Legislation
For a list of my current legislation, go here.
Previous Legislation
2010
SB 895 - Ignition Interlock Devices: Last year, Senator Huff introduced SB 598. This measure was signed into law and creates a positive incentive for repeat DUI offenders to voluntarily install ignition interlock devices. It is a follow-up/technical measure to clarify that the same incentives apply to both the criminal and administrative side of the license suspension.
SB 938 - DMV Confidentiality: This bill would provide for the safety of California's officers by precluding individuals' family members, who are on parole or probation, from driving a vehicle with confidentiality plates.
SB 955 - Education Reform: Would allow school districts to deviate from seniority policies when making staffing decisions.
SB 980 - One Stop Shop Permits: This bill will create a convenient, accessible, and timely one-stop system for business permits, thus reducing time spent on administration and more time on creating jobs.
SB 988 - 5-Year Review of Energy Regulations: This bill will require the Office of Administrative Law to review and report on the energy-related agencies' regulations every 5 years to ensure that they are relevant and necessary. In addition, the measure tasks the agencies with acting on the office's recommendations within 2 years or the regulation will become inoperative.
SB 933 - City of Claremont Relinquishment: This bill simply authorizes Caltrans to relinquish and fund a portion of Foothill Blvd. to the City of Claremont.
SB 1004 - Car Dealerships Revised Salesperson Licensing Reform: California's salesperson licensing laws do not allow car dealers to share sales staff between two or more dealerships unless all dealerships have identical ownership and structure. Dealerships are also currently required to have the original salesperson license posted for the public at each dealership - technically requiring salespeople to bring the original license to each store when they report for work. The measure eliminated the requirement that salespeople work at dealerships with identical structure (while retaining the identical ownership requirement) and allowed the use of photocopied or truncated licenses to be posted at all dealerships at which a salesperson worked.
SB 1017 - Product liability: Protects a seller from product liability when the seller merely passes a completed product it received from the manufacturer to another seller or end user.
SB 1020 - Performance Based Budgeting: Establishes a performance based budget process for California, to be phased in completely for all departments and programs by the 2014-2015 fiscal year.
SB 1051 - Administration of Diastat in Schools: This bill authorizes trained, non-medical school personnel to administer Diastat in an emergency situation to a student with epilepsy when suffering a severe, possibly life threatening, seizure.
SB 1116 - Heritage School Affidavit & Waiver: This bill clearly defines “heritage schools” and requires them to file with the Department of Education an affidavit substantially similar to what is required of private schools.
SB 1198 - California Energy Commission Regulations: This bill delays implementation of the CEC's television energy use labeling requirement until July 1, 2011, to allow the Federal Trade Commission time to develop and adopt its own energy efficiency labeling rule.
SCA 30 - 72-hour Preview of Legislation: This constitutional amendment will require a 72-hour public and legislative review period before a vote in any committee or in either house.
JOBS BILLS PACKAGE - Eighth Extraordinary Session, 2010
SB 8X 65 - Health Insurance Across State Lines: Permit health care plans and insurers who are licensed in other states to sell their health care plans and insurance in California.
SB 8X 61 - Repeal Limitations on K-12 and community college contracting out: This bill would repeal a law enacted by SB 1419 (2003) sponsored by school employee unions. SB 1419 restricts the ability of local K-12 and community college districts to contract for non-instructional services – including food services, building maintenance and transportation services. By repealing SB 1419, this bill will open up these non-instructional services to private contractors, making school operation more efficient, creating new jobs and saving schools much needed dollars for teacher jobs and student resources.
SB 8X 69 - Product liability: This bill protects a seller from product liability when the seller merely passes a completed product it received from the manufacturer to another seller or end user.
2009
SB 8 - State finance: performance budgeting: SB 8 will establish a pilot project to require the Department of Finance to select at least four state departments to implement Performance Based Budgets for the next three fiscal years. The Department will be required to report to the legislature with an evaluation regarding the extent to which performance budgeting results in a more cost-effective and innovative provision of government services.
SB 59 - Gang Prosecutions: Current law allows for an additional trial period for certain specialized cases including homicide, sexual assault, domestic violence, and career criminals. For many of the same reasons as homicides and statutorily recognized cases, gang cases should also be included, for gang cases are a specialized area of prosecution and often include sensitive victim and/or witness issues. It will include gang crimes as a "good cause" for allocating additional trial time/continuances for trial preparation.
