Legislative Accomplishments

AB 1453 (Quirk-Silva) Southern California Veterans Cemetery

Summary

Requires the California Department of Veterans Affairs (department), in voluntary cooperation with local government entities in Orange County, to design, develop, construct, and equip a state-owned and state-operated Southern California Veterans Cemetery (Cemetery) to be located at a specified site in the City of Irvine. Signed by the Governor; Chaptered by Secretary of State – Chapter 646, Statutes of 2014.

SB 721 (Padilla) Horse Racing

Summary

Authorizes the Los Angeles County Fair (LACF), subject to approval by the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB), to conduct live racing meetings at another site within or outside of Los Angeles County in accordance with specified provisions. Signed by the Governor: Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 50, Statutes of 2014.

AB 1074 (Atkins) Horse Racing: Thoroughbred Racing

Summary

Extends the sunset date by one year for the statewide marketing organization that is responsible for marketing and promoting thoroughbred and fair horse racing and also makes adjustments to existing Horse Racing Law to allow the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) to adjust racing dates in the central and southern zones in order to address the scheduling issues resulting from the impending closure of Hollywood Park racetrack. Signed by the Governor; Chaptered by Secretary of State – Chapter 428, Statutes of 2013.

AB 971 (Garcia) Public agency employers: paratransit providers: criminal history information

Summary

The sponsor, Access Services, states that while it and its providers currently do background checks, the existing statutes are ambiguous as to whether Access Services falls within one of the exceptions. They contend that this minor change would explicitly clarify their ability to conduct background checks like other transit agencies in California. This bill would amend the law to clarify that paratransit agencies may obtain the criminal history information for the purposes of oversight and enforcement of their policies with respect to contracted providers of service. Signed by Governor; Chaptered by Secretary of State – Chapter 458, Statutes of 2013.

AB 1383 (Hernandez) District Based Elections

Summary

The bill would, commencing January 1, 2017, require the legislative body of a city with a population of 100,000 or more, as determined by the most recent federal decennial census, to provide by ordinance, without submitting the ordinance to the voters of the city for approval, for the election of members of the legislative body by district. The bill would, commencing January 1, 2017, permit the legislative body of any other city to provide by ordinance, without submitting the ordinance to the voters of the city for approval, for the election of members of the legislative body by district. – Defeated legislation; 2013–2014 regular session.

AB 1102 (Allen) Beach fire rings: coastal development permit

Summary

This bill would require a city or county, including a charter city or charter county, to apply for a coastal development permit to remove or restrict the use of a beach fire ring, as defined, and would require that application to include specified information. – Defeated legislation; 2013–2014 regular session.

SB 827 (Wright) South Coast Air Quality Management District: CEQA: Permits

Summary

Authorizes the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), notwithstanding a superior court decision, to issue emission reduction credits to “essential public services” and exempt facilities or equipment, consistent with SCAQMD rules; adds an urgency clause, and, sunsets the bill on May 1, 2012. – Signed by Governor; Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 206, Statutes of 2009.

SB 1646 (Padilla) Air Pollution Fee

Summary

Deletes the 2010 sunset date on the South Coast Air Quality Management District’s (SCAQMD) authority to impose an additional $1 fee on motor vehicles that are registered within its district boundaries to fund programs to reduce air pollution from motor vehicles. Increases, from 2.5% to 5%, the amount that SCAQMD may spend on its administrative costs. – Signed by Governor; Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 724, Statutes of 2008.

SB 886 (McLeod & Lieu) Management districts: district board

Summary

This bill adds an additional seat on the board directors of the South Coast Air Quality Management District for the City of Los Angeles, makes clarifying provisions regarding which cities are represented by which geographical city selection committee, and deletes prohibitions on a member serving more than two consecutive terms as chair on specified air quality management districts. – Signed by Governor; Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 664, Statutes of 2007.

SBX3- 8 (Ducheny) State and Local Government

Summary

Authorizes the continuation of the allocation of tax increment revenues to the Glendora Community Redevelopment agency from its Project Area 3. Currently, the amount of tax increment revenue is limited by a cap adopted by the agency in 1976. This measure provides for annual allocation of the greater of either $2.6 million or the gross tax increment received in 2007-08 by the agency, commencing in 2008-09 through life of the project. – Signed by Governor; Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 4, Statutes of 2009-10 Third Extraordinary Session.

SBX2- 16 (Ashburn) Horse Racing Licensing Fees

Summary

Shifts the horse racing industry’s $40 million annual obligation to fund the networks of California Fairs from license fees imposed on horse racing wagers to the General Fund. Provides various measures of economic stimulus for the horse racing industry. – Signed by Governor; Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 12, Statutes of 2009-10 Second Extraordinary Session.

