Amended in Assembly March 26, 2015

California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly BillNo. 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 amended, 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.

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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.

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This bill would authorize the California Travel and Tourism Commission to accept submissions of any plan of 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. This bill would require the plan to contain specified information. The bill would authorize the commission to approve the plan of any organization that they determine will establish, operate, and maintain a California Embassy that meets specified criteria. The bill would require any organization whose plan is approved by the commission to submit a report to the commission every 2 years, beginning on the date 2 years after the plan is approved, on the status of the California Embassy and how those specified criteria are being met.

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

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

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SECTION 1.  

Division 3.2 (commencing with Section 600) is
2added to Title 1 of the Government Code, to read:

3 

4Division 3.2.  California Embassy

5

 

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6

600.  

The Legislature finds and declares that establishing and
7maintaining a California Embassy in our nation’s capitol would
8greatly benefit the citizens of our state and would highlight the
9role that California plays in our nation.

10

601.  

(a) The Legislature may collaborate with any organization
11that is exempt from federal income tax as an organization described
12in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and formed for
13the purpose of establishing and maintaining a California Embassy
14in the District of Columbia within a one-mile radius of the United
15States Capitol building.

16(b) The Legislature encourages the organization to focus its
17mission on providing economic resources to establish a California
18Embassy, maintaining and operating the California Embassy once
19it is established, showcasing California’s culture and diversity,
20and providing opportunities for our state’s citizens to enrich their
21appreciation and knowledge of the United States government.

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602.  

The organization described in Section 601 shall submit a
2report to the Legislature every two years, beginning on the date
3two years after the organization is formed, on the status of the
4California Embassy.

5

603.  

It is the intent of the Legislature that a California Embassy
6would be established and maintained solely by private contributions
7and that no state revenues be used.

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8

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The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

9(a) California is the largest state with the biggest economy in
10the nation.

11(b) California has the eighth largest economy in the world, with
12over $2 trillion in gross domestic product.

13(c) California has great diversity in its people and its cultures.

14(d) California is the most populous state, with over 38 million
15people.

16(e) Therefore, California should be represented in our nation’s
17capital in the establishment of a California Embassy so that the
18role that California plays in our nation is highlighted.

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19

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(a) The California Travel and Tourism Commission may
20accept submissions of any plan of any organization that is exempt
21from federal income tax as an organization described in Section
22501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and formed for the purpose
23of establishing and maintaining a California Embassy in the
24District of Columbia within a one-mile radius of the United States
25Capitol building.

26(b) The plan shall contain the following information:

27(1) How the organization intends to establish the California
28Embassy.

29(2) How the organization intends to raise the funding necessary
30to establish the California Embassy.

31(3) How the organization intends to maintain and operate the
32California Embassy once it is established.

33(4) Any other relevant information the commission deems
34necessary.

35(c) The commission may approve the plan of any organization
36that it determines will establish, operate, and maintain a California
37Embassy that meets all of the following criteria:

38(1) Showcases California’s cultural diversity.

39(2) Showcases California’s higher education opportunities.

P4    1(3) Showcases California’s recreational and tourism
2opportunities.

3(4) Provides resources to Californians in the District of
4Columbia.

5(5) Provides a place of refuge for Californians in the District
6of Columbia.

7(d) The plan shall be in the form, and submitted in the manner,
8as may be determined by the commission.

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9

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Any organization whose plan is approved by the California
10Travel and Tourism Commission pursuant to Section 601 shall
11submit a report to the commission every two years, beginning on
12the date two years after the plan is approved, on the status of the
13California Embassy and how the criteria in subdivision (c) of
14Section 601 are being met.

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