Caucus News

As California considers a COVID-19 recovery plan, state leaders have an opportunity to align economic and climate goals by prioritizing workforce development in the expanding green economy, all while targeting underserved communities throughout California. This is the goal of Senator Ben Hueso’s (D-San Diego) and Senator Maria Elena Durazo’s (D-Los Angeles) bill SB 604, which was approved unanimously last week by the State Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water. 

SACRAMENTO – As California considers a COVID-19 recovery plan, state leaders have an opportunity to align economic and climate goals by prioritizing workforce development in the expanding green economy, all while targeting underserved communities throughout California. This is the goal of Senator Ben Hueso’s (D-San Diego) and Senator Maria Elena Durazo’s (D-Los Angeles) bill SB 604, which was approved unanimously last week by the State Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water.

Senator María Elena Durazo’s (D-Los Angeles) legislation that would require private, for-profit detention facilities and prisons operating in California to uphold basic health and safety standards for people being detained in these facilities was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee. The bill is sponsored by Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, CHIRLA, the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, and the California Immigrant Policy Center.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 20, 2021

CONTACT: Austin.Panush@sen.ca.gov  

Senator Bradford Responds to Derek Chauvin Trial Verdict

Sacramento, Calif. — Legislation to prohibit pay-per-signature incentives in the collection of signatures for qualifying a state or local initiative, referendum, or recall for the ballot, authored by State Senator Josh Newman (D-Fullerton), passed the Senate Committee on Judiciary on Tuesday. In parallel, the Senator has decided to delay legislation that would provide the targets of recall efforts the opportunity to communicate with voters whose signatures may have been secured fraudulently or misleadingly in the conduct of an effort.

SACRAMENTO - Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco)’s legislation, Senate Bill 314 and Senate Bill 793, passed the Senate Governmental Organization Committee with bipartisan unanimous votes of 15-0.

SACRAMENTO – Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) released the following statement following the guilty verdict issued in the murder of George Floyd:

SACRAMENTO, CA – As health providers tirelessly work to vaccinate Californians and put an end to the deadly COVID-19 pandemic that has already led to the death of 500,000 people in the United States alone, the Senate Public Safety Committee passed SB 742 by Dr. Richard Pan to give public officials the tools they need to keep anti-science extremists from harassing and intimidating patients and front-line workers when getting the vaccine.  

Senator Dave Cortese (D-San Jose) issued the following statement on the verdict reached in the Derek Chauvin Trial. The former Minneapolis Police officer was found guilty of murder and manslaughter in the death of George Floyd:
“While many of us are relieved that some measure of justice was served through this verdict, today only serves as a reminder that there is still so much work to be done to dismantle the systemic injustice that pervades our law enforcement and criminal justice systems. Rest in peace George Floyd.”

SACRAMENTO – Legislation from Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, to help California reduce its reliance on carbon-emitting generators during disaster-driven power outages by assisting the planning of micro-grids, prioritizing low-income communities, has cleared a key committee hurdle.