Caucus News

SACRAMENTO – In response to recent attempts by the Trump Administration to bully NFL owners into firing athletes for speaking their minds while on the clock, as well as reports of potential threats to women courageously stepping forward in the workplace to share their personal experiences with sexual harassment and violence, California State Senator Henry Stern (D-Canoga Park) made the following announcement today:

Stakeholders on hand in support

LOS ANGELES – Sens. Ricardo Lara and Holly J. Mitchell today formally praised Gov. Brown and community members for supporting their #EquityAndJustice package to reform California’s juvenile and adult justice systems.

Along with Senate Bill 355, which Brown signed in July, the new laws comprise a #EquityAndJustice package authored jointly by Lara and Mitchell and introduced last March to promote crime prevention, rehabilitation and maintaining family cohesion.

SACRAMENTO – In light of recent public disclosure of possible sexual harassment and assaults by film producer Harvey Weinstein and building on her previous successful efforts to ensure justice for victims of rape and sexual assault, Senator Connie M. Leyva (D-Chino) today announced that—when the California State Senate reconvenes in early January—she will introduce legislation to ban secret settlements (confidentiality provisions in settlement agreements) in sexual assault, sexual harassment and sex discrimination cases.

SACRAMENTO – Senate Bill 536, a measure authored by Dr. Richard Pan, to give researchers access to data needed to comprehensively examine firearm violence was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown.

Walnut, CA - Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. joined Senator Josh Newman (D-Fullerton), an Army veteran, to tour the Veterans Resource Center at Mt. San Antonio College yesterday. The center connects returning service members with education, housing, health care and employment services, as well as other resources and support to help ease the transition back into their communities. VRCs were made a priority in state budget negotiations this year, with $5 million set aside for community college VRCs over the next year.

SACRAMENTO – California Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles) released the following statement following the United States Senate Health Committee announcement on a bipartisan healthcare deal:

“This is a short-term but imperative step to stop President Trump’s destructive dismantling of America’s healthcare.                                                                                 

Event to celebrate new laws protecting youth

LOS ANGELES – As part of a combined press conference and community celebration, Sens. Ricardo Lara and Holly J. Mitchell  on Thursday will review the expected impact of Gov. Brown signing six of their juvenile justice-reforms to promote rehabilitation and family cohesion.

Sacramento, CA – All eleven of the bills Fullerton Senator Josh Newman sent to Governor Brown’s desk this year, have been signed into law. The final bill awaiting Brown’s signature, Senate Bill (SB) 673, was signed into law on Saturday.

Los Angeles, CA – On Saturday, October 14th, over 100 local high school students and their parents participated in a college application and financial aid workshop at Fairfax High School. The workshop titled Your Path to the UC, was hosted by the office of Senator Ben Allen (D – Santa Monica,) in partnership with LAUSD Boardmember Nick Melvoin, Greenway Arts Alliance and UCLA.  The participating students came from Fairfax Senior High School, and nearby Hollywood Senior High School, as well as LACES, Narbonne High School and Westchester High School.

SACRAMENTO – Senate Bill 730 to establish important steps for the California Department of Education (CDE) to comply with the federal Buy American provision in school lunch and breakfast programs, was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown.