Bill Text: CA AB398 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: California Embassy.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2016-02-01 - From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. [AB398 Detail]

Download: California-2015-AB398-Amended.html

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BILL NUMBER: AB 398	AMENDED
	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 would  authorize 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:  yes
  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 all of the following:
   (a) California is the most populous  state 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.