SB 129 - Heritage Schools: Heritage schools are a relatively recent phenomenon in California, but a welcome one. The schools are typically run on the weekends and after regular school on weekdays throughout the year. Their focus on foreign language and history can help students compete in an increasingly global economy. The culturally enriching activities that are also part of their programs foster tolerance and diversity in our communities. The measure clearly defines "heritage schools" and requires them to file with the Department of Education an affidavit substantially similar to what is required of private schools.
SB 136 - Surplus Property: SB 136 is the annual DGS bill for the management of surplus State real property and is necessary to dispose of three excess properties identified by State agencies: the Harts Mills Forest Fire Station (Old), located in Berry Creek, Butte County; the Mendocino Ranger Station Excess Land, located in Willits, Mendocino County, and the East Campus of the Agnews Developmental Center in Santa Clara County.
SB 266 - Open Enrollment Act: Current law requires students to attend the public school they are assigned according their home zip code. Open Enrollment would significantly expand the educational options to students and parents by allowing a student to enroll in any school in the state - as long as space is available. Allowing parents the freedom to choose what school is best for their child will put healthy pressure on schools to innovate and perform well in order to attract and retain student enrollment.
SB 465 - Voter ID: Existing law requires any person desiring to vote at a polling place to simply state his or her name and address to a precinct board member. Such a system opens the door to severe fraud and abuse of the election process. To combat potential voter fraud, it is necessary that poll workers verify the identity of each person desiring to vote to make certain that the person actually casting a ballot is the person entitled to vote. SB 465 will require any eligible citizen to present proof of his or her identity to a member of the precinct board before receiving a ballot, and would specify which forms of valid identification that may be used for this purpose.
SB 548 - California Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises (DVBE): The Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) program was created to honor California's veterans for their selfless service by providing disabled veterans a specified level of contractual work in state projects. While this program has proven quite successful for many veterans, regrettably, it is all too often being used by contractors to exploit and abuse the very veterans the program seeks to help. It would protect DVBE contractors from fraud by requiring a prime contractor to certify that all payments originally offered to a veteran for work have been fulfilled.
SB 598 - DUI/Ignition Interlock Devices: Current state law authorizes use of an ignition interlock device where the court feels it is appropriate, but sadly, only a small percentage of people convicted of multiple DUIs are required to install the devices. It creates a positive incentive for repeat DUI offenders to voluntarily install ignition interlock devices while clarifying that the ability to obtain a restricted license does not apply to individuals who were found to be under the influence of drugs or a combination of alcohol and drugs.
SB 652 - Joint Powers Authority: SB 652 clearly defines the Alameda Corridor-East Construction Authority and the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments as political subdivisions of the state and therefore able to apply for state or federal funds for projects within that jurisdiction.
SB 680 - District of Choice: SB 680 will extend the 17 year running School District of Choice program, which fosters public school choice by allowing parents to transfer their children to participating school districts without a transfer agreement. Without the program, over 5,000 students would have been obligated to leave their schools districts and move to unfamiliar schools.
SB 719 - Taxpayer Transparency Act of 2009: Transparency is an essential component of democracy and allows taxpayers to hold public officials accountable for their actions. California, however, lacks a comprehensive and easily searchable mechanism for taxpayers to track state expenditures. It requires every state department and agency to publish a financial website that is easily accessible by the public.
2008
AB 278 - False Compartments:This bill would make it a misdemeanor to build or use a false compartment in a vehicle with the intent to store unlawfully possessed firearms or at least $5,000 in currency intended to be used in the purchase or exchange of a controlled substance.
AB 1503 - CA High School Exit Exam Waivers:this bill would put waiver requests into the hands of the school district superintendent, rather than the governing board of a school district. This bill is sponsored by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Jack O'Connell.
AB 1808 - Federal Ballot Statements:This bill would allow candidates for federal office to pay for a ballot statement on state election ballots.
AB 1828 - Pollworker Exemption:This bill would exempt a person who operates as a poll worker in a local or state election, from serving jury duty for one year. This bill is an effort to attract more people to work the polls.
AB 1838 - Zero-Based Budgeting:This bill would require budgets submitted by state agencies and courts to use a zero-based budget method. This would end the "autopilot" funding of state government and mandate that funding levels are thoroughly examined each year to ensure that state resources are being spent in the most efficient way.
AB 1875 - Group Homes License Revocation Improvement:This bill would increase the distance from 300 feet to 1000 feet required between group homes; it would also include requirements for Department of Social Services with regard to notifying local entities of new group home applications.
