Status of State Park Closures

Below is a June 20 memo from the Department of Parks and Recreation on the status of the 70 parks that were scheduled for closure on July 1. Since the date of this memo, the department has said 69 of the 70 parks will remain open July 1, the original date of closure for the parks on the list.    Read more »

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A Place Where the State Might Be Able to Cut Costs

California is now accepting bids through June 25 at 1:30 in the afternoon for “Knife Sharpening Services.”

That’s the title of Solicitation OSP 2012-8.

There are 14 pages of dos and don’t, wherefores, lists of necessary attachments and other requirements if a business wants to apply for a state contract.

Among them is compliance with a Sweatfree Code of Conduct, three references and adherence to the “Darfur Contracting Act” in which a bidder must certify they are not a “scrutinized” business as defined in Public Contract Code section 10476.    Read more »

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Temporarily Closed Roseville DMV Office to Close Permanently — In Theory

Among the state property slated for disposal in the indefinite future is the Roseville Field Office of the Department of Motor vehicles.

It was added to the state’s “For Sale” list in 2010. The state hopes to reap $1 million from the sale.

This is the same office that was closed July 26th through August 1 after a student driver crashed into the building, creating a 4-foot by 5-foot hole.    Read more »

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More Properties Placed on the State’s Not Exactly Brisk “For Sale” List

Six sites have been added to California’s list of surplus properties and two removed under legislation signed August 4 by Gov. Jerry Brown.

The measure – AB 1272 by Assemblywoman Betsy Butler, a Torrance Democrat – is the annual compendium of properties the state Department of General Services wishes to dispose of.    Read more »

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Good to Know…

NEWS RELEASE — Insurance Commissioner Jones Urges Californians to Protect Their Vacation Investments with Travel Insurance Tips for Purchasing Travel Insurance

The Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of the summer travel season. With that in mind Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones today urged California travelers to make sure they are protected against possible vacation losses.    Read more »

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US Supreme Court Calls for Release of 33,500 State Prison Inmates

A sharply divided US Supreme Court has upheld a 2009 order by a special three-judge panel ordering California to significantly reduce its prison overcrowding in order to provide adequate medical care to inmates.

The 5 to 4 ruling, written by Justice Anthony Kennedy, gives the state two years in which to lower the population in its 33 prisons from 143,434 to 109,805 – roughly 33,500 inmates.    Read more »

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The Story’s Lead is in the Third Paragraph. There Should Be a Video Game Called “Death Master.”

Insurance Commissioner Jones, Controller Chiang Launch Investigation Into Death Payment Practices Subpoena issued to MetLife; hearing to take place on May 23, 2011

Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones and State Controller John Chiang today announced the issuance of a subpoena and joint investigative hearing into the practices of Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, also known as MetLife.    Read more »

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Board of California’s First-in-the-Nation Health Insurance Exchange to Hold First Meeting

One of the most powerful and far-reaching boards most Californians have never heard of meets for the first time April 20.

Within a short three years, the state’s five-member Health Benefit Exchange must become a clearinghouse for lower income Californians and small businesses shopping for the health coverage the federal government requires them to own beginning in 2014.    Read more »

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Governor Thanks State Air Board for Taking an Illegal Action

Governor Schwarzenegger Applauds Adoption of 33 Percent Renewable Energy Standard

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today (September 23) applauded the California Air Resources Board for adopting the Renewable Energy Standard regulation requiring that one-third of electricity sold in California comes from clean, renewable sources by 2020:

“I applaud the Air Resources Board for adopting regulations to increase California’s Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard to 33 percent.    Read more »

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An Issue That Can Be Resolved WIth a One-Word Law Change

(Editor’s Note: A long-time friend of the chief correspondent of California’s Capitol is a public information officer with a state agency. Her observation about the efficacy of complying with California’s Public Records Act inspired this post.)

State agencies have 10 days to respond to a Public Records Act request. The presumption would be 10 “working” days.    Read more »

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