California Automotive Business Coalition

Summary: Would require the CWIB , by January 1, 2011, in consultation with the Green Collar Jobs Council (GCJC), to establish a Renewable Energy Workforce Readiness Initiative to ensure green collar career placement and advancement opportunities within California's renewable energy generation, manufacturing, construction, installation, maintenance, and operation sectors that is targeted towards specified populations. The bill would require that the initiative provide guidance to local workforce investment boards on how to establish comprehensive green collar job assessment, training, and placement programs that reflect the local and regional economies, as prescribed. The bill would require the CWIB, in developing the initiative, to assist the local workforce investment boards in collecting and analyzing specified labor market data, in order to assess accurate local or regional industry cluster workforce development and training needs. The CWIB would be required to submit to the Legislature, by January 1, 2013 , a report on the implementation of the initiative. The bill would require the board to implement the provisions of the bill using moneys made available to the CWIB from funds appropriated to the state pursuant to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, to the extent that those funds are available for that purpose .

Summary: Would express findings and declarations of the Legislature with respect to the school funding system in the state. The bill would require the Director of Finance and the Legislative Analyst to convene a working group to make findings and recommendations to the Legislature and the Governor on or before December 1, 2010, regarding restructuring California's school finance system. The bill would require those findings and recommendations to include, among other things, alternative structures for funding public schools, the policy and fiscal implications of the alternative funding structure or structures, and an evaluation mechanism to facilitate continuous improvement, maximum transparency, and accountability of the funding structures. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.

Summary: Would clarify that a specified federal administrative notice relating to those limitations does not apply for purposes of taxes imposed under the Corporation Tax Law, as specified . This bill contains other related provisions.

Summary: Would enact the Carbon Labeling Act of 2009. The act would require the state board to develop and implement a program for the voluntary assessment, verification, and standardized labeling of the carbon footprint, as defined, of consumer products sold in this state.

Summary: Would require the Department of General Services, to negotiate and establish a model contract with standard contract provisions with both the regents and the trustees by July 1, 2010. The trustees would be required to, and the regents would be urged to, negotiate and establish with the Department of General Services the model contract applicable to their university by July 1, 2010. The bill would define the term contract to mean a research, training, or service agreement between the state and the UC or CSU, or a grant from the state to the UC or CSU for research, training, or service. This bill contains other related provisions.

Summary: Would require a state agency awarding a public works contract to provide a 2% bid preference to a bidder whose employee health care expenditures, and those of its subcontractors, are at least 6.5% of the aggregate Social Security wages paid to its employees in California. This bill would require a bidder and its subcontractors to submit statements certifying that they qualify for the bid preference, would require the bidder and contractors to continue to make employee health care expenditures, as specified, and would impose civil penalties in connection therewith, as provided. This bill would become operative on January 1, 2011.

Summary: Would increase the maximum amount of the contract from $100,000 to $250,000. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.

Summary: Would declare the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to develop a strategic plan in the education system for workforce preparation. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.

Summary: Would declare the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to develop a readiness year program in the public education system that provides basic skills training for individuals entering or reentering an academic institution or the workforce and prepares those individuals to meet California's career technical education and workforce development needs. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.

Summary: Would decrease the membership of the board of directors of SAFE-BIDCO by eliminating the official member selected by the members of the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission. The bill would make conforming changes, including changes to a provision related to a specified loan committee. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.

Summary: Would require the commission to limit the administrative costs, as defined, for each of these programs approved by the commission after January 1, 2012, to not more than 10% of the funds expended. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.

Summary: Would require a retailer that sells a service contract, during the period that the service contract is in effect, to (1) maintain contract information that includes a description of the terms and conditions of the service contract, and provide that information to the purchaser of the service contract or other beneficiary upon request, or (2) obtain a copy of the service contract upon request from the purchaser of the service contract or other beneficiary, and provide that copy to the requester within 10 business days after receiving the request. This requirement would not apply to a vehicle service contract, as defined.

Summary: Would recast the RPS program, to be operative on January 1, 2011, and which the commission would enforce with respect to a retail seller once that retail seller procures 20% of its retail sales from eligible renewable energy resources. Upon the recast RPS program becoming operative, the bill would require that a retail seller and a local publicly owned electric utility: (1) procure at least 23% of the electricity delivered to its retail customers from eligible renewable energy resources by December 31, 2014 , (2) procure at least 27% of the electricity delivered to its retail customers from eligible renewable energy resources by December 31, 2017 , and (3) procure at least 33% of the electricity delivered to its retail customers from eligible renewable energy resources by December 31, 2020. The PUC would be responsible for implementing these requirements for retail sellers, while the governing board would be responsible for implementing these requirements for a local publicly owned electric utility. The bill would require the PUC to establish procurement targets for retail sellers that are sufficient to reach the above-stated requirements. The bill would require that an electrical corporation's renewable energy procurement plan include a process that provides criteria for the rank ordering and selection of eligible renewable energy resources to comply with the above-stated procurement requirements so that the corporation's total renewables portfolio benefits ratepayers. The bill would require the PUC to annually establish and adopt a benchmark price for electricity generated by an eligible renewable energy resource, for terms corresponding to the length of contracts, in consideration of specified matter, and would prohibit the PUC from requiring a retail seller to procure additional electricity from eligible renewable energy resources if the net annualized costs, as specified, expended above the benchmark price exceeds 5% of the retail seller's total system annual revenue requirements, as defined. The bill would require the governing board of a local publicly owned electric utility to implement a similar limitation for the utility . The bill would revise existing law with respect to the use of renewable energy credits to meet the renewables portfolio standard procurement requirements. The bill would authorize the PUC to modify certain requirements for an electrical corporation with 60,000 or fewer customer accounts in the state that serves retail end-use customers outside the state and provides that a public utility district that receives all of its electricity from hydroelectric generation pursuant to a preference right created by a specified federal law is in compliance with the renewables portfolio standard. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.

Summary: Would repeal those block grants and instead establish the following block grants, composed of funding for specified categorical education programs: the Supplemental Professional and Staff Development Block Grant, the Supplemental Academic Support for At-Risk Pupils Block Grant, the Supplemental Academic Support Block Grant, the Supplemental Operational Support Block Grant, the Supplemental Career Technical Education Block Grant, and the Supplemental Pupil Support Block Grant. Commencing with the 2009-10 fiscal year, the Superintendent of Public Instruction would be required to apportion funds from those block grants to school districts, as defined. The bill would authorize a school district or county office of education to expend in a fiscal year up to 50% of the amount apportioned for the block grants established by the bill for any other categorical program for which the school district or county office is eligible for funding, including programs whose funding is not included in any of the block grants established by the bill, not to exceed 155% of the amount of state funding allocated in a fiscal year to the school district or county office for purposes of the program to which funds are transferred. The bill also would repeal statutory provisions that established or are related to various programs included in the block grants established by the bill. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.

Summary: Would require the State Chief Information Officer to manage the data of local educational agencies through the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System. The bill would authorize local educational agencies to share data with each other through the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System. The bill would require the State Chief Information Officer to establish a pupil data team composed of specified persons to provide input and make recommendations to the State Chief Information Officer regarding policy and procedures, including, but not limited to, the functionality of the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System data and response to requests for data. The pupil data team would be required to comply with specified requirements. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.