AB 1888 - Heritage Schools:This bill would create a new licensing system for schools operated solely for heritage and cultural education.
AB 1981 - Chino Valley USD Site Sale:This bill would allow CUSD to sell land and dispose of a portion of the school site. This bill is a re-introduction of SB 789 (2007).
AB 2085 - SB 777 Fix:This bill would delete the provisions inserted into the Education Code from last year's Kuehl bill.
AB 2086 - Parental Opt-Out for Sexual Orientation-based Curriculum:Would require a district to send a letter to parents at the beginning of the school year, alerting them that sexual orientation education will take place, and give a clear indication to parents or legal guardians on how to opt-out their child.
AB 2323 - FBI Background Checks for Mortgage Lenders:This bill would require all mortgage lenders to undergo an FBI background check, in addition to the current requirement of a state background check.
AB 2418 - Illegal Immigrant Package - Denial of Bail:This bill would deny bail to any person charged with a gang-related crime or violent felony.
AB 2420 - Illegal Immigrant Package - Sanctuary Cities Prohibition:This bill would prohibit local entities and authorities from establishing themselves as "sanctuary cities" that disallow cooperation with state and federal authorities on illegal immigration.
AB 2421 - Illegal Immigrant Package - Illegal Immigrant Employer Penalties:This bill outlines a business license revocation process for those employers who hire illegal immigrants.
AB 2422 - Illegal Immigrant Package - Reporting Illegal Juveniles to ICE:This bill would require local authorities to report juveniles to Immigration and Customs Enforcement when they have been charged with a violent felony.
AB 2644 - Medical Billing:This bill will require hospitals to include laymen's terms for medical procedures for which a patient is being billed.
ACR 82 - Bob Zirbes Memorial Freeway:This resolution will memorialize a section of the 57 Freeway in honor of the late Diamond Bar City Councilman Bob Zirbes.
ACR 105 - 30th Anniversary Recognition of Proposition 13:This resolution commemorates June 6, 2008, as the 30th anniversary date of Proposition 13.
AJR 44 - Illegal Immigrant Package - Repeal 14th Amendment of U.S. Constitution:This bill would urge Congress to repeal the section of the 14th Amendment of the U.S. constitution which guarantees birthright citizenship.
[ BACK TO TOP ]
2007
AB 9 - Voter Identification Act:Requires voters to show photo identification at their polling places in order to cast a ballot.
AB 226 - Vehicle Re-Examination:This bill would permit an officer to disallow a driver to continue operating their vehicle upon reasonable belief that the person is incapable of safely driving. The vehicle would only be towed from location if driver has no acquaintance with a valid CA driver's license able to operate the vehicle. Vehicle would not be released to driver until DMV has determined the driver is qualified to operate motor vehicles.
AB 256 - SHOPP Safety Projects: Budget Exemption:This bill would ensure that, when the State budget is not passed by the constitutional deadline, traffic safety projects will be exempt from halted funding, thereby ensuring project completion and driver safety.
AB 270 - District of Choice:This bill will extend the sunset for the District of Choice program, which allows inter-district transfers for students. It will also require both the districts of residents as well as the districts of choice to keep record of such transfers, and to report this information to the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
AB 278 - False Compartments:This bill would make it a misdemeanor to build or use a false compartment in a vehicle with the intent to store unlawfully possessed firearms or at least $5,000 in currency intended to be used in the purchase or exchange of a controlled substance.
AB 279 - Military Code: Armed Forces Funerals:This bill would impose a fine of $250 upon a person who willingly creates a disturbance during the funeral of a member or former member of the Armed Forces within 300 feet of such a funeral. This bill has been modeled after federal law, which was a response to a nationwide problem of disturbing military funeral protests.
AB 304 - Community Care Facilities: Disaster and Mass Casualty Plan:This bill would require community care facilities to submit a copy of their disaster and mass casualty plan to local emergency response authorities upon request of the local authorities, in order to better serve them in case of emergency or disaster.
AB 344 - Language Schools: Licensing:This is a SPOT bill. It will address the current issues language schools are having with licensing requirements.
AB 556 - IB Program Funding:This bill would require full state funding for all existing IB programs in the state.
AB 557 - Governor's Charter School Bill:This bill will cut off funding to charter schools after their charter has been revoked by the school district which serves as its granting authority, and that decision is upheld by the county board. Funding would be stopped unless and until the state board of education grants an appeal.
