AB 398 Assembly Bill

BILL NUMBER: AB 398	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 26, 2015

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. 
   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.  
   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. 
   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.  
   600.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
   (a) California is the largest state with the biggest economy in
the nation.
   (b) California has the eighth largest economy in the world, with
over $2 trillion in gross domestic product.
   (c) California has great diversity in its people and its cultures.

   (d) California is the most populous state, with over 38 million
people.
   (e) Therefore, California should be represented in our nation's
capital in the establishment of a California Embassy so that the role
that California plays in our nation is highlighted.  
   601.  (a) The California Travel and Tourism Commission may 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.
   (b) The plan shall contain the following information:
   (1) How the organization intends to establish the California
Embassy.
   (2) How the organization intends to raise the funding necessary to
establish the California Embassy.
   (3) How the organization intends to maintain and operate the
California Embassy once it is established.
   (4) Any other relevant information the commission deems necessary.

   (c) The commission may approve the plan of any organization that
it determines will establish, operate, and maintain a California
Embassy that meets all of the following criteria:
   (1) Showcases California's cultural diversity.
   (2) Showcases California's higher education opportunities.
   (3) Showcases California's recreational and tourism opportunities.

   (4) Provides resources to Californians in the District of
Columbia.
   (5) Provides a place of refuge for Californians in the District of
Columbia.
   (d) The plan shall be in the form, and submitted in the manner, as
may be determined by the commission.  
   602.  Any organization whose plan is approved by the California
Travel and Tourism Commission pursuant to Section 601 shall submit a
report to the commission every two years, beginning on the date two
years after the plan is approved, on the status of the California
Embassy and how the criteria in subdivision (c) of Section 601 are
being met.