4 Measures by Assemblywoman Mariko Yamada To Become Law on Jan. 1

Four measures authored by Assemblymember Mariko Yamada, D-Davis, will take effect on Jan. 1.

Yamada represents the 4th District which includes all or portions of Colusa, Lake, Napa, Solano, Sonoma and Yolo Counties. She is the chair of the Committee on Aging and Long-Term Care. 

Yamada will leave office after this term, due to being termed out. Numerous local candidates have announced their intentions to run for the seat on the June 2014 ballot.

To see information on the 4th District race, check the Napa Valley Patch 4th District Assembly blog: http://napavalley.patch.com/blogs/ballot-box-california-assembly-4th-district-race

Here are the Yamada measures that will take effect Jan. 1:

AB 557 –This bill revises requirements for quarterly financial statements provided to members of California’s six Veterans Homes -- including the Veterans Home in Yountville -- to make the information provided in these statements consistent with existing state law.  In addition, this bill would require that quarterly statements sent to veterans as well as notice postings inside Veterans Homes concerning quarterly statements be printed in 14-point font or larger.

AB 602 - This law requires employees at Developmental Centers and State Hospitals -- including Napa State Hospital -- to report serious assault and abuse incidents directly to outside law enforcement agencies within two hours. Prior to this legislation, reports were only made internally within 2 days and reporting to outside law enforcement was not mandatory. Local law enforcement will also participate in specialized training for conducting investigations involving the residents of these facilities.

AB 776 – This law will ensure the involvement of Area Agencies on Aging and Independent Living Centers as the Department of Health Care Services begins the process of integrating medical and long-term care services for "dual-eligible" Californians under the terms of the Coordinated Care Initiative.

AB 1006 – This bill will help reformed juvenile offenders start adulthood with a clean slate by standardizing the process for informing juvenile offenders of their right to seal their records. Courts and probation officers would be required to provide this information when the youth has fulfilled the requirements of the court or probation.