Summary: Would authorize school districts to enter into partnerships with community college districts to provide secondary school pupils who have exhausted all opportunities to enroll in an equivalent course at the high school of attendance, adult education program, continuation school, regional occupational center or program, or any other program offered by the local governing board with the opportunity to benefit from advanced scholastic, career-technical, or other coursework at a campus of the California Community Colleges. The bill would, on or before January 1, 2011, and each year thereafter, require the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges to report to the Department of Finance and the Legis lature the number of pupils who enroll in community college pursuant to these provisions, the courses these pupils enroll in, and the number of these pupils who receive a passing grade. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.

Summary: Would correct erroneous cross-references in the record production provisions and in other related provisions, and would delete duplicate provisions.

Summary: Would revise the notice requirement to require that notice requesting bids be published at least once in a newspaper of general circulation and on the authority's or district's procurement Internet Web site. The bill also would require the authority or district, to the extent practicable, to obtain a minimum of 3 quotations, either written or oral, that permit prices and terms to be compared, whenever the expected expenditure required for the purchase of supplies, equipment, or materials exceeds $2,500, but does not exceed $100,000. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.

Summary: Would authorize a continuation statement, as defined, to be filed not more than 6 months before the expiration of the 5-year period of the judgment lien. A continuation statement would extend the effectiveness of the judgment lien for another 5 years commencing on the date the lien would have expired. The bill would authorize the filing of successive continuation statements. The bill would set forth the circumstances under which the lien would be extinguished. In that case, the bill would require the judgment creditor to file a statement of release within 20 days after the judgment creditor receives an authenticated demand from a judgment debtor. The bill would also authorize the person who made the demand to apply for an order releasing the judgment lien, as specified, if the judgment creditor does not file a statement of release pursuant to that provision. The bill would set forth related fees and definitions for these provisions, and provide for attorney's fees in an action or proceeding maintained pursuant to these provisions. The bill would also specify that nothing in those provisions would be in derogation of any other relief to which an aggrieved person may be entitled by law. The bill would provide that a court order to release the judgment lien may be filed in the office of the Secretary of State.

Summary: Would permit an individual nonexempt employee to request an employee-selected flexible work schedule providing for workdays up to 10 hours per day within a 40-hour workweek, and would allow an employer to implement this schedule without any obligation to pay overtime compensation. The bill would require the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement of the Department of Industrial Relations to enforce this provision and adopt regulations.

Summary: Would , until January 1, 2015, also exempt from those taxes, the sale of, including specified layaway agreements, and the storage, use, or other consumption of, energy efficient products, as defined, sold for home or personal use, on the first Saturday immediately following Earth Day, beginning in 2010 . This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.

Summary: Would until January 1, 2016, enact the California Urban Communities Collaborative Initiative Act of 2009. The bill would create the California Urban Communities Collaborative Initiative in state government. As part of the initiative, the bill would establish an Inter-Agency Initiative Workgroup, partnership, and local committees for designated project areas and assign these entities specified duties with respect to coordinating and improving government efforts for at-risk urban communities, as defined. The bill would require the workgroup to report annually to the Governor and Legislature on its activities. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.

Summary: Would specify that the requirements and regulations that a city or county is authorized to change or modify include, but are not limited to, green building standards. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.

Summary: Would require the commission to adopt, in collaboration with specified parties, building design and construction standards and energy and water conservation standards to require new residential constructions commenced on or after January 1, 2020, or on a date by which the commission determines that the use of photovoltaic technology is cost effective, whichever is later, to be zero net energy buildings, as defined.

Summary: Would define "claim" for those purposes to mean a written demand or assertion by a contractor, a local agency, including a charter city, except as specified, or charter county with respect to the contract documents, as specified. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.

Summary: Would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would create a Kindergarten-University Public Education Facilities Bond Act , to become operative only if approved by the voters at the next statewide general election, and to provide for the submission of that act to the voters at that election. The bill also would state that it is the intent of the Legislature that such a bond act, if approved by the voters at that election, would provide for the issuance of an unspecified amount of state general obligation bonds to provide aid to school districts, county superintendents of schools, county boards of education, the California Community Colleges, the University of California, the Hastings College of the Law, and the California State University to construct and modernize education facilities. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.

Summary: Would establish in the division the Labor Standards Consultation Unit for the purpose of providing consulting services to an employer or employee regarding compliance with labor standards. The bill would authorize the unit to charge a requester a fee for consulting services provided, not to exceed the actual cost to the unit, and to fund its operation from grants obtained from for-profit or not-for-profit nongovernmental entities. The bill would prohibit the division from citing an employer for a violation of any labor standard, order, or regulation discovered as a result of an employer requesting or accepting services from the unit pursuant to the bill if the employer remedies the violation within 30 days.

Summary: Would instead require the state board to, no later than March 30, 2010, adopt that schedule of fees. The revenues collected would be deposited in the Climate Protection Trust Fund, which the bill would create. All other compliance revenues collected pursuant to the act, including fines and penalties, would be required to be deposited into the fund, and would be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the purposes of carrying out the act. The bill would require federal climate change funds to also be deposited into the fund, as provided. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.

Summary: Would require that any moneys received by the state pursuant to the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 that are directed for energy-related activities, programs, or projects, be administered by the state's energy and water agencies, and provide that those activities, programs, or projects should adhere to the principle of accountability while also adhering to existing state policies to promote energy efficiency, promote water conservation, promote the development and use of renewable energy resources, protect the environment, and provide green job training. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.

Summary: Would make those provisions applicable with regard to a vehicle that is transporting metal products or metal alloy products . By imposing additional duties on a sheriff regarding the care and safekeeping of metal products and metal alloy products , this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.

Summary: Would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would create a pilot program in which the Superintendent of Public Instruction would invite school districts with high dropout rates to participate in a career technical education development plan.

Summary: Would require that any moneys received by the state pursuant to the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 that are directed for energy-related activities, programs, or projects, be administered by the state's energy and water agencies, and provide that those activities, programs, or projects should adhere to the principle of accountability while also adhering to existing state policies to promote energy efficiency, promote water conservation, promote the development and use of renewable energy resources, protect the environment, and provide green job training. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.

Summary: Would authorize the board to create a program, administered by the authority, to access and dispense federal stimulus dollars for purposes of retrofitting multiunit, soft-story buildings, as specified.

Summary: Would declare the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that directs a portion of the federal program's funding to accomplish specified objectives relating to the building and green-collar trades, the provision of affordable, energy-efficient housing, and the revitalization of low -to moderate-income areas.

Summary: Would declare the Legislature's intent to establish a 3-year pilot program, known as the California Green Workforce Partnership Demonstration Program, to develop workers for employment in green industries and environmentally sustainable business activities.

Summary: Would state the findings of the Legislature regarding work-based learning, as defined. This bill would authorize school districts that maintain high schools to establish work-based learning programs, and to purchase liability insurance for pupils enrolled in programs of study involving work-based learning, off school grounds. The bill would authorize partnership academies, regional occupational programs, and other educational programs to deliver work-based learning opportunities for pupils that may include work experience education, community classrooms, cooperative career technical education programs, and job shadowing experience, as specified. This bill contains other related provisions.

Summary: Would establish a rebuttable presumption that a choice of law or choice of forum provision in an employment agreement, handbook, or other statement of an employer's policies is unconscionable, violates the public policy of the state, and is void, if the provision would require an employee or job applicant to arbitrate or litigate a claim outside of California that arose from employment or conduct in this state or would deprive the employee or applicant of the protection of California law for such a claim. The bill would require a court to consider specified factors in determining whether a person seeking to enforce the choice of law or choice of forum provision has rebutted the presumption.

Summary: Would make a first conviction punishable by a fine not exceeding $5,000 or by imprisonment in a county jail for no more than 6 months, as specified, or both. The bill would require that the fine for a 2nd conviction be the greater of 20% of the contract price , 20% of the aggregate payments made to, or at the direction of, the unlicensed contractor, or $5,000. In addition, the bill would require that a 3rd or subsequent conviction be punishable by both a fine and imprisonment in a county jail, as specified, and would require that the fine be no less than $5,000 and no more than the greater of $10,000, 20% of the contract price , or 20% of the aggregate payments made to, or at the direction of, the unlicensed contractor. By requiring 3rd or subsequent convictions to be punishable by imprisonment in a county jail, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Under the provisions described above, the bill would also provide that a person who used the services of an unlicensed contractor is a victim of crime and eligible for restitution for economic losses , regardless of whether that person had knowledge that the contractor was unlicensed. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.

Summary: Would require a person selling a voluntary offset, as defined, in the state to clearly and conspicuously disclose specific information in any marketing materials for the voluntary offset. The bill, beginning January 1, 2011, would require an entity that sells a voluntary offset in the state to ensure that each voluntary offset sold has a unique serial number and is registered with and tracked by a registry, as defined. The bill would require a registry to meet certain documentation and tracking requirements. The bill, except as specified, would prohibit a person from registering a voluntary offset with more than one registry concurrently. The bill would prohibit a person from selling, allocating, awarding, transferring, or claiming a voluntary offset for retirement more than once. The bill would authorize a person to resell a voluntary offset that has been previously sold if all rights and benefits associated with the voluntary offset are sold each time the offset is sold. The bill would subject any person who violates those provisions to a civil penalty of not more than $10,000 for each violation.

Summary: Would require the Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development , in collaboration with the major stakeholders, including appropriate state agencies, building trades unions, education, and the clean energy industry, to create by July 1, 2010, the California Clean Energy Curriculum and Training Initiative of 2009 to establish standardized curriculum for use at schools and provide outreach, assistance, and guidance to schools on creating clean energy training programs. The initiative would be implemented when the Legislature makes an appropriation of moneys for that purpose. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.

Summary: Would require the Governor to appoint a task force to make recommendations on how to maximize the number of Californians counted in the 2010 census and to implement a census outreach program.

Summary: Would provide that an awarding body that implements an approved labor compliance program may, upon mutual agreement with the Chief of the Division of Apprenticeship Standards and at his or her discretion , assist the director in the enforcement of prevailing rate wage laws and other requirements that apply to apprenticeships in public works projects through the operation of that approved labor compliance program under terms and conditions prescribed by the Chief of the Division of Apprenticeship Standards . The bill would allow a contractor to appeal the result of a labor compliance program enforcement action related to apprenticeships in public works projects through specified procedures. The bill would provide that, if the involvement of the Chief of the Division of Apprenticeship Standards in a labor compliance program enforcement action is limited to a review of an assessment and the matter is resolved without litigation, the awarding body that has implemented the labor compliance program shall enforce any applicable penalties and shall deposit any penalties and forfeitures collected in its general fund.

Summary: Would qualify the requirement that the public entity withhold money or bonds sufficient to provide for reasonable litigation costs to make it applicable only if the original contractor fails to promptly accept a tender of defense of the public entity in the litigation. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.

Summary: Would allow a health care district, upon approval of its board of directors, to use the design-build procedure to assign contracts for the construction of a hospital or health facility building . This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.

Summary: Would require a health care district that has been denied an extension of the seismic retrofit and replacement deadlines to make a specified report to the office. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.

Summary: Would require, on or before July 1, 2012, the Department of Housing and Community Development to propose building standards to the California Building Standards Commission that create a standard for ventilation systems for newly constructed buildings located within 500 feet of freeways and roadways, as specified.

Summary: Would provide that the definition of "claim of lien" is also the definition of "mechanic's lien" and would include within this definition a Notice of Mechanic's Lien, which would contain specified information regarding the legal effect of the lien. The bill would require the mechanic's lien and the Notice of Mechanic's Lien to be served, as specified, on the owner or reputed owner of the property, or on the construction lender or the original contractor if those parties cannot be served. The bill would require a proof of service affidavit to be completed and signed by the person serving the Notice of Mechanic's Lien, and it would be included as part of the mechanic's lien or claim of lien. The bill would provide that a failure to serve the mechanic's lien, including the Notice of Mechanic's Lien, as required, would cause the mechanic's lien to be unenforceable as a matter of law. This bill contains other related provisions.

Summary: The Contractors' State License Law provides for the licensing and regulation of contractors by the Contractors' State License Board, and authorizes the board to institute disciplinary actions for a violation thereof. This bill would make a technical, nonsubstantive change to a provision of the Contractors' State License Law.

Summary: Would require a state governmental licensing entity, as defined, issuing professional or occupational licenses, certificates, registrations, or permits to provide to the Franchise Tax Board the name and social security number or federal taxpayer identification number of each individual licensee of that entity. The bill would require the Franchise Tax Board, if a licensee fails to pay taxes for which a notice of state tax lien has been recorded, as specified, to mail a preliminary notice of suspension to the licensee. The bill would provide that the license of a licensee who fails to satisfy the unpaid taxes by a certain date shall be automatically suspended, except as specified, would require the Franchise Tax Board to provide a notice of suspension to the applicable state governmental licensing entity and to mail a notice of suspension to the licensee, and would provide that the suspension be canceled upon compliance with the tax obligation. The bill would require the Franchise Tax Board to meet certain requirements and would make related changes. The bill would authorize a state governmental licensing entity, as specified, to impose a fee on a licensee with a suspended license in an amount necessary to cover its administrative costs. The bill would make implementation of its provisions contingent upon appropriation of funds for that purpose in the annual Budget Act.

Summary:  Existing law requires an owner or operator, on and after January 1, 2010, to disclose the United States Environmental Protection Agency's ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager benchmarking data and rating to a prospective buyer, lessee of the entire building, or lender that would finance the entire building. The bill instead would require the owner or operator to disclose the benchmarking data and rating to a prospective buyer, lessee of the entire building, or lender that would finance the entire building based on a schedule of compliance established by the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission.

Summary: Would allow a public agency and a contractor to mutually agree to resolve a claim through independent arbitration.