SB 27 (Hancock) Local agencies sales and use tax reallocation

Summary

Prohibits a local agency from entering into any form of agreement with a retailer that would involve the shifting of any amount of Bradley-Burns local tax proceeds if the agreement results in a reduction in the amount of revenue that is received by another local agency from the same retailer if it is located within that other local agency, and continues to maintain a physical presence and location there. – Signed by Governor; Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 4, Statutes of 2009.

SB 178 (Aanestad) State property: Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

Summary

The bill authorizes the Director of the Department of General Service to sell, lease or exchange approximately three acres of state-owned real property located at 875 Cypress Avenue, in the City of Redding, that is specifically not declared surplus to the State’s needs and is currently used by the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection as its Shasta-Trinity Unit Headquarters, for the purpose of consolidating operations on or near the Redding Airport. – Signed by Governor; Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 564, Statutes of 2009.

AB 906 (Hill & Smyth) Conflict of interest: remote interest in a contract

Summary

Revises the definition of “remote interest” in the existing conflict of interest statute pertaining to government officials in order to allow a government entity to enter into a contract with an investor-owned utility (IOU), if the purpose of the contact is to provide energy efficiency.   – Signed by Governor; Chaptered by Secretary of State – Chapter 488, Statutes of 2009.

AB 155 (Mendoza) Local Government Bankruptcy

Summary

Prohibits a local public entity, as defined, from exercising its rights under applicable federal bankruptcy law unless granted approval by the California Debt and Investment Advisory Commission (CDIAC), under CDIAC’s terms and conditions. – Defeated legislation; 2009-2010 regular session.

AB 680 (Steinberg) Land use: Sales and use tax and property tax 

Summary

Reallocates sales tax on a per capita basis and reduces property tax revenue transfers to the Educational Revenue Augmentation Fund (ERAF) within the greater Sacramento region, as defined, and authorizes cities and counties within that region to obtain air emission reduction credits (credits) for specified purposes.– Defeated legislation; 2001-2002 regular session.

AB 1221 (Steinberg) Sales Tax Sharing

Summary

Exchanges a portion of a city’s or county’s locally levied sales tax revenue for an equivalent amount of property tax revenue from the state, and makes related changes to sales and property tax rates and allocations.– Defeated Legislation; 2003-2004 regular session.

SCA 4 (Torlakson) Local Government Finance

Summary

As the chief negotiator for the Assembly Republican Caucus, Assemblymember Keene has repeatedly said Proposition 1A would not have happened without the Gonsalves firm. Our firm is recognized as the leasing contract lobbying firm responsible for brokering the compromise that ensured local governments Bradley-Burns sales tax revenue was Constitutionally protected. Proposition 1A was passed by the California Assembly by a vote of 64-13. It was approved by the California State Senate by a vote of 34-5. Chaptered by Secretary of State. Res. Chapter 133, Statutes of 2004.

SB 709 (Lockyer) No & Low Tax City Legislation

Summary

Each of the no/low cities would receive a fixed 10% of the property tax revenues generated within its boundaries. The no/low cities succeeded in capturing a share of property tax revenues by linking their success to the Trial Court Funding program that shifted state funds to all counties.– Signed by Governor; Chaptered by Secretary of State – Statutes of 1987.

AB 1197 (W. Brown) No & Low Tax City Legislation

Summary

AB 1197 would restore the VLF allocation to no-property-tax cities, but would phase it out, on a dollar for dollar basis, as such cities receive the property tax allocation under this bill.  However, revenues from the VLF phase-out would be distributed to specified eligible no-and-low property tax cities, under specified conditions.”Allocated an additional 1 cent per year up to 7 cents of the Property Tax to all No & Low Tax Cities. – Signed by Governor; Chaptered by Secretary of State – Statutes of 1988.

AB 1981 (Huff) Surplus Property: Chino Valley Unified School District

Summary

Authorized the Chino Valley Unified School District to transfer specified surplus property previously acquired from the state, to the City of Chino Hills, in the County of San Bernardino, Subject to certain conditions for development of a park. – Signed by Governor; Chaptered by Secretary of State – Chapter 663, Statutes of 2008.

AB 811 (Levine) Contractual assessments: energy efficiency improvements.

Summary

Authorized all cities and counties in California to designate areas which city officials and willing property owners may enter into contractual assessments to finance the installation of distributed generation renewable energy sources and energy efficiency improvements. – Signed by Governor; Chaptered by Secretary of State – Chapter 159, Statutes of 2008.

AB 1932 (Smyth) Simi Valley: Public cemeteries

Summary

Allows the city of Simi Valley to survey, lay out, own and operate for burial, five or more acres of public land for burial purposes. – Signed by Governor; Chaptered by Secretary of State – Chapter 126, Statutes of 2008.

