Public Law 113-6 was signed into law on March 26, 2013, enacting the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act of 2013 – carried by Rep. Harold Rogers. To lock in sequestration for 2013, provide funding for most federal agencies at 2012 levels, and result in grants funded via formula to be reduced by at least 5% due to sequestration, among other, expansive changes. A “constitutional authority statement” accompanying this 241-page public law was published in the Congressional Record, which stated: "The principal constitutional authority for this legislation is clause 7 of section 9 of article I of the Constitution of the ... Read More >
May 21
Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013
Public Law 113-4, signed on March 7, 2013 enacted the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 – carried by Senator Patrick Leahy, who stated in the Congressional Record on February 7, 2013: ". . . The bottom line is this: While we have made great strides in reducing domestic and sexual violence, there is more to be done and it is incumbent upon us to act now. The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act has been carefully considered and debated for more than 2 years. . . . Let us not undermine the provisions to help protect Indian women and other particularly vulnerable victims from the serious problems they face. ". . ... Read More >
May 20
CA Senate Bill 439 regulating medical marijuana shops passes Senate
Today, California Senate Bill 439, which would regulate medical marijuana shops, passed the Senate Committee and is heading to the Assembly. This bill provides that a cooperative, collective or other business entity that operates within the Attorney General’s “Guidelines for the Security and Non-Diversion of Marijuana Grown for Medical Use” will not be subject to prosecution for marijuana possession or commerce. Senate Bill 439 was introduced by Senator Darrell Steinberg, Senate President pro Tem, with the support the ACLU, California Attorneys for Criminal Justice and the Mayors of Sacramento and San Diego, among others, seeking to ... Read More >
May 17
CA Assembly Bill 188 of 2013 affects commercial property change of ownership under Proposition 13
Assembly Bill 188 proposes to revise California Proposition 13’s circumstances under which a “change in ownership” of real property owned by a legal entity is deemed to have occurred by closing a commercial property tax loophole to more accurately reflect when change of ownership takes place, thus recovering lost tax revenue. On May 13th, the Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxationplaced this bill in suspense, perhaps stalling it permanently. This Committee’s analysis noted the following statements by the author of Assembly Bill 188, Assembly member Tom Ammiano: “California's current system for assessing and taxing property, as ... Read More >
May 14
CALIFORNIA INDUSTRIAL WELFARE COMMISSION WAGE ORDERS – Spring, 2013 Engrossment
California Industrial Welfare Commission Wage Orders For over 20 years, Legislative Intent Service has been researching California Industrial Welfare Commission Wage Orders. Our massive, in-house collection includes thousands of pages of minutes, transcripts, correspondence and other rulemaking documents regarding wage order provisions, many of which predate World War II or were enacted shortly thereafter. What is a Wage Order? If you’re reading this in California, you’ve probably seen it: the “official notice” in your break room with the state seal. Unless you practice labor and employment law, you probably haven’t given this 10-12 page ... Read More >
May 10
False 911 Reports, “Swatting” Ban in CA SB 333
California Senate Bill 333 was introduced by Senator Ted Lieu of Torrance, CA to address the near-epidemic proportions of “swatting” recently in the Southern California area. “Swatting” occurs when false reports of threats or invaders in the homes of numerous residents are made. The locations for the latest hoax of 911 calls come from Los Angeles and Beverly Hills and include victims such as Simon Cowell, Charlie Sheen, and Justin Bieber, among others. Sponsored by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Senate Bill 333 provides that any individual convicted of filing a false emergency report, i.e., “swatting,” is liable to a public ... Read More >