Summary: Would require that a pupil take at least 2 courses from the subject areas of visual or performing arts, foreign language, or career technical education, as defined, provided that at least one of these courses is a course in either visual or performing arts or foreign language. The bill would require schools, to the extent practicable, to offer courses within their existing school calendars. Because the bill would require schools to provide a higher level of service, it would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.

Summary: Would exempt from these provisions employees in a construction occupation and commercial drivers in the transportation industry who are covered by a valid collective bargaining agreement containing specified terms, including meal period provisions. It would specify that its provisions do not affect the requirements for meal periods for employees or employers in industries other than those described in the bill.

Summary: Would establish specified procedures for the Legislature in advertising for bids, accepting bids, and awarding contracts. The bill would require specified information to be verified under oath, thus imposing a state-mandated local program by expanding the scope of an existing crime. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.

Summary: Would provide for specified procedures when a contractor, as defined, files a change order with the Regents of the University of California pursuant to an existing contract. The bill also would provide for specified procedures allowing arbitration between the Regents of the University of California and contractors.

Summary: Would authorize a regional or local agency that is a lead agency for a project or project component for which bond funding has been programmed or otherwise approved by the administrative agency or is otherwise targeted to be available, as specified , to apply to the administrative agency for a letter of no prejudice that would make the regional or local agency eligible to be subsequently reimbursed from bond funds for expenditures of funds under its control for the project or project component under certain conditions, as specified. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.

Summary: Would require the Energy Commission, by March 1, 2010, to establish a regulatory proceeding to develop a comprehensive program to achieve greater energy savings in the state's existing residential and nonresidential building stock. In developing the requirements, the Energy Commission would be required to coordinate with specified entities and to consider certain factors. Before adopting the requirements, the Energy Commission would be required to consult with specified entities and to hold at least 3 public hearings. The Energy Commission would be required to periodically update the comprehensive program to improve or refine the program requirements. The Energy Commission would be required to report on the status of the program in the integrated energy policy report. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.

Summary: Would revise the definition of an expatriate corporation to also require that the entity be domiciled in a jurisdiction that does not have an income tax treaty in force with the United States. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.

Summary: Would provide that the prohibition shall not be construed to prohibit a local public entity, charter city, or charter county from requiring a bidder to review all relevant bid documents provided by the local public entity, charter city, or charter county prior to submission of a bid .

Summary: Would require the commission or any state agency proposing green building standards to seek the input of other state agencies and consult with representatives from specified groups, as prescribed. The bill would require any agency providing input to recommend to the commission or proposing agency whether the standard should be voluntary or mandatory. The bill would also authorize the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission to develop and adopt voluntary energy efficiency standards, as described. This bill contains other existing laws.

Summary: Would declare the intent of the Legislature to exempt from those taxes the sale of, and the storage, use, or other consumption of, manufacturing equipment used in the manufacturing process, as specified.

Summary: Would require the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board, by July 1, 2011, to adopt a standard for controlling the risk of occurrence of heat illness where employees work indoors.

Summary: Would increase the layoff notice period from 60 to 90 days. This bill would require employers, when notice is given, to provide employees with information regarding benefits and services available to them once the notice of layoff is given. This bill would also require employers that give notice of a mass layoff, relocation, or termination to provide sufficient meeting space for the provision of rapid response activity, as defined, and to allow providers of rapid response activity services and affected employees to meet for not less than one hour for such services to be provided. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.

Summary: The Small Business Procurement and Contract Act requires state agencies entering into contracts for the provision of goods, information technology, and services to the state, and the construction of state facilities, to provide for a preference up to and including 5% for any bid of a small business and microbusiness, or a nonsmall business that provides for small business and microbusiness subcontractor participation, in solicitations where an award is to be made to the lowest responsible bidder or highest scored bidder meeting specifications. This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to those provisions. This bill contains other existing laws.

Summary: Would increase the circumstances under which an employee is entitled to protected leave pursuant to the Family Rights Act by (1) eliminating the age and dependency elements from the definition of "child," thereby permitting an employee to take protected leave to care for his or her independent adult child suffering from a serious health condition, (2) expanding the definition of "parent" to include an employee's parent-in-law, and (3) permitting an employee to also take leave to care for a seriously ill grandparent, sibling, grandchild, or domestic partner, as defined.

Summary: Would except as specified, include any person engaged in the business of the construction, installation, alteration, repair, or preparation for the moving of a prefabricated panelized home in the definition of the term "contractor." By expanding the definition of a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.

Summary: Would change the expiration date for these provisions to July 1, 2017.

Summary: Would also apply these provisions to actions taken by the department prior to January 1, 1999, with respect to competitive procurement in the State Administrative Manual and the State Contracting Manual.

Summary: Would provide that an employee who works in California for 7 or more days in a calendar year is entitled to paid sick days, as defined, which shall be accrued at a rate of no less than one hour for every 30 hours worked. An employee would be entitled to use accrued sick days beginning on the 90th calendar day of employment. The bill would require employers to provide paid sick days, upon the request of the employee, for diagnosis, care, or treatment of health conditions of the employee or an employee's family member, or for leave related to domestic violence or sexual assault. An employer would be prohibited from discriminating or retaliating against an employee who requests paid sick days. The bill would require employers to satisfy specified posting and notice and recordkeeping requirements. The bill would also make conforming changes. This bill contains other related provisions.

Summary: Would abolish the State Energy Resources and Conservation Commission, the California Consumer Power and Conservation Financing Authority, and the Electricity Oversight Board . The bill would create the Department of Energy, headed by a Secretary of Energy, and would create the California Energy Commission and the Office of Energy Market Oversight within the department. The bill would provide for the creation of various divisions and subdivisions as deemed necessary by the secretary. The secretary would be appointed by, and hold office at the pleasure of, the Governor, subject to confirmation by the Senate. The bill would authorize the Governor to appoint an Assistant Secretary of Energy who would serve at the pleasure of the secretary. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.

Summary: Would also exempt from those taxes from April 1 to and including April 30 of each year from 2010 to 2020, inclusive , the gross receipts from the sale in this state of, and the storage, use, or other consumption in this state of, qualified renewable energy systems, as specified. The bill would make its operation contingent upon the adoption of greenhouse gas emission fees under the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 and the appropriation by the Legislature of revenue from the fees sufficient to fully offset the revenue loss to the General Fund due to the exemption. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.

Summary: Would revise the definition of "skilled labor force availability" for purposes of these provisions to a commitment to training the future construction workforce of California through apprenticeship, as specified, and would require the design-build entity to provide specified information from which it intends to request the dispatch of apprentices for use on the design-build contract.

Summary: Would delete the provision that a bidder's "safety record" is deemed acceptable if the bidder is party to an alternative dispute resolution system.

Summary: Would delete the exemption for those projects from the requirement that the entity establish and enforce a labor compliance program or contract with a 3rd party to operate a labor compliance program.

Summary: Would instead provide that it is a crime if a person willfully and intentionally uses, with the intent to defraud, any number that does not correspond to the number on a currently valid contractor's license held by that person. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.

