Laws, Bills & Regs

This Act creates a scholarship for students who have completed a Delaware Teacher Academy and are enrolled in a Delaware Educator Preparation Program. This scholarship supplements the Educator Support Scholarship and is intended to fill a $2500 funding gap for aspiring educators who are in their first year at an Educator Preparation Program. No more than 35 scholarships may be awarded. The scholarship will be expanded based on interest and funding in subsequent school years and will continue as funding is available.

Under existing law, a person who willfully inflicts corporal injury resulting in a traumatic condition upon specified persons, including, among others, the offender's spouse or former spouse, is guilty of a crime, punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for 2, 3, or 4 years, or in a county jail for not more than 1 year, or by a fine of up to $6,000. Existing law also provides conditions for probation for a violation of these provisions if the person has a previous conviction of certain assault and battery offenses, as specified. This bill would make this crime punishable by imprisonment in state prison for 2, 4, or 5 years, or by imprisonment and a fine of up to $10,000 if a person is convicted for violating these provisions within 7 years of a previous felony conviction under these provisions. The bill would also, if a person has one prior felony conviction under these provisions, require that the defendant be imprisoned in a county jail for not less than 60 days as a condition of probation. By increasing the penalty for existing crimes, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

By Mr. Durant, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2505) (subject to Joint Rule 9) of Peter J. Durant and Kimberly N. Ferguson (by vote of the town) for legislation relative to the dissolution of the Holmes Park Water District. Municipalities and Regional Government. [Local Approval Received.]

Authorizes the Department of Health to continue providing services statewide to Hansen's disease patients living in the community. Repeals sections of Chapter 326, Hawaii Revised Statutes, upon the 1‑year anniversary of the passing of the last patient resident of Kalaupapa as affirmed in the Governor's proclamation. Requires the Department of Health to include community organizations in the transition planning team. (CD1)

Existing law generally provides requirements for the licensing of business establishments. Existing law requires a business that provides services to minors, as defined, to provide written notice to the parent or guardian of a minor participating in the service offered by the business regarding the business' policies relating to criminal background checks for employees, as specified. Existing law requires the Department of Justice to maintain state summary criminal history information, as defined, and to furnish this information as required by statute to specified entities, including a human resource agency or an employer. Under existing law, the disclosure of state summary criminal history information to an unauthorized person is a crime. This bill would require a person who provides behavioral health treatment for a behavioral health center, facility, or program to undergo a background check, as specified. By expanding the scope of the crime of unlawful disclosure of state summary criminal history information, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Establishes a three-year pilot program in the County of Kauai and County of Hawaii to allow qualified psychologists under the supervision of a supervising physician or psychiatrist limited authority to prescribe certain psychotropic medications to patients between the ages of 18 and 65 years under the care of the psychologist. Requires the Board of Psychology to adopt rules. Requires the State Health Planning and Development Agency to report to the Legislature. (CD1)

Prohibits operators of smart household security devices from sharing user data with law enforcement agencies unless the user consents, the law enforcement agency obtains a judicial warrant, or there is an emergency situation involving a clear and present danger of imminent death or great bodily harm. Prohibits operators from requiring users to consent to the sharing of data with law enforcement agencies as a condition of using a smart household security device. Allows the Department of the Attorney General to bring a civil action against operators who violate certain requirements. (CD1)

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 7 of Title 52 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to registration, operation, and sale of watercraft, so as to provide for certain notice upon registration of a vessel with the Department of Natural Resources; to provide for performance of unattended vessel checks; to authorize restitution to the Department of Natural Resources for the cost of removal, storage, and disposal of abandoned vessels; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Authorizes the display of a mobile driver's license to a law enforcement officer on a mobile electronic device, under certain conditions. Limits a law enforcement officer's access to only the information necessary to verify the driver's license credential when displayed electronically. (CD1)

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 48-5-7.4 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to preferential assessment for bona fide conservation use property and bona fide residential transitional property, so as to increase the maximum acreage to qualify for assessment and taxation as a bona fide conservation use property; to provide for related matters; to provide for a contingent effective date and automatic repeal; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

AN ACT TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 2-1-180, RELATING TO ADJOURNMENT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND CONDITIONS FOR EXTENDED SESSION, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MAY CALL THEIR RESPECTIVE BODIES INTO SESSION AFTER THE SINE DIE ADJOURNMENT DATE IF THE GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS BILL OR CAPITAL RESERVE FUND RESOLUTION IS NOT COMPLETED BY THE SINE DIE ADJOURNMENT DATE, TO PROVIDE THE TIME PERIOD DURING WHICH THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MAY BE CALLED BACK TO COMPLETE THOSE MATTERS AND ANY CONFERENCE COMMITTEES APPOINTED ON OR BEFORE THE DATE OF SINE DIE ADJOURNMENT, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE TOLLING OF THE ONE-HUNDRED-TWENTY-DAY PERIOD THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS TO REVIEW STATE REGULATIONS. - RATIFIED TITLE

Existing law, the Governor's Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 2025, beginning July 1, 2026, eliminates the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency and instead establishes the Business and Consumer Services Agency and the California Housing and Homelessness Agency (agency) . Existing law requires the agency to coordinate with the California Health and Human Services Agency and the California Consumer Protection Agency on various state policies, including housing. This bill would require the agency to create a study on issues impacting pregnant people experiencing homelessness and report the results of the study, as well as recommendations to establish a PINK Alert, to the Legislature by July 1, 2028. The bill would require the recommendations to include how the PINK Alert can meet specified conditions, including that it be a system that nonprofits can opt in to in order to get notifications if there is a pregnant person in need of emergency housing or prenatal services.

This bill adds a new crime of application insurance fraud under the criminal code to include fraudulent statements submitted in support of an application to obtain or renew insurance or made for purposes of obtaining a commission or other payment from an insurer. This bill makes application-related insurance fraud a class A misdemeanor unless the benefits wrongfully obtained or sought to be obtained is at least $1,000, in which case application insurance fraud is a class G felony.

Grants peace officer status to employees of the town court of the town of Montgomery serving as uniformed court officers at such town court.

Authorizes the Department of Land and Natural Resources to engage in certain capital improvement projects at state small boat harbors and state parks without prior approval from the Legislature and Governor for existing facilities. Requires semiannual reports to the Legislature. Sunsets five years after the effective date. (CD1)

Increases the number of members in the public service commission from five to seven members.

Authorizes the Division of Animal Industry of the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to adopt, amend, and repeal rules to develop an evaluation and authorization process to import and transport aquatic livestock in the State. Requires the Aquaculture Program to develop a biological aquatic risk-based framework and biocontainment standards for the aquatic livestock evaluation and authorization process. (CD1)

(1) Existing law establishes the Pierce's Disease Control Program in the Department of Food and Agriculture, and the Pierce's Disease Management Account in the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund. Existing law allows certain money in this account to be expended to combat Pierce's disease and its vectors, including the glassy-winged sharpshooter, and for purposes relating to other designated pests and diseases, as provided. Existing law makes these provisions inoperative on March 1, 2031. This bill would extend the operation of these provisions indefinitely, except that the bill would make these provisions inoperative on a specified date if the Secretary of Food and Agriculture finds that a favorable vote in a referendum has not been given for the continued implementation of the provisions regarding the Winegrape Pest and Disease Prevention Board, as described below. By extending the operation of a partially continuously appropriated fund, this bill would make an appropriation. (2) Existing law creates in the department the Pierce's Disease and Glassy-winged Sharpshooter Board, which consists of specified members, and prescribes the functions and duties of the board with respect to implementation of the Pierce's disease program. Existing law provides for an annual assessment to be paid by grape processors, as defined, into the Department of Food and Agriculture Fund and continuously appropriates the collected funds for the purposes of, among other things, research and other activities related to the Pierce's disease program. Existing law repeals these provisions on March 1, 2031. This bill would change the name of the board to the Winegrape Pest and Disease Prevention Board. This bill would extend the operation of the provisions concerning the board indefinitely, except that this bill would require the Secretary of Food and Agriculture, no later than June 30, 2030, and at least once every 5 years thereafter, to hold one or more public hearings to determine whether the operation of these provisions should be continued. If the secretary makes a specified finding after one of those hearings, the bill would require the secretary to conduct a referendum on the continued operation of the board. If the secretary finds that a favorable vote in the referendum has not been given for the continued operation of the board, the bill would end the operation of the board as of March 1 of the calendar year immediately following the calendar year in which the referendum is held. By extending the date until which the assessments are collected and deposited into a continuously appropriated fund, the bill would make an appropriation. (3) Existing law, until March 1, 2031, requires the Secretary of Food and Agriculture to appoint an advisory task force for the purpose of advising the secretary on the control and management of Pierce's disease. This bill would also require the task force to advise the Secretary of Food and Agriculture on the control and management of other designated pests and diseases. The bill would extend the operation of the task force indefinitely, subject to becoming inoperative if the operation of the Winegrape Pest and Disease Prevention Board is discontinued. (4) Existing constitutional provisions require that a statute that limits the right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for protecting that interest. This bill would make legislative findings to that effect.

Existing law establishes the Department of Health Care Access and Information to oversee various aspects of the health care market, including oversight of hospital facilities and community benefit plans. Existing law, the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975, provides for the licensure and regulation of health care service plans by the Department of Managed Health Care and makes a willful violation of the act's requirements a crime. Existing law provides for the regulation of health insurers by the Department of Insurance. Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of general acute care hospitals and clinics by the State Department of Public Health. This bill would, beginning on January 1, 2028, prohibit a health care provider, hospital, or health system from charging, billing, or collecting a facility fee for any outpatient services in specified circumstances, including for specified preventative health care services and health care services furnished via telehealth. The bill would not prohibit the billing of a professional fee. The bill would require a health care provider, hospital, or health system to provide notice, as specified, to a patient at the time of scheduling and at check-in if a facility fee will be charged. The bill would require the Director of the Department of Health Care Access and Information to impose an administrative penalty pursuant to a specified process for each violation against a health care provider, hospital, or health system that fails to comply with these provisions. The bill would specify that multiple violations identified during the same investigation constitute a single violation for purposes of assessing an administrative penalty. The bill would require a health care provider, hospital, or health system to reimburse the patient or patients any amount actually paid for a prohibited facility fee. The bill would, beginning on January 1, 2028, prohibit a health care service plan or health insurer from reimbursing, paying, or otherwise providing coverage for any prohibited facility fee. The bill would prohibit a plan from including in any contract or provider agreement any term permitting payment of a prohibited facility fee, and would prohibit a plan or insurer from passing through or otherwise shifting the fee to an enrollee or insured. Because a willful violation of these provisions relative to health care service plans would be a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would, beginning on January 1, 2028, require a hospital or health system, as defined, to file a report with the Department of Health Care Access and Information regarding specified information on the facility fees charged, including the number of patient visits at each facility where a facility fee was charged or billed and the total amount of fees charged. The bill would authorize the department to incorporate this report into an existing reporting requirement to minimize costs. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.