AB 708 - Title V Monies: Abstinence Education:This bill would require the State of California to accept federal Title V money to fund abstinence education as a part of current sex education in our schools. Current law restricts the use of any type of literature to promote abstinence, as well as state-funded private programs that are abstinence based to be used in schools. Accepting Title V funding would ensure that students are sufficiently educated on the benefits of abstinence.
AB 804 - Fidelity Corporations:This bill will amend current provisions under which escrow agents can advertise either their current state licensure under the Department of Corporations or required membership in the legislatively created Escrow Agents' Fidelity Corporation.
AB 1145 - Graffiti Crime: Impoundment:This bill would allow local authorities to seize and impound any vehicles used in the commission of the crime of felony-level graffiti, and would provide additional money for future graffiti abatement via the sale of impounded vehicles, while protecting innocent vehicle owners whose car may have been used in the crime commission after being stolen.
AB 1306 - Spillover Funds:This bill would eliminate the statute that requires the spillover to be set aside, which will ensure it is used for purposes related to Proposition 42.
AB 1353 - STAR Testing: 2nd Grade:Currently, CA Standard Testing and Reporting (STAR) is administered to students from 2nd through 11th. Testing for 2nd grade only is scheduled to sunset on July 1, 2007. This bill would extend that sunset to 2011.
AB 1433 - Governor's Real ID Act Bill:This bill is being sponsored by the Administration and will implement the federal regulations with regard to the Real ID Act.
AB 1592 - Charity Care Tax Credit:Part of Republican health care package; will provide a tax credit to physicians that partially compensates them for the charity care they provide to uninsured and underinsured Californians.
[ BACK TO TOP ]
2006
AB 2028 - Transportation Funding:This bill states the intent to repay in 2007 the remainder of the Proposition 42 funds that have been diverted since 2003.
AB 2047 - Charter Schools: Facilities:Grant:The Charter School Facility Grant Program provides assistance with facilities rent and lease costs for pupils in charter schools. This bill would extend this authority and state that the grant program will be funded at the level included in the budget, or other statute.
AB 2267 - Decedent's Estates:Under current law, the successor of a decedent can collect property due to the decedent without letters of administration or awaiting probate of a will if the estate is valued at less than $100,000. In addition existing law outlines a process by which an individual can be designated as the successor to a decedent to a particular item of real property valued at no more than $20,000.
This bill will increase these limits from $100,000 to $200,000 and $20,000 to $40,000, respectively.
AB 2323 - Charter Schools:Facilities: Charter schools, like public schools, are eligible to receive funds for students who are on free or reduced school meals. Currently, charter schools can receive funding if they are located in the attendance area of a public school in which 70 percent of the enrollment is eligible for free or reduced meals and if that charter school gives preference in admissions to those students. In addition, 70 percent of the students at the charter site must be eligible.
This bill would state that after the above funds are distributed, if funding remains available, charters who have between 50% and 70% of their enrollment eligible for free/reduced meals would be able to receive money.
AB 2361 - Transportation: Federal Funds: Border Infrastructure:This bill would exempt federal funds derived from apportionments made to the state under the coordinated border infrastructure program of the SAFETEA-LU from being subject to the funding distribution and fair share formulas. The bill would instead require these funds to be programmed by the California Transportation Commission through a competitive grant program separate from the state transportation improvement program in a manner consistent with federal law, with priority to be given to projects that reduce congestion and facilitate goods movement between the Mexico border and other regions.
AB 2557 - Highways: Damaged or Destroyed Memorial Signs:This bill would state that an individual who willfully or negligently damages a sign that marks a memorial highway or a Driving Under the Influence Victim Sign Program shall deposit with the Department of Transportation an amount no less that $1,500 or the department's reasonable cost of the repair or replacement if the sign exceeds $1,500.
AB 2696 - Recreational Safety: Skateboard Parks: Scooters:This bill would add the use of a non-motorized or electric "razor scooter" to the list of activities defined as a "hazardous recreational activity." Under current law, public entities and public employees are exempt from liability to individuals who participate in hazardous recreational activities. Currently, individuals under 14 who skateboard are participating in hazardous recreational activity. AB 2696 would lower that age threshold to 10.
AB 2777 - Military and Veterans: Veterans' Organizations:Existing law prohibits the sale, manufacture or representation of materials (badges, labels, etc.) as being sponsored, endorsed or offered by a particular "veterans' organization" if the materials are in fact not sponsored, endorsed, or offered by a particular veterans organization. AB 2777 would expand this definition of "veterans' organization."