Summary: Would make findings and declarations regarding the intent of the entire provision to encourage contractors and manufacturers to develop and implement new and ingenious materials, products, and services, as specified, at a lower cost to taxpayers.

Summary: Existing law, the Field Act, requires the Department of General Services under the police power of the state to supervise the design and construction of a school building , as defined, or the reconstruction or alteration of, or addition to, a school building, if not exempted under specified law, to ensure that plans and specifications comply with adopted rules and regulations and building standards published in regulations, and to ensure that the work of construction is performed in accordance with the approved plans and specifications for the protection of life and property. As the work of construction or alteration progresses and when the department requires, the licensed architect or structural engineer in charge of observing construction or registered engineer in charge of observing other work, the inspector on the work, and the contractor are each required to submit reports, based on personal knowledge, as defined, to the department that the work and materials comply with the approved plans and specifications. When the construction is completed, notice of completion is filed, specified reports are submitted to the department, and all required fees are paid, the department is required to issue a certification that the school building complies with the requirements of the Field Act. This bill would eliminate the requirement that the contractor submit periodic reports to the department that the work and materials comply with the approved plans and specifications and would eliminate the requirement that notice of completion be filed before the department issues a certification that the school building complies with the Field Act requirements. The bill also would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to these provisions .

Summary: Would require the commission to implement the Building Energy Retrofit Revolving Loan Program to provide loans for energy conservation projects retrofitting nonresidential buildings built before July 1, 1978. The bill would create the Building Energy Retrofit Revolving Loan Program Fund in the State Treasury that would be continuously appropriated to the commission for the implementation of the program, thereby making an appropriation. The bill would require that moneys from the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 that are appropriated to the commission be transferred to the fund as authorized by federal law.

Summary: Would state the intent of the Legislature to reconsider prompt payment statutes regarding public and private works of improvement to aid in their clarity and application . This bill contains other existing laws.

Summary: Would require the department to distribute information on the use of constructability reviews of plans and specifications used for the construction of school facilities and the potential for cost savings that may be realized by the use of a constructability review . The bill would state the intent of the Legislature that the department incorporate this information into existing venues and schedules of communication that the department has established with school districts as a result of its role in the review and approval of school construction plans . The bill would define "constructability review" as a cost control technique by which the project plans and specifications are reviewed to identify potential claim or problem areas and deficiencies in the plans and specifications that may occur as a result of errors, ambiguities, omissions, discrepancies, and conflicts in the plans and specifications. One or more professionals, including, but not limited to, mechanical, electrical, structural, or construction professionals would be authorized to conduct a constructability review.

Summary: Would define terms for purposes of these provisions, expand the definition of a claim, and require the imposition of a civil penalty on a person found liable for a violation. This bill would exclude from these provisions specified claims to the Commissioner of Insurance. This bill contains other related provisions.

Summary: Would designate the Green Action Team as being responsible for evaluating opportunities for the state to participate in, and benefit from, the energy-related programs of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and to coordinate the state's participation in any federal energy-related economic stimulus programs and the distribution of moneys for energy efficiency and renewable energy programs to specified entities. This bill contains other existing laws.

Summary: Would require that the above-referenced questionnaire and financial statement be in a form prepared and provided to the public entity by the Contractors State License Board. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.

Summary: Would require the Department of General Services to submit to the Legislature, by January 1, 2011, a State Capitol: Smart Building Modernization Plan that would be required to include certain elements. The department would be required to develop the plan in consultation with the commission and to ensure the plan is consistent with the commission's master plan. The department would be required to develop specified elements of the capitol plan in coordination with the Sacramento Municipal Utility District . The bill would authorize the Sacramento Municipal Utility District to assist the department to identify funding sources to implement the plan .

Summary: Would require the commission to appoint a president of the commission from among its members. The bill would repeal the requirement that the president direct commission staff. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.

Summary: Would enact the California Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Innovation Review Act of 2009 and would require the commission , using existing staff and funds, to develop and to conduct, in consultation with the State Air Resources Board, a study containing specified elements to assess the potential to optimize the efficiency of stationary cooling technology while significantly reducing the use and emissions of high-global warming potential (GWP) compounds, as defined, in the stationary refrigeration and air-conditioning industry. The bill would require the commission, on or before January 1, 2012, to submit to the Legislature and to post on its Internet Web site the findings and results of the study. The bill would authorize the board to use certain fees, to the extent they are available, to develop various programs and projects encouraging the installation of reduced high-GWP charge systems and dedicated low-GWP systems for stationary refrigeration and air-conditioning units, and programs to reduce or prevent the emissions of high-GWP compounds.

Summary: Would authorize the CWIB to accept any revenues, moneys, grants, goods, or services from federal and state entities, philanthropic organizations, and other sources, to be used for purposes relating to the administration and implementation of the strategic initiative. The bill would require that all moneys and revenues received pursuant to those provisions be deposited into the Green Collar Jobs Account, which the bill would create in the State Treasury, and, upon appropriation by the Legislature, would authorize the Employment Development Department to expend those moneys and revenues for purposes related to the administration and implementation of the strategic initiative, and for the award of workforce training grants implementing the strategic initiative. The bill would require the GCJC to consult with appropriate state and local agencies to identify opportunities to coordinate the award of grant and green workforce training funds received by the state under the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 or any other funding sources.

Summary: Would revise and recast the program to instead establish until January 1, 2014, the Chrome Plating and Metal Finishing Pollution Prevention Grant Program to be administered by the Department of Toxic Substances Control . The bill would rename the above fund the Chrome Plating and Metal Finishing Pollution Prevention Fund . The department would be authorized to expend, upon appropriation by the Legislature, money in the fund to make grants that do not exceed 50% of the project cost or $75,000, whichever is less to metal plating facilities to be used for pollution prevention improvements. The bill would prohibit the department from awarding additional grants upon the exhaustion of moneys in the fund. The bill would also make conforming changes.

Summary: Would during the period of the imposition of a 1% sales and use tax increase commencing on April 1, 2009 , exclude from that 1% rate of tax, the gross receipts from certain sales and uses of tangible personal property that are subject to a fixed price pursuant to a contract entered into prior to April 1, 2009 . This bill contains other related provisions.

Summary: Would make nonsubstantive changes to this definitional provision and declare the Legislature's intent to enact legislation to address the underground economy.

Summary: Would revise the Renewable Energy Resources Program to state the intent of the Legislature to increase the amount of electricity generated from eligible renewable energy resources per year, so that amount equals at least 33% of total retail sales of electricity in California per year by December 31, 2020. The bill would revise certain eligibility criteria for an instate renewable electricity generation facility pursuant to the program. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.

Summary: Would require that revenues collected pursuant to compliance mechanisms , as defined, adopted by the state board also be deposited in the Air Pollution Control Fund. This bill would specify certain uses of the revenues collected pursuant to the fee discussed above and the compliance mechanisms.

Summary: Would provide that a contractor or subcontractor performing a public works project who is found by the Labor Commissioner to be in willful violation of the public works law a second and subsequent time , or to be in violation of this law with intent to defraud a second and subsequent time , with a prescribed exception related to apprenticeship requirements, shall be ineligible to bid on or to receive a public works contract.

