2013 Summary of Legislation – Effective January 1, 2014*
AB 258 CHAVEZ (CHAPTER 227, STATUTES OF 2013)
1. State Agencies: Veterans
This bill requires, on or after July 1, 2014, that every state agency that requests on any written form, publication, or through its web site, whether a person is a veteran must request that information only in the format: "Have you ever served in the United States military?" (Adds Government Code section 11019.11)
AB 464 DALY (CHAPTER 78, STATUTES OF 2013)
1. Vital Records
As it pertains to the Cemetery and Funeral Bureau, this bill allows a digitized image, as defined, to be submitted as part of the request for a certified copy of a birth, death, or marriage certificate and clarifies that an informational copy of a death certificate issued by the State Registrar, local registrar, or county recorder may be used to prove the death of a person for real property transfers in the county where the property is located. (Amends Civil Code sections 1188 and 1195, Health and Safety Code section 103526, and Probate Code section 210)
AB 803 GOMEZ (CHAPTER 635, STATUTES OF 2013)
1. Water Recycling Act of 2013
As it pertains to the Cemetery and Funeral Bureau, this bill authorizes the use of recycled water in cemetery hose bibs and requires a cemetery supplied with disinfected tertiary recycled water that installs a hose bib in a public access area to post visible signage and labeling indicating that the water is non-potable. (Adds Health and Safety Code Chapter 4.5, sections 8117 and 8118)
AB 957 WAGNER (CHAPTER 53, STATUTES OF 2013)
1. Postmortem Photographs
This bill provides that a coroner is not liable for monetary damages in a civil action relating to the release of coroner photographs. (Amends Code of Civil Procedures section 129)
AB 1057 MEDINA (CHAPTER 693, STATUTES OF 2013 – EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2015)*
1. Professions and Vocations: Licensees: Military Service
This bill requires, after January 1, 2015, all licensing programs within the Department of Consumer Affairs to ensure all applications for licensure ask whether the applicant is serving in, or has previously served in, the military. (Adds Business and Professions Code section 114.5)
AB 1297 PÉREZ (CHAPTER 341, STATUTES OF 2013)
1. Coroners: Organ Donation
This bill authorizes a procurement organization to notify a coroner before an individual has died that an organ donation may be available and requires a coroner to accept that notification if it will facilitate the coroner’s ability to preserve the body part. Additionally, this bill requires a health care provider, health care service plan, or contractor to disclose medical information to a coroner pursuant to notification or investigation of imminent deaths that may involve organ or tissue donation. (Amends Civil Code section 56.10 and Health and Safety Code section 7151.15)
SB 44 YEE (CHAPTER 277, STATUTES OF 2013)
1. State Internet Web Sites: Online Voter Registration
This bill requires each Internet Web site maintained by the state to include a hyperlink on the Web site’s homepage to the online voter registration page of the Secretary of State’s Web site. (Adds Elections Code section 2198)
SB 106 MONNING (CHAPTER 41, STATUTES OF 2013)
1. California Central Coast State Veterans Cemetery at Ford Ord Endowment Fund
This bill provides the Department of Veterans Affairs statutory authority to enter into a financial agreement to receive cash advances into the Endowment Fund, contingent upon the agreement not requiring the state to repay or make payments on cash advances. The Department of Veterans Affairs is required to develop and submit a grant application to the United States Department of Veteran Affairs for the State Veterans Cemetery Grant Program. (Amends Military and Veterans Code sections 1451 and 1453)
SB 119 CALDERON (CHAPTER 205, STATUTES OF 2013)
1. Crematories: Burning of Flags
This bill authorizes a crematory licensed by the Cemetery and Funeral Bureau to incinerate one or more American flags, separately from the cremation of human remains, in accordance with federal law, one week before or after, Memorial Day, Flag Day, or Independence Day; and requires the crematory to maintain an accurate record of all flags incinerated at the crematory. (Amends Health and Safety Code section 8344.5 and adds Health and Safety Code section 8344.6)
SB 159 FULLER (CHAPTER 55, STATUTES OF 2013)
1. Public Cemetery Districts: Kern River Valley Cemetery District
This bill allows a limited number of non-resident and non-property tax payer internments in the Kern River Valley Cemetery District in Kern County with the payment of a non-resident fee. (Amends Health and Safety Code section 9063.9)
SB 184 COMMITTEE ON GOVERNANCE AND FINANCE (CHAPTER 210, STATUTES OF 2013)
1. Local Government: Omnibus Bill
This bill makes several minor and technical changes to existing law related to local government. Among these changes is the expansion of the definition of family member under the Public Cemetery District Law to include a person’s domestic partner. (Amends Health and Safety Code section 9002)
