CA AB163

Increases maximum reimbursement for shorthand reporting services to low-income litigants from $20,000 to $30,000 per case per year and increases per-case disbursement limit from $1,500 to $2,500, while eliminating the $75,000 annual cap on total disbursements.

Extends fee waivers and refunds for California gambling licenses and third-party proposition player services providers from July 1, 2022, to September 1, 2022, with refund deadlines adjusted to July 16, 2021.

Increases appropriation from State Project Infrastructure Fund for State Capitol west wing modifications from $20,000,000 to $37,000,000 and allows flexible timing of fund transfers based on an agreement between the Joint Rules Committee, Department of Finance, and Department of General Services.

Expands the hate crimes and hate incidents grant program administered by the State Department of Social Services to include support for victims and survivors of hate incidents (previously limited to hate crimes) and prioritizes vulnerable populations with high or increasing levels of hate incidents or hate crimes.

Requires the Department of Technology to create and submit a plan by February 1, 2023, to establish centralized service contracts for identified shared information technology services across state agencies to achieve cost savings and efficiency.