Summary: Would create the California Climate Change Institute to (A) identify and support, through a merit-based peer-reviewed competitive grant process, research and education to be undertaken at academic and research institutions and laboratories throughout the state, (B) oversee, coordinate, and manage a nonduplicative, targeted research and development program for the purposes of achieving the state's targets for reducing emissions of greenhouse gases and mitigating the effects of those emissions, (C) develop effective model education pathways, training, model curriculum, and professional development necessary for emerging green technologies and industries, and (D) ensure that its climate change research is conducted in a manner that is targeted and nonduplicative of other research programs. The bill would make implementation of its provisions subject to sufficient funds being appropriated by the Legislature for its purposes.

Summary: Would require every primary care clinic and general acute care hospital to enroll and participate in the California Health Alert Network administered by the Emergency Preparedness Office in the State Department of Public Health. This bill contains other related provisions.

Summary: Would permit an individual nonexempt employee to request an employee-selected flexible work schedule providing for workdays up to 10 hours per day within a 40-hour workweek, and would allow an employer to implement this schedule without any obligation to pay overtime compensation. The bill would require the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement in the Department of Industrial Relations to enforce this provision and adopt regulations.

Summary: Would revise and recast those statutory provisions and make both substantive and technical changes. The bill would also replace the terms "original contractor" and "materialman" with the terms "direct contractor" and "material supplier," respectively. The bill would specifically authorize the submission of notices by means of electronic communication with respect to mechanics liens. The bill would also set forth additional requirements governing the form of security for bonds and would set forth the security required for large projects with a contract price of greater than $1,000,000 for the owner of a less than fee interest in property or $5,000,000 for the owner of the fee interest in the property. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.

Summary: Would on and after January 1, 2012, prohibit a contractor from performing work as a contractor or subcontractor on a public work, as defined, contracted for by the state or a state agency unless he or she has obtained a public works certification from a state certifying agency to be determined by the Legislature. The bill would require the certifying agency to establish and validate standards of competency through a prequalification certification system by January 1, 2011. The certifying agency would also be authorized to deny or revoke a public works certification under specified circumstances. The bill would require the agency to charge each applicant a fee in an amount sufficient to pay for the costs of administering the prequalification and certification, not to exceed certain amounts, as specified. The bill would also create the Public Works Certification Fund within the State Treasury in which fee moneys would be deposited and used only for these purposes upon appropriation by the Legislature .

Summary: Would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would define "green jobs."

Summary: Would revise the date the Department of Water Resources is required to adopt and submit regulations , as specified, to the commission to December 31, 2009. The bill would, commencing July 1, 2011, and annually thereafter, require the department to review and update, as necessary, the regulations. This bill contains other related provisions.

Summary: Would revise the statutory requirements for the provision of meal periods to specify that the requirements apply only to employees subject to the meal period provisions of an order of the IWC. The statutory requirements for providing the meal periods would be revised to specify that a meal period based on working more than 5 hours in a workday is required to be provided before the employee completes 6 hours of work, unless the existing waiver provision is invoked. The waiver provision for the 2nd meal period would be changed to provide an exception for different provisions within IWC wage orders in effect as of January 1, 2009, and to permit the employer and employee to agree to waive either the first or the 2nd meal period if the employee otherwise is entitled to 2 meal periods. The bill also would specify conditions under which on-duty meal periods are permitted rather than meal periods in which the employee is relieved of all duty. The meal period provisions of a valid collective bargaining agreement would be required to be implemented for covered employees rather than the statutory requirements. This bill contains other related provisions.

Summary: Would additionally require, for the report due to the office no later than June 30, 2011, that the report include, for each building that is planned for retrofit or replacement, the number of inpatient beds, and for a building or buildings to be removed from acute care service, the inpatient services delivered in the building or buildings and the number of general acute care inpatient beds and patient days in the years 2008, 2009, and 2010. This bill contains other existing laws.

Summary: Would require the state board to complete a study to reevaluate the evaluation of costs discussed above, and provide this study to the Legislature by October 1, 2009. The state board would be required to report to the Legislature by November 1, 2009, on whether the revised analysis has led, or will lead, to any changes to the scoping plan, and whether any changes should be made to the act' s timelines. The bill would require the Legislative Analyst to review the state board's implementation of these requirements, as provided. This bill contains other related provisions.

Summary: Would make nonsubstantive changes to that provision.

Summary: Would require full service health care service plans and health insurers to expend on health care benefits no less than 85% of the aggregate dues, fees, premiums, and other periodic payments they receive with respect to plan contracts or policies issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2013 , as specified. The bill would authorize those plans and insurers to assess compliance with this requirement by averaging their total costs across all plan contracts or insurance policies issued, amended, or renewed by them and their affiliated plans and insurers in California, except as specified. The bill would require those plans and insurers to annually, commencing January 1, 2013 , provide written affirmation of compliance with the bill's requirements to the Department of Managed Health Care or the Department of Insurance, and would also require those plans and insurers to annually, commencing January 1, 2013 , report to the Director of the Department of Managed Health Care or the Insurance Commissioner the medical loss ratio of each individual and small group health care service plan product and health insurance policy form issued, amended, or renewed in California and to report the ratio when presenting a plan for examination or sale to any individual or group consisting of 50 or fewer individuals. The bill would authorize the Department of Managed Health Care to assess health care service plan compliance with these provisions in specified medical surveys , and would also authorize the director of that department and the Insurance Commissioner to take specified actions if the director or commissioner determines that a plan or insurer has failed to comply with these provisions , except as specified . The bill would require the departments to jointly adopt and amend regulations to implement these provisions, as specified. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.

Summary: The California Constitution establishes the Public Utilities Commission with jurisdiction over all public utilities, as defined. The California Constitution grants the commission certain general powers over all public utilities, subject to control by the Legislature, and authorizes the Legislature, unlimited by the other provisions of the Constitution, to confer additional authority and jurisdiction upon the commission that is cognate and germane to the regulation of public utilities. The existing Public Utilities Act authorizes the commission to supervise and regulate every public utility, and to do all things which are necessary and convenient in the exercise of its power and jurisdiction. This bill would make a technical, nonsubstantive change to this authorization.

Summary: Would create the Voluntary Greenhouse Gas Emission Offset Program Fund, and would provide that funds received by the state on a voluntary basis from the federal government, individuals, businesses, organizations, industry, or other sources for the mitigation of climate change impacts related to greenhouse gas emissions be deposited in this fund. The moneys in the fund would be available, upon appropriation, for expenditure by the Natural Resources Agency for specified projects through a competitive grant process . The bill would require that moneys from the fund be directed to the California Conservation Corps and local conservation corps for specified projects. The Natural Resources Agency would be required, by October 1, 2012 , to adopt guidelines for the distribution of moneys from the fund and to develop strategies for the sale of voluntary greenhouse gas emission offsets by the state and other opportunities for contributions by the public to the Voluntary Greenhouse Gas Emission Offset Program Fund.

