the annual Budget Act.(2) Existing law, the Medical Practice Act, establishes the Medical Board of California within the Department of Consumer Affairs for the licensure, regulation, and discipline of physicians and surgeons. Under existing law, the board consists of 15 members, 7 of whom are public members. Existing law requires the Senate Committee on Rules and the Speaker of the Assembly to each appoint one public member. Existing law repeals these provisions on January 1, 2024.This bill would extend that date to January 1, 2028.(3) Existing law requires members of the Medical Board of California to only be appointed from persons who have been citizens of this state for at least 5 years next preceding their appointment.This bill would instead require members of the board to only be appointed from persons who have been residents of this state for at least the 5-year period preceding their appointment. The bill would also make conforming changes.(4) Existing law requires legal proceedings against the Medical Board of California to be instituted in the City of Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Diego, or San Francisco.This bill would make a technical, nonsubstantive change to these provisions. (5) Existing law authorizes the Medical Board of Califo

CA SB 824 - Angelique Ashby
Foster care.
09/01/2023 - September 1 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.
SB 824, as amended, Ashby. Foster care. (1) Existing law subjects foster care provider applicants, resource family applicants, and certain other adults in those homes, to a criminal records check and requires the applicant or other adult in the applicant’s home to obtain a criminal record clearance or criminal record exemption prior to licensure or approval. Existing law prohibits the State Department of Social Services or other approving entity from granting a criminal records exemption, except as specified, to an applicant or other adult in the applicant’s home who has been convicted of certain felonies. Existing law authorizes the State Department of Social Services or other approving entity, for the purpose of the resource family approval process described below, to grant an exemption from disqualification for the conviction of a felony for which a criminal record exemption cannot be granted if the applicant is a relative seeking placement of a specific relative child or children, the applicant or other adult living in the home is of present good character necessary to justify granting the exemption, and the applicant or other adult living in the home has not been convicted of certain felonies within the last 5 years.This bill would, among other things, additionally authorize the department, or other approving entity, to grant an exemption under those circumstances to a nonrelative extended family member or an extended family member.(2) Existing law authorizes the court to order temporary placement of the child in the home of a relative, extended family member, or nonrelative extended family member, and requires the court to consider the results of a criminal records check, among other things, before ordering that placement. Existing law also authorizes the placement of a child on an emergency basis in the home of a relative or nonrelative extended family member, and requires the relative or nonrelative extended family member to submit an application for approval as a resource family after the emergency placement. Existing law authorizes the court to place a child after an order of removal, or on a temporary or emergency basis in the home of a relative, regardless of the status of any criminal record exemption or resource family approval if the court finds that the placement does not pose a risk to the health and safety of the child.This bill would also authorize the court to place a child after an order of removal, or on a temporary or emergency basis, in the home of a nonrelative extended family member or an extended family member, regardless of the status of any criminal record exemption or resource family approval or tribally approved home approval if the court finds that the placement does not pose a risk to the health and safety of the child.(3) Existing law establishes the state-funded Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment Program (Kin-GAP), which provides aid on behalf of eligible children who are placed in the home of a relative guardian. Existing law requires aid in the form of state-funded Kin-GAP to be provided on behalf of any child under 18 years of age and to any eligible youth under 19 years of age who has had a kinship guardianship established, as described above, and who meets other requirements, including that the child or youth has been adjudicated a dependent child or ward of the juvenile court, has been residing for at least 6 consecutive months in the approved home of the prospective relative guardian, and has had the dependency jurisdiction or wardship terminated, as specified.This bill would also make eligible for state-funded Kin-GAP a child who was subject to an order for placement with a relative regardless of the status of any criminal record exemption or resource family approval or tribally approved home approval, as specified.(4) Existing law establishes the Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Foster Care (AFDC-FC) program, under which counties provide payments to foster care providers

CA SB 875 - Steven M. Glazer
Health and care facilities: residential care facilities for the elderly: referral agencies.
01/29/2024 - In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
SB 875, as amended, Glazer. Health and care facilities: residential care facilities for the elderly: referral agencies. The California Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly Act generally requires the State Department of Social Services to license, inspect, and regulate residential care facilities for the elderly and imposes criminal penalties on a person who violates the act or who willfully or repeatedly violates any rule or regulation adopted under the act. The act prohibits a placement agency, as defined, from placing an individual in a licensed residential care facility for the elderly if the individual, because of a health condition, cannot be cared for within the limits of the license or requires inpatient care in a health facility. The act requires an employee of a placement agency who knows, or reasonably suspects, that a facility is improperly operating without a license to report the facility to the department, and requires the department to investigate those reports. The act further requires a placement agency to notify the appropriate licensing agency of any known or suspected incidents that would jeopardize the health or safety of residents in a facility. The act specifically makes a violation of these requirements a crime.Existing law requires a referral agency to obtain a license from the State Department of Public Health in order to refer a person to any extended care facility, skilled nursing home, or intermediate care facility. Existing law exempts a local public agency performing referral services without cost from these provisions. Under existing law, a violation of these provisions is subject to a civil penalty and suspension or revocation of the license.This bill would additionally require a referral agency to obtain a license from the State Department of Social Services in order to refer a person to a residential care facility for the elderly. The bill would prohibit an extended care facility, skilled nursing home, intermediate care facility, or residential care facility for the elderly from paying a commission or fee to a referral agency that is not licensed, as specified. The bill would prohibit a referral agency from holding any power of attorney or any other property of a person receiving referral services, or to receive or hold a client’s property in any capacity. With respect to a residential care facility for the elderly, the bill would require a referral agency to disclose specified information to each person receiving its services, and to maintain records of those disclosures for a period of 3 years, as specified. The bill would specify that a referral agency licensee would be subject to specified provisions relating to placement agencies for residential care facilities for the elderly. By expanding the definition of a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would also require referral agencies to maintain liability insurance in specified amounts. The bill would also make it unlawful for an employee, independent contractor, or other person who is acting on behalf of a governmental agency, hospital, or other health care institution to offer, provide, or accept a payment, rebate, refund, commission, preference, or discount as payment, compensation, or inducement for referring patients, clients, or customers to a facility or licensee.Existing law makes specified persons mandated reporters of elder or dependent adult abuse, including administrators, supervisors, and licensed staff of a facility that provide care or services for elder or dependent adults. Under existing law, failure to report physical abuse, abandonment, abduction, isolation, financial abuse, or neglect of an elder or dependent adult is a misdemeanor.The bill would include owners, operators, and employees of a referral agency as mandated reporters. By expanding the crime of failure to report elder or dependent adult abuse, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.The California Constit

CA SB 9 - Aisha Wahab
Raising the Age for Extended Foster Care Pilot Program Act of 2023.
06/27/2023 - From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (June 27). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
SB 9, as amended, Cortese. Raising the Age for Extended Foster Care Pilot Program Act of 2023. Existing law establishes the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, which is permitted to adjudge certain children to be dependents of the court under certain circumstances until the dependent child attains 21 years of age. Existing law also authorizes the juvenile court to resume jurisdiction over a nonminor who has attained 18 years of age, but not yet attained 21 years of age, and for whom the court has dismissed dependency, delinquency, or transition jurisdiction.Existing law, the California Fostering Connections to Success Act, revises and expands the scope of various programs relating to the provision of cash assistance and other services to and for the benefit of certain foster and adopted children, and other children who have been placed in out-of-home care, including children who receive Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Foster Care (AFDC-FC), Adoption Assistance Program (AAP), California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs), and Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment (Kin-GAP) benefits. Among other provisions, the act extends specified foster care benefits to nonminor dependents up to 21 years of age, if specified conditions are met. Existing law defines a nonminor dependent for these purposes as a foster child who is a current dependent child or ward of the juvenile court, or who is a nonminor under the transition jurisdiction of the juvenile court pursuant to a voluntary reentry agreement, and in accordance with a transitional independent living case plan who has attained 18 years of age while under an order of foster care placement by the juvenile court and is not older than 21 years of age.This bill would, subject to an appropriation by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act or another statute for this purpose, require the State Department of Social Services to administer a 3-year pilot program in at least 3 counties that choose to participate to extend foster care services to nonminor dependents up to 22 years of age if the nonminor dependent is experiencing homelessness or is at reasonable risk of homelessness if they are not under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court. Under the pilot program, the bill would expand the jurisdiction of the juvenile court to include, as a nonminor dependent, a nonminor who is 21 years of age and who was previously under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court if the juvenile court makes a finding on the record by a preponderance of the evidence that the nonminor is experiencing homelessness or is at reasonable risk of homelessness if they are not under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, among other requirements, would expand the eligibility of foster care by revising the definition of nonminor dependent to include a foster child who meets the above-described requirements and is 21 years of age if the court makes that same finding, and would make these nonminor dependents eligible for benefits under AFDC-FC, CalWORKs, Kin-GAP, and AAP.Existing law continuously appropriates moneys from the General Fund to defray a portion of county costs under the CalWORKs program.This bill would provide that the continuous appropriation would not be made for purposes of implementing the bill.

