Political Landscape:

AB 1484, Model State Trademark Law, repeals the Trademark Law and enacts the Model State Trademark Law to expand the information required to be provided with an application for registration of a mark to include, among other things, a drawing of the mark and three specimens of that mark as it is actually used.

AB 1539, Terminally Ill Prisoners, extends provisions for early release to prisoners who are permanently, medically incapacitated and whose release is deemed not to threaten public safety.

?

Vetoed: AB 966, Senior Citizen ID, would have required the Department of Motor Vehicles to include with every notice of renewal of a driver’s license that is mailed to a licensed driver, a notice that a person who is 62 or older may be issued, free of charge, an identification card bearing the notation “Senior Citizen.”

AB 1427, Developmental Disability Services, would have created a pilot program to provide greater compensation and training for direct support workers who provide services to the developmentally disabled.

?

Signed:

AB 294, Manganese Study, directs the Legislature to enact legislation to identify the sources and reduce the levels of manganese particulate matter in the air.

?

Vetoed: AB 1244, Golf Carts, would have allowed cities and counties to designate regular roads and highways as golf cart-accessible, should these roadways be adjacent to golf courses, universities or retirement communities.

?

Signed:

AB 580, LAUSD — Merit System, extends a provision established in 2003 that authorizes school districts with more than 400,000 students to select an employee from any rank on a merit system employment list, provided that they meet the position-specific qualifications and at least three candidates are considered. This provision expired on Jan. 1.

?

Signed:

AB 34, California Umbilical Cord Blood Bank Program, establishes a public infrastructure to make umbilical cord blood donations accessible to all Californians.

AB 668, Maximizing Federal and State Financial Aid for Community Colleges, provides more notification to students of their financial aid options, increase funding at the chancellor’s office to allow staff to spend extra time with economically disadvantaged students and create training modules for community colleges counselors on up-to-date financing options.

AB 384, Benefits for Families of Fallen Firefighters, provides tuition fee waivers to families of fallen federal firefighters for public universities and colleges.