BILL NUMBER: AB 398AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 27, 2015 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 wouldauthorize the 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 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 GO-Biz to submit a report to 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.allow an organization to identify or represent itself as the official sponsor of the California Embassy for the State of California if specified conditions are met, including that the organization is exempt from federal income tax as an organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, the organization is formed for the purpose of establishing and maintaining a California Embassy in the District of Columbia within a 2-mile radius of the United States Capitol building, and that the mission statement of the organization includes specified provisions. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:yesno . 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 most populousstate with the largest economy in the nation.state, with over 38 million people. (b) California has great cultural diversity in its population.(b)(c) California has the eighth largest economy in the world, with over$2$2.2 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.(d) California accounts for 13 percent of the nation's total output. (e) Therefore, California should be represented in our nation's capital in the establishment of a California Embassy so that the critical role that California plays in our nation is highlighted.601. (a) The 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 GO-Biz deems necessary. (c) 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 GO-Biz.602. Any organization whose plan is approved by GO-Biz pursuant to Section 601 shall submit a report to 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.601. An organization may identify or represent itself as the official sponsor of the California Embassy for the State of California if all of the following conditions are met: (a) The organization is exempt from federal income tax as an organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. (b) The organization is formed for the purpose of establishing and maintaining a California Embassy in the District of Columbia within a two-mile radius of the United States Capitol building. (c) The mission statement of the organization includes the following, or similar, provisions: (1) The California Embassy shall showcase California's recreational and tourism opportunities. (2) The California Embassy shall showcase California's businesses and business opportunities. (3) The California Embassy shall provide Californians in the District of Columbia with the resources they may need. (4) The California Embassy shall serve as a centralized meeting place for different California constituencies to advocate for California's best interests. (d) The organization submits a report to the offices of the Speaker of the Assembly and the President pro Tempore of the Senate every two years, beginning on the date two years after it is formed, on the status of the California Embassy and how the mission statement in subdivision (c) is being met.