AB 2821 - Chiropractic Act:This bill will be amended to rename the California Acupuncture Board the California Asian Medicine Board.
AB 2871 - Special Education: School Records:Inspection:This bill provides minimally sufficient time for school personnel to provide all school records whenever requested by parents, special education advocates, or special education attorneys. Present law requires school districts to provide all school records within five calendar days of the records request. School districts have a difficult time providing these records when schools are closed for holidays, winter break and/or spring break.
This legislation would change the timeline from five calendar days to ten business days.
AB 2872 - School Districts: Organization: Governing Boards:AB 2872 will be amended to increase the amount of signatures that an individual would have to obtain to submit a petition to reorganize a community college district board. This bill will also clarify the timeframe that an individual has to obtain these signatures.
AB 2903 - Department of Motor Vehicles: Employees:This bill would authorize DMV to conduct position-specific examining and selection of candidates for its managerial classifications and designated supervisory classifications as administered by the State Personnel Board.
AB 2940 - School Safety: School Police Officers: Ongoing Costs:AB 2940 would mandate that school districts cover the costs of ongoing POST training for law enforcement officials hired by the district.
[ BACK TO TOP ]
2005
AB 16 - Campaign Contributions:This bill would ban campaign fundraising during the budget process, defined as the time between the May Budget Revision and the date of enactment of the budget bill.
AB 181 - Legislative Hearings:This bill would create the Legislative Captioning Act of 2005 and require that the Rules Committee of the Senate and Assembly provide closed-captioned and live captioned broadcasts of all Senate and Assembly sessions and committee hearings.
AB 336 - Controlled Substances:Current law provides for criminal sanctions (imprisonment in a county jail for up to one year) for someone who possesses, uses, or controls a false compartment with the intent to store or conceal a controlled substance within the compartment. This bill would provide these same sanctions for proceeds (i.e. cash) obtained or any property intended to be exchanged for a controlled substance and/or firearm in a hidden compartment.
AB 341 - Works of Improvement - Disputed Amounts:This bill would clarify statutes relating to retention of disputed amounts by an owner or contractor due to a contractor or subcontractor by defining what constitutes a disputed amount.
AB 343 - User Utility Taxes - Exemption:This bill would exempt public agencies and school districts that use compressed natural gas (CNG) for transportation or transit purposes from utility user taxes.
AB 347 - Political Reform Act - Enforcement:This bill would mandate that any person who knowingly or willfully violates any provision of campaign finance laws (Section 91000 of the Government Code) is guilty of a public offense punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for no more than one year or in the state prison.
AB 542 - Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training:This bill would allow individuals volunteering for police departments or sheriff's offices to take part in Police Officer Standardized Training (POST) Programs so they can receive adequate training.
AB 636 - Legislature - Performance Review:This bill would institute an audit for the Assembly and Senate and require a report to the Legislature on December 31, 2005.
AB 637 - Driver's License Endorsements - Certificates:Current law requires a person to obtain a certificate or endorsement from the DMV in order to drive "special" vehicles such as a school bus, an ambulance and a tow truck. This bill would enact the necessary changes to ensure that statutory requirements are applied equally to all certificate applicants.
AB 638 - Redevelopment:This bill would change the calculation of the City of Walnut's ERAF payment in the 2005-2006 fiscal year.
AB 740 - Charter Schools:This bill would reform the Charter Schools' Categorical Block Grant.
AB 835 - School Districts - Organization - Governing Board of Trustees:This bill seeks to limit the amount of time that someone has to obtain signatures for a petition to establish or reorganize a community college board.
AB 836 - State Agency Budgets - Zero-based budgeting:This bill would mandate that all state courts, agencies and boards institute zero-based budgeting starting in the 2006-2007 fiscal year.
AB 877 - Vehicles - Removal:This bill would authorize peace officers to store or remove a driver's vehicle if they exhibit evidence of incapacity and/or inability to safely operate a vehicle.
AB 1145 - Developmental Disability - Habilitation Services:This bill would change the job coach-to-consumer ratio from 1-4 to 1-3 for group supported employment placement programs for developmentally disabled individuals.
AB 1146 - Local Government Finance - Ad Valorem Property Taxes:This bill would authorize a county and the cities within the county to negotiate in good faith to exchange property tax revenues between the county and those cities.
AJR 7 - Zip Codes:This measure would urge the United States Postmaster to create ZIP Codes that do not encompass more than one municipality.
[ BACK TO TOP ]
