California Assembly Bill AB398 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: AB 398AMENDED 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.