SB 1646 (Padilla) South Coast Air Quality Management District: air pollution fee

Summary

Deletes the 2010 sunset date on the South Coast Air Quality Management District’s (SCAQMD) authority to impose an additional $1 fee on motor vehicles that are registered within its district boundaries to fund programs to reduce air pollution from motor vehicles. Increases, from 2.5% to 5%, the amount that SCAQMD may spend on its administrative costs. – Signed by Governor; Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 724, Statutes of 2008.

SB 1124 (Local Government Committee) Local Government Omnibus Act of 2008

Summary

Specifically defined Access Services (ASI), the transit agency which provides transportation for people with disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for Los Angeles COunty as a public agency under state law. – Signed by Governor; Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 709, Statutes of 2008.

SB 1308 (Cox) Disaster Assistance

Summary

Added the Angora Fire, which occurred in the Lake Tahoe Basin in June of 2007, to the list of disasters eligible for full state reimbursement of local agency costs under the California Disaster Assistance (CDAA). – Signed by Governor; Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 400, Statutes of 2008.

AB 1602 (Laird) Local Government Finance

Summary

Reinstated the VLF bump for newly incorporated Cities after Proposition 1A. – Signed by Governor; Chaptered by Secretary of State – Chapter 556, Statutes of 2006.

AB 117 (Cohn) Tax Equity Allocation formula: County of Santa Clara

Summary

Repeals the 55% cap in Santa Clara County on tax equity allocation (TEA) funding for the county’s four no/low-property-tax cities starting in the 2006-07 fiscal year (FY). – Signed by Governor; Chaptered by Secretary of State – Chapter 342, Statutes of 2006.

AB 1342 (Napolitano) Redevelopment Plans

Summary

Allows the Cerritos redevelopment agency to extend the time limits on their plans without making findings of blight – Signed by Governor; Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 635, Statutes of 1998.

SCR 96 (Karnette) Intermodel Freight Access 

Summary

This measure would request that Department of Transportation, in cooperation with the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency, the Trade and Commerce Agency, the California Transportation Commission, and other appropriate parties, to prepare a proposal for a “Global Gateways Development Program” to enhance intermodel freight access. – Signed by Governor; Chaptered by Secretary of State. Res. Chapter 158, Statutes of 2000.

SB 602 (Wright) Local Use Tax Leased Vehicles

Summary

Requires that for purposes of reporting and transmitting any use tax, with respect to the lease of a motor vehicle, the place of use shall be the city and/or county in which the lessor’s place of business is located if the lessor is a new motor vehicle dealer. – Signed by Governor; Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 676, Statutes of 1995.

AB 609 (Margett) Recycled Water

Summary

This bill provided recycled water producers, retail water suppliers, and entities responsible for groundwater replenishment, the ability to cooperate in joint studies to determine the feasibility of providing recycled water service and recycled water for groundwater replenishment, as specified. – Signed by Governor; Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 164, Statutes of 1998.

AB 2023 (Gallegos) Flood Control and Water Conservation Liability

Summary

This bill provided that, until January 1, 2002, neither a public agency that operates flood control and water conservation activities, not its employees, shall be liable for injury caused by the condition or use of unlined flood control channels or adjacent groundwater recharge spreading grounds.– Signed by Governor; Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 659, Statutes of 1998.

SB 419 (Speier) Dairy Products 

Summary

This bill, until January 1, 2002, required the State Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), over the next two years, to conduct statewide monthly retail milk price surveys and a public information program that provides the survey’s findings, and to report back to the legislature. – Signed by Governor; Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 682, Statutes of 1999.

AB 471 (Hertzberg) Horse Racing

Summary

Establishes a racetrack backstretch employee labor relations process; requires the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) to adopt housing standards for employee housing at racetracks; and, authorizes CHRB to permit racing associations to accept “advanced deposit wagers,” as defined. – Signed by Governor; Chaptered by Secretary of State – Chapter 198, Statutes of 2001.

SB 142 (Boatwright) Sellers of Travel 

Summary

This bill would require an educational travel organization, that arranges educational travel programs, to enter into a contract with an educational institution containing a specified itemized statement of services prior to arranging an educational travel program. – Signed by Governor; Chaptered by Secretary of State – Chapter 772, Statutes of 1995.

AB 80 (Havice) Aggregation: Magnolia Power Project

Summary

Authorized the cities participating in the Magnolia Power Project to aggregate their electricity loads and provide direct electricity access to their residents on an opt-in basis. – Signed by Governor; Chaptered by Secretary of State – Chapter 837, Statutes of 2002.