California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 398

Introduced by Assembly Member Campos

February 19, 2015

An act to add Division 3.2 (commencing with Section 600) to Title 1 of the Government Code, relating to the California Embassy.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 398, as introduced, Campos. California Embassy.

Existing law provides for the establishment of various commissions and offices that promote the interests of this state, including the California Travel and Tourism Commission and the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development.

This bill would find and declare that establishing and maintaining a California Embassy in our nation’s capitol would greatly benefit the citizens of our state and would highlight the role that California plays in our nation. This bill would authorize the Legislature to collaborate with any organization that is exempt from federal income tax, as provided, and formed for the purpose of establishing and maintaining a California Embassy in the District of Columbia within a one-mile radius of the United States Capitol building. This bill would require the organization to report to the Legislature every two years, beginning on the date two years after the organization is formed, on the status of the California Embassy. This bill would state the Legislature’s intent that a California Embassy be established and maintained solely by private contributions.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.  

Division 3.2 (commencing with Section 600) is
added to Title 1 of the Government Code, to read:

 

Division 3.2.  California Embassy

 

600.  

The Legislature finds and declares that establishing and
maintaining a California Embassy in our nation’s capitol would
greatly benefit the citizens of our state and would highlight the
role that California plays in our nation.

601.  

(a) The Legislature may collaborate with any organization
that is exempt from federal income tax as an organization described
in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and formed for
the purpose of establishing and maintaining a California Embassy
in the District of Columbia within a one-mile radius of the United
States Capitol building.

(b) The Legislature encourages the organization to focus its
mission on providing economic resources to establish a California
Embassy, maintaining and operating the California Embassy once
it is established, showcasing California’s culture and diversity,
and providing opportunities for our state’s citizens to enrich their
appreciation and knowledge of the United States government.

602.  

The organization described in Section 601 shall submit a
report to the Legislature every two years, beginning on the date
two years after the organization is formed, on the status of the
California Embassy.

603.  

It is the intent of the Legislature that a California Embassy
would be established and maintained solely by private contributions
and that no state revenues be used.