Summary: Would revise the statutory requirements for the provision of meal periods to specify that the requirements apply only to employees subject to the meal period provisions of an order of the IWC. The statutory requirements for providing the meal periods would be revised to specify that a meal period based on working more than 5 hours in a workday is required to be provided before the employee completes 6 hours of work, unless the existing waiver provision is invoked. The waiver provision for the 2nd meal period would be changed to provide an exception for different provisions within IWC wage orders in effect as of January 1, 2009, and to permit the employer and employee to agree to waive either the first or the 2nd meal period if the employee otherwise is entitled to 2 meal periods. The bill also would specify conditions under which on-duty meal periods are permitted rather than meal periods in which the employee is relieved of all duty. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.

Summary: Would make that fingerprinting requirement applicable to the Dental Board of California, the Dental Hygiene Committee of California, the Professional Fiduciaries Bureau, the Osteopathic Medical Board of California, the California Board of Podiatric Medicine, and the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners. The bill would require new applicants for a license and petitioners for reinstatement of a revoked, surrendered, or canceled license, to successfully complete a state and federal level criminal record information search. The bill would also require, commencing January 1, 2011, licensees who have not previously submitted fingerprints, or for whom a record of the submission of fingerprints no longer exists, to complete the process necessary for a state and federal level criminal offender record information search, as specified. The bill would require licensees applying for licens e renewal to certify compliance with that requirement, as specified, and would subject a licensee to disciplinary action for making a false certification. The bill would also require a licensee to, as a condition of renewal of the license, notify the board on the license renewal form if he or she , or any member of the personnel of record of the licensee, has been convicted, as defined, of a felony or misdemeanor since the last renewal, or if this is the licensee's first renewal, since the initial license was issued. The bill would provide that the Contractors' State License Board shall implement the provisions pertaining to renewal licenses on a specified schedule, after an appropriation is made for this purpose, utilizing its applicable fees.

Summary: Would authorize a limited liability company to render services lawfully rendered only pursuant to a specified license, certificate, or registration if the provisions governing that license, certificate, or registration authorize a limited liability company to hold that license, certificate, or registration. The bill would authorize the issuance of a contractor's license to a limited liability company and would authorize the responsible managing manager, responsible managing officer, responsible managing member, or responsible managing employee of the limited liability company to qualify for that license. The bill would require the limited liability company to maintain a policy or policies of insurance against liability imposed on or against it for damages arising out of claims , as specified, as a condition of licensure, and would require the licensed limited liability company to provide a notice concerning that security in certain contracts, as specified. The bill would provide for the personal liability of persons within the limited liability company in a certain instance, except as specified. The bill would also enact related, conforming provisions. Because the bill would impose various fees on limited liability companies that apply for and obtain a contractor's license, the bill would increase the amount of revenue deposited in the Contractors' License Fund, thereby making an appropriation. In addition, because a violation of specified provisions of the Contractors' State License Law by a limited liability company licensed pursuant to these provisions would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.

Summary: Would on and after January 1, 2011, require any commercial or residential fire sprinkler installation project performed by a Class C-16 fire protection contractor to be under the direct and immediate supervision, as defined, of a commercial fire sprinkler supervisor, as defined, or a residential fire sprinkler supervisor, as defined . The bill would also, on and after January 1, 2011, require fire pr otection contractors to implement a fire sprinkler installation training program for their sprinkler fitters, as defined, and supervisors , with specified exemptions. The bill would also require a contractor to file, as specified, a description of this training program with the State Fire Marshal. The bill would require a contractor, upon request by state or local fire authorities, to show proof that the contractor's sprinkler fitters and supervisors have received training, and would provide that a violation of these provisions by a contractor is grounds for disciplinary action.

Summary:  The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead agency to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of, an environmental impact report on a project, as defined, that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment, as defined, or to adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that effect. CEQA provides some exemptions from its requirements. This bill also would exempt from CEQA a project that has been certified as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum or higher pursuant to the standards and certifications adopted by the United States Green Building Council. By imposing new duties on a lead agency to determine whether that exemption applies, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.

Summary: Would require each electrical corporation and gas corporation having a comparative energy usage disclosure program, as defined, to report to the PUC the nature of the utility's program and the energy savings resulting from that program on or before March 15, 2010 , and each March 15 thereafter to, and including, March 15 , 2015. The bill would allow an electrical corporation or gas corporation that has not completed the implementation of its program prior to March 15, 2010, to make its initial report to the PUC on or before March 15, 2011. The bill would require the PUC, using an experimental design, as defined, to evaluate the information supplied by electrical corporations and gas corporations relative to their comparative energy usage disclosure programs and to determine the net energy savings that are currently being achieved and which could be achieved through expansion of comparative energy usage disclosure programs. The bill would require the PUC to report to the Energy Commission and the Legislature on the results of its evaluation and any action undertaken by the PUC in response to the evaluation . These requirements would become inoperative on July 1, 2015 , and would repeal on January 1, 2016 . This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.

Summary: Would revise the authorized route description for State Highway Route 108 in Stanislaus County. The bill would include an additional portion of State Highway Route 108 in the system of interregional and intercounty routes eligible to be funded as interregional improvements. This bill contains other related provisions.

Summary: Would require the PUC, by July 1, 2010, to develop and implement a strategy to expand the participation of multiunit residential and commercial rental properties in utility energy efficiency and solar energy programs and to prepare and submit a report on the program to the Legislature by that date. The bill would require the PUC to ensure that the strategy implemented does not result in any additional ratepayer surcharges, is funded through existing programs or the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and is cost effective for utility customers. The bill would require the PUC to consider, in developing the strategy, whether synergies exist between its energy efficiency programs and the solar energy programs of the California Solar Initiative, that, in the determination of the PUC, can make energy efficiency and solar investments cost effective for utility customers in multiunit commercial and residential rental properties. The bill would require the PUC, in implementing the California Solar Initiative, to ensure that solar energy system installers are informed that if the solar energy system is to be installed on a manufactured home, that the installation is required to comply with certain statutory and regulatory requirements pertaining to the alteration of manufactured housing. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.

Summary: Would require the successor agency to the former Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education in the Department of Consumer Affairs to transmit any available data regarding school performance, as prescribed, it receives from any schools under its jurisdiction to the California Postsecondary Education Commission. However, the bill would make this provision operative only if AB 48 of the 2009-10 Regular Session is enacted and becomes effective on or before January 1, 2010, and creates a successor agency to the former Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.

Summary: Would require that with respect to a contract between an owner and an original contractor, between an original contractor and a subcontractor, or between 2 subcontractors, any retention proceeds withheld shall be released within 45 days after the party seeking payment serves a fully executed conditional waiver and release, as provided. The bill would provide that it does not prohibit the withholding of funds pursuant to the above provisions of law governing amounts in dispute. This bill would also provide that these provisions shall not apply if the owner or original contractor provides written notice to the original contractor or subcontractor, prior to or at the time that the bid is requested, that performance and payment bonds may be required.

