Caucus News

SACRAMENTO – On Thursday, the California State Assembly passed Senate Concurrent Resolution 48, authored by Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley). SCR 48 renews the Legislature’s intent to reform the Felony Murder Rule.

“Due to the Felony Murder Rule California has many inmates serving life sentences for first degree murder despite the fact they did not actually commit a murder,” stated Senator Skinner, “SCR 48 recognizes that punishment should be proportionate to the actual crime.”

Senator Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) reacted with the following statement to San Diego Unified School District’s announced partnership with CALPIRG on a plan to ensure that drinking water districtwide meets the highest standards:

Sacramento, CA – Senator Newman’s measure to help assist incarcerated veterans with their claims and benefits has passed the Senate on a 39-0 vote and is on its way to Governor Brown. Senate Bill (SB) 776 will establish seven veteran representative positions within the state Department of Veterans Affairs, to assist incarcerated veterans with their claims and benefits.

SACRAMENTO – The California chapter of a nationwide mental-health group has named Sen. Holly J. Mitchell its Legislator of the Year.

The award by the National Alliance on Mental Illness California, an affiliate of the country’s largest mental health advocacy organization dedicated to bettering the lives of those living with mental illness, took place during the group’s Statewide Annual Conference in Newport Beach.

Sacramento, State Capitol – Today, Senate Bill 498, authored by State