BILL NUMBER: AB 398	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 20, 2015
	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 authorize the  California Travel and
Tourism Commission   Governor's Office of Business and
Economic Development (GO-Biz)  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   GO-Biz  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     GO-Biz  to
submit a report to  the commission   GO-Biz
 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
  yes  . 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 all of the following:
   (a) California is the  largest   most
populous  state with the  biggest   largest
 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
  Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development
(GO-Biz)  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
    GO-Biz  deems necessary.
   (c)  The commission   GO-Biz  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.   GO-Biz.

   602.  Any organization whose plan is approved by  the
California Travel and Tourism Commission    
GO-Biz pursuant to Section 601 shall submit a report to 
the commission     GO-Biz  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.