Summary:  Existing law authorizes the county superintendent of schools of each county, with the consent of the State Board of Education, to establish and maintain, or with one or more counties to establish and maintain a regional occupational center or regional occupational program in the county to provide education and training in career technical courses. Existing law also authorizes the governing board of any school district maintaining high schools in a county, with the consent of the state board and of the county superintendent of schools, to cooperate in the establishment and maintenance of a regional occupational center or program, except as specified. Existing law requires the governing board of each regional occupational center or program to establish and maintain an employer advisory board or boards pursuant to guidelines developed by the State Department of Education. Existing law requires an employer advisory board to perform various duties, including, among others, approving measures, criteria, and methods to evaluate whether pupils acquired the skills and knowledge identified in their skill certificates and assisting a regional occupational center or program in creating college scholarships for pupils participating in occupational course sequences. This bill instead would require an employer advisory board to recommend measures, criteria, and methods to evaluate pupils' skills and knowledge. In addition to creating college scholarships, the bill would require an employer advisory board to assist a regional occupational center or program in identifying scholarships. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.

Summary: Would increase the maximum amount of the contract from $100,000 to $250,000. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.

Summary: Would include a disabled veteran business enterprise, as defined under the California Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Program, among the entities to whom those higher penalties are payable under the California Prompt Payment Act, as described above. This bill contains other existing laws.

Summary: Would enact the Clean Technology and Renewable Energy Job Training, Career Technical Education, and Dropout Prevention Act of 2010 and would create the Clean Technology and Renewable Energy Job Training, Career Technical Education , and Dropout Prevention Fund (fund) in the State Treasury. The bill would provide that the moneys in the fund would be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, in the form of competitive grants that would be administered by the State Allocation Board and awarded to qualifying entities for the purposes of the construction of new facilities or the reconfiguration of existing facilities to enhance the educational opportunities for program participants, as defined, to provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary for careers directly related to clean technology, renewable energy, or energy efficiency that may also contribute to California's goal in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The bill would create the Clean Technology and Renewable Energy Job Training, Career Technical Education, and Dropout Prevention Council comprised of 9 members. The council would be required to issue guidelines to implement the purposes of this act. The bill would authorize the council to issue and renew negotiable bonds, notes, debentures, or other sources of security of up to an unspecified amount that would be secured by moneys appropriated by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act from the Public Interest Research, Development, and Demonstration Fund. Proceeds from the sale of the bonds, notes, debentures, or other sources of security would be deposited into the fund. This bill contains other existing laws.

Summary: Would declare the intent of the Legislature to enact subsequent legislation that would address issues relating to the competitive bidding process for public contracts, and would make legislative findings and declarations in that regard .

Summary: Would exempt from a specified portion of those taxes, for calendar years beginning on and after January 1, 2011, the gross receipts from the sale of, and the storage, use, or other consumption in this state of, sustainable development equipment investments of tangible personal property purchased for use by a qualified person, as specified, and tangible personal property used primarily during the research and development process on qualified research. The bill would also exempt from a specified portion of those taxes, for calendar years beginning on and after January 1, 2013, the gross receipts from the sale of, and the storage, use, or other consumption of, tangible personal property purchased by a qualified person for use primarily in any stage of the manufacturing, processing, refining, fabricating, or recycling of property, as specified, and tangible personal property purchased for use by a contractor purchasing that property for use in the performance of a construction contract for the qualified person who will use the property as an integral part of the manufacturing, processing, refining, fabrica ting, or recycling process, or as a storage facility for use in connection with the manufacturing process . This bill contains other related provisions.

Summary: Would create the Climate Action Team (CAT), consisting of representatives from specified state agencies, that would be responsible for coordinating the state's overall climate policy. The CAT, on or before January 1, 2011, and annually thereafter, would be required to prepare, adopt, and present to the Legislature, a strategic research, development, demonstration, and deployment plan that establishes priorities and identifies key expenditure categories for research, development, demonstration, and deployment funds to be expended by the state agencies represented on the CAT for the following fiscal year. The bill would require a state agency that is represented on the CAT to expend research, development, demonstration, and deployment funds, which would be administered by the Department of Transportation and allocated for clean technology, environmental protection, and public interest energy research, consistent with this plan. The CAT, on or before January 1, 2011, and biennially thereafter, would also be required to prepare and adopt a climate change impact mitigation and adaptation plan that includes specified information. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.

Summary: Would enact the California Apprenticeship Preparation Program Act of 2009. The bill would authorize an ROC/P, upon approval and certification by the Superintendent of Public Instruction, to offer a California Apprenticeship Preparation Program. The Superintendent would be required to approve and certify an ROC/P as a California Apprenticeship Preparation Program if the ROC/P completes specified requirements, including, but not limited to, entering into at least one memorandum of understanding with a local Division of Apprenticeship Standards certified building and trades construction apprenticeship program , including state-approved joint labor-management and unilateral nonunion apprenticeship programs, for the provision of occupational and academic support that includes specified criteria. The bill would require the State Department of Education, in collaboration with representatives from building trades and construction apprenticeship training organizations, ROC/P faculty members, and ROC/P curriculum coordinators, to develop curriculum covering all aspects of the building trades and construction industry.

Summary: Would permit agricultural employees, as an alternative procedure, to select their labor representatives by submitting a petition to the board accompanied by representation cards signed by a majority of the bargaining unit. The board would be required to conduct an immediate investigation to determine whether to certify the labor organization as the exclusive bargaining representative for the particular agricultural employees. Within 5 days after receiving a petition, the board would be required to make a nonappealable administrative decision. If the board determined that the representation cards meet specified criteria, then the labor organization would be certified as the exclusive bargaining representative. If the board determined that the representation cards were deficient, it would notify the labor organization of the deficiency and grant the labor organization 30 days to submit additional cards. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.

Summary: Would instead prohibit retention proceeds to exceed 5% of the payment, as specified, for all contracts entered into on or after January 1, 2010, between a public entity, as defined, and an original contractor, between an original contractor and a subcontractor, and between all subcontractors thereunder. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.

Summary: Would require the commission to limit the administrative costs, as defined, of energy efficiency programs to not more than 5% of the funds expended. The bill would, if the commission determines that incentive payments should be made to electrical corporations and gas corporations for achieving energy efficiency savings pursuant to commission-supervised energy efficiency programs, require that the commission ensure that (1) no incentive payments are awarded to an electrical corporation or gas corporation unless an independent verification of energy savings is obtained through an audit conducted by a party that is not financially interested in the results of the audit, and (2) incentive payments are only awarded based upon actual achievement of energy efficiency goals . This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.

Summary: Would establish the California Healthcare System to be administered by the newly created California Healthcare Agency under the control of a Healthcare Commissioner appointed by the Governor and subject to confirmation by the Senate. The bill would make all California residents eligible for specified health care benefits under the California Healthcare System, which would, on a single-payer basis, negotiate for or set fees for health care services provided through the system and pay claims for those services. The bill would provide that a resident of the state with a household income, as specified, at or below 200% of the federal poverty level would be eligible for the type of benefits provided under the Medi-Cal program. The bill would require the commissioner to seek all necessary waivers, exemptions, agreements, or legislation to allow various existing federal, state, and local health care payments to be paid to the California Healthcare System, which would then assume responsibility for all benefits and services previously paid for with those funds. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.