BILL NUMBER: AB 398	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


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.