CA SB 917 - Nancy Skinner
Budget Act of 2024.
01/10/2024 - To print.
SB 917, as introduced, Skinner. Budget Act of 2024. This bill would make appropriations for the support of state government for the 2024–25 fiscal year.This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as a Budget Bill.

CA SB 950 - Thomas J. Umberg
Reentry from incarceration: programs and benefits.
03/13/2024 - From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.
SB 950, as amended, Skinner. Reentry from incarceration: programs and benefits. Existing federal law establishes various disability benefits programs, including the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, under which cash assistance is provided to qualified low-income aged, blind, and disabled persons. Existing federal law requires the federal Commissioner of Social Security to develop a system under which an individual can apply for SSI benefits prior to the discharge or release of the individual from a public institution.Existing law also provides for the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services, under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions.This bill would require the Secretary of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) to establish and maintain a statewide memoranda of understanding with the federal Social Security Administration to allow a person incarcerated in a correctional institution to apply for and receive a replacement social security card and to allow the administration to process SSI claims under the prerelease program.Existing law establishes the Board of State and Community Corrections to provide statewide leadership, coordination, and technical assistance to promote effective state and local efforts and partnerships in California’s adult and juvenile criminal justice system, as specified. Under existing law, the board administers several grant programs, including a mentally ill offender crime reduction grant program, a medication-assisted treatment grant program, and a violence intervention and prevention grant program. Existing law authorizes CDCR to contract for the establishment and operation of community correctional reentry centers to provide an enhancement program to increase the likelihood of a successful parole and to assist inmates with educational and employment training, among other objectives.This bill would require the board to work in collaboration with drug and alcohol recovery experts and reentry advocates, among others, to develop recommendations for expanding existing grant programs to better serve people with special needs with permanent supportive housing options. The bill would require CDCR to work with the California Department of Aging, among others, to develop a report exploring alternatives to incarceration for individuals who are advanced in age or disabled and who would otherwise qualify for a community correctional reentry center. The bill would also require CDCR to convene a working group of certain vendors holding community-based reentry contracts to develop a plan for establishing statewide in-reach efforts available under specified Medi-Cal programs. The bill would require the board and CDCR to make these recommendations and reports to the Legislature on or before March 31, 2025.Existing federal law provides for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known in California as CalFresh, under which supplemental nutrition assistance benefits allocated to the state by the federal government are distributed to eligible individuals by each county. Existing federal law generally prohibits a resident of a correctional institution from receiving supplemental nutrition assistance benefits. Existing law requires the State Department of Social Services, if the department deems it necessary to maximize CalFresh enrollment outcomes or employment placement success rates for individuals reentering the community from the state prison or a county jail, to request from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service a waiver of that prohibition to allow for preenrollment of applicants prior to their release.This bill would require CDCR to ensure that all eligible residents of a community correctional reentry center are enrolled in the Medi-Cal program within 30 days

CA SB 953 - Caroline Menjivar
Medi-Cal: menstrual products.
03/01/2024 - Set for hearing March 20.
SB 953, as introduced, Menjivar. Medi-Cal: menstrual products. Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions. Existing law establishes a schedule of covered benefits under the Medi-Cal program.This bill would add menstrual products, as defined, to that schedule of covered benefits. The bill would require the department to seek any necessary federal approvals to implement this coverage. The bill would require the department to seek, and would authorize the department to use, any and all available federal funding, as specified, to implement this coverage.

CA SB 957 - Scott D. Wiener
Data collection: sexual orientation and gender identity.
03/01/2024 - Set for hearing March 20.
SB 957, as introduced, Wiener. Data collection: sexual orientation and gender identity. (1) Existing law, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Disparities Reduction Act, requires the State Department of Public Health, among other specified state entities, in the course of collecting demographic data directly or by contract as to the ancestry or ethnic origin of Californians, to collect voluntary self-identification information pertaining to sexual orientation, gender identity, and intersexuality.Existing law, as an exception to the provision above, authorizes those state entities, instead of requiring them, to collect the demographic data under either of the following circumstances: (a) pursuant to federal programs or surveys, whereby the guidelines for demographic data collection categories are defined by the federal program or survey; or (b) demographic data are collected by other entities, including other state agencies, surveys administered by third-party entities and the state department is not the sole funder, or third-party entities that provide aggregated data to a state department.This bill, notwithstanding the exception above, would require the State Department of Public Health to collect the demographic data from third parties, including, but not limited to, local health jurisdictions, on any forms or electronic data systems, unless prohibited by federal or state law. To the extent that the bill would create new duties for local officials in facilitating the department’s data collection, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing law requires the above-described state entities to report to the Legislature the data collected and the method used to collect the data, and to make the data available to the public, except for personally identifiable information. Existing law deems that personally identifiable information confidential and prohibits it disclosure. Existing law sets forth different deadlines, depending on the specified state entity, for complying with those requirements.This bill would require the State Department of Public Health, for purposes of the data collected by the department on sexual orientation, gender identity, and intersexuality, to comply with the above-described requirements by July 1, 2026.(2) Existing law authorizes local health officers and the State Department of Public Health to operate immunization information systems. Existing law requires health care providers and other certain agencies, including schools and county human services agencies, to disclose specified immunization and other information about the patient or client to local health departments and the State Department of Public Health. Existing law authorizes local health departments and the State Department of Public Health to disclose most of that same information, as specified, to each other and to other entities. Existing law authorizes a patient or a patient’s parent or guardian to refuse to permit recordsharing, as specified.Under existing law, the information that is subject to disclosure under those provisions includes, among other things, certain data on immunizations received, the patient’s or client’s date of birth, race and ethnicity, and gender.This bill would add the patient’s or client’s sexual orientation and gender identity to the list of information subject to disclosure. The bill would make conforming changes to the above-described provisions on data sharing. By expanding the duties of local officials with regard to disclosing demographic information to certain entities, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.(3) The bill would require the State Department of Public Health to prepare an annual report concerning sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) data collected by the department. The bill would require the department to annually post and make available the report on the department’s internet website, and to annually submit the report to the Legislature, exclu

CA SB 998 - Eloise Gomez Reyes
Dependency: victims of human trafficking.
03/05/2024 - Set for hearing April 1.
SB 998, as introduced, Rubio. Dependency: victims of human trafficking. Existing law defines human trafficking to include both sex trafficking and labor trafficking.Existing law allows a child who is sexually trafficked, or who receives food or shelter in exchange for, or who is paid to perform, sexual acts, and whose parent or guardian has failed or was unable to protect the child, to be adjudged a dependent of the juvenile court.This bill would instead authorize a child who is or was a victim of human trafficking, and whose parent or guardian has failed or was unable to protect the child, to be adjudged a dependent of the juvenile court, thereby expanding the bases on which a child can be adjudged a dependent child of the juvenile court to explicitly include children who are victims of labor trafficking. The bill would make various related changes to reflect this expansion, including, among other things, revising a requirement relating to the case plan for a child or nonminor dependent who is, or who is at risk of becoming, the victim of commercial sexual exploitation, to instead apply to a child or nonminor dependent who is, or who is at risk of becoming, the victim of human trafficking. By expanding county duties, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.Existing law authorizes a social worker, in specified circumstances, to take temporary custody of a child who is or may be subject to the dependency jurisdiction of the court.The bill would generally prohibit a social worker from taking temporary custody of a child who is the victim of human trafficking if the child’s parent or guardian has not participated, either directly or indirectly, in the child’s trafficking.Existing law establishes the Commercially Sexually Exploited Children Program, which is administered by the State Department of Social Services. The program requires the department to provide funds to participating counties to provide training to county children’s services workers to identify, intervene, and provide case management services to children who are victims of commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking and to foster caregivers for the prevention and identification of potential victims. Existing law requires the department to provide specified information to the Legislature regarding the implementation of these provisions, including the number of victims served by each county and the types of services provided, no later than April 1, 2017.This bill would change the name of the program to the Human Trafficked Children Program and revise all parts of the program to include all children who are victims of human trafficking, including those who are the victims of labor trafficking. The bill would require the department to provide and update information provided to the Legislature regarding implementation of these provisions and to provide additional information relating to serving child victims of labor trafficking.Existing law requires the department, in consultation with the County Welfare Directors Association, to ensure that the child welfare information system is capable of collecting data concerning children who are commercially sexually exploited, as specified. This bill would require the department to ensure that the Child Welfare Services/Case Management System is capable of collecting data concerning children who are victims of human trafficking no later than June 1, 2025.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.

CA SB 999 - David D. Cortese
Health coverage: mental health and substance use disorders.
03/07/2024 - From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.
SB 999, as amended, Cortese. Health coverage: mental health and substance use disorders. Existing law, the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975, requires the Department of Managed Health Care to license and regulate health care service plans and makes a willful violation of the act a crime. Existing law also requires the Department of Insurance to regulate health insurers. Existing law requires a health care service plan or disability insurer, as specified, to base medical necessity determinations and the utilization review criteria the plan or insurer, and any entity acting on the plan’s or insurer’s behalf, applies to determine the medical necessity of health care services and benefits for the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of mental health and substance use disorders, on current generally accepted standards of mental health and substance use disorder care.This bill would require a health care service plan and a disability insurer, and an entity acting on a plan’s or insurer’s behalf, to ensure compliance with specific requirements for utilization review, including maintaining telephone access and other direct communication access during California business hours for a health care provider to request authorization for mental health and substance use disorder care and conducting peer-to-peer discussions regarding specific patient issues related to treatment. Because a willful violation of these provisions by a health care service plan would be a crime, the 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.

Recent Activity Bills updated in the last 24 hours

14 updates

  • CA AB 1832 - Blanca E. Rubio
    Civil Rights Department: Labor Trafficking Task Force.
    03/14/2024 - From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on PUB. S. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (March 13). Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.
  • CA AB 1906 - Michael A. Gipson
    California Law Revision Commission: persons with disabilities: terminology.
    03/14/2024 - Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.
  • CA AB 2119 - Akilah Weber
    Mental health.
    03/18/2024 - From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HEALTH. Read second time and amended.
  • CA AB 2121 - Diane B. Dixon
    Substance use disorder treatment: licensing.
    03/18/2024 - From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HEALTH. Read second time and amended.
  • CA AB 2237 - Cecilia M. Aguiar-Curry
    Children and youth: transfer of specialty mental health services.
    03/18/2024 - From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HEALTH. Read second time and amended.
  • CA AB 2415 - Michael A. Gipson
    Cash assistance for aged, blind, and disabled immigrants.
    03/18/2024 - From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HUM. S. Read second time and amended.
  • CA AB 2459 - Michael A. Gipson
    Juveniles: mentoring programs.
    03/18/2024 - Referred to Coms. on HUM. S. and JUD.
  • CA AB 2466 - Wendy Carrillo
    Medi-Cal managed care: network adequacy standards.
    03/18/2024 - From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HEALTH. Read second time and amended.
  • CA AB 2650 - Rick Chavez Zbur
    Licensed adult residential facilities and residential care facilities for the elderly: data collection.
    03/18/2024 - From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HUM. S. Read second time and amended.
  • CA SB 1031 - Philip Y. Ting
    San Francisco Bay area: local revenue measure: transportation improvements.
    03/18/2024 - From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.
  • CA SB 1082 - Susan Talamantes Eggman
    Augmented residential care facilities.
    03/14/2024 - From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.
  • CA SB 1278 - John Laird
    World AIDS Day.
    03/18/2024 - From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.
  • CA SB 1289 - Richard Dale Roth
    Medi-Cal: county call centers: data.
    03/18/2024 - From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.
  • CA SB 1525 - Senate Judiciary Committee
    Maintenance of the codes.
    03/18/2024 - Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
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