May 2, 2024
Golden State Republican Women
Janet Price, President
Submitted by the GSRW Legislative Analyst Committee
Valerie Evans, Lou Ann Flaherty and Elaine Freeman,
Sometimes good news comes to those you wait
California Law Letting Property Owners Split Lots to Build New Homes Is ‘Unconstitutional,’ Judge Rules
https://www.kqed.org/news/11984016/judge-rules-california-split-lot-housing-law-unconstitutional
A controversial 2021 law that allows property owners in California to split their lots and build up to two new homes is unconstitutional, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge ruled this week. The ruling striking down Senate Bill 9 only applies to the five Southern California charter cities that were parties to the case: Redondo Beach, Whittier, Carson, Del Mar and Torrance. However, if the case is appealed, the appellate court’s ruling will apply to charter cities statewide, including San Francisco, Oakland and San José.
The decision, issued on Monday, is a blow to key state leaders, who hailed the law as a way to open single-family neighborhoods to desperately needed housing.
This ruling issued on April 22, 2024 is likely to be appealed by the state.
The Los Angeles County Superior Court judge’s ruling, issued Monday, means that SB 9 cannot be applied in these five cities. The judge is expected to produce a ruling in the next month that could strike down SB 9 statewide.
Update on electric bicycles bill AB 2234
AB 2234, as amended, Boerner. Vehicles: electric bicycles.
Existing law defines an electric bicycle and classifies electric bicycles into 3 classes with different restrictions. Under existing law, a “class 1 electric bicycle” is a bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour. Under existing law, a “class 2 electric bicycle” is a bicycle equipped with a motor that may be used exclusively to propel the bicycle and is not capable of providing assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour.
Under existing law, a “class 3 electric bicycle” is a bicycle equipped with a speedometer and a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 28 miles per hour. Existing law prohibits a person under 16 years of age from operating a class 3 electric bicycle.
This bill, the San Diego Electric Bicycle Safety Pilot Program, would, until January 1, 2029, authorize a local authority within the County of San Diego, or the County of San Diego in unincorporated areas, to adopt an ordinance or resolution that would prohibit a person under 12 years of age from operating a class 1 or 2 electric bicycle. The bill would make a violation of an ordinance or resolution that is adopted for this purpose an infraction punishable by either a fine of $25 or completion of an electric bicycle safety and training course, as specified.
The bill would, if an ordinance or resolution is adopted, require the county to, by January 1, 2028, submit a report to the Legislature that includes, among other things, the total number of traffic stops initiated for a violation of the ordinance or resolution, the results of those traffic stops, and the actions taken by a peace officer during a traffic stop, as specified.
The bill would require a local authority or county to administer a public information campaign for at least 30 calendar days prior to the enactment of the ordinance or resolution, as specified. The bill would require the local authority or county to only issue warning notices for the first 60 days after the passage of the ordinance or resolution.
SB 1094, as introduced, Limón. Pupil instruction: course of study: social sciences: civic engagement.
Existing law requires the adopted course of study for grades 1 to 6, inclusive, and the adopted course of study for grades 7 to 12, inclusive, to include certain areas of study, including, among others, social sciences. Existing law requires instruction in social sciences to provide a foundation for understanding, among other things, the history, resources, development, and government of California and the United States of America.
This bill, with respect to both above-referenced adopted courses of study, would explicitly require instruction in social sciences to also include principles of democracy and the State and Federal Constitutions. The bill would also require pupils, at least once while in either grade 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, and at least once while in either grade 7 or 8, to complete one civic engagement or experience with a governmental institution at the local, state, or national level, as provided. To the extent that this bill would create new duties for local educational agencies or local officials, it would constitute a state-mandated local program.
Legislative Portal links – Express your support or opposition to a bill or directly to the Legislative committee currently reviewing it (as an individual, not as a member of RW or GSRW) – click here, or the bill’s author – click here, enter your bill # and look for tab at top of the bill page labeled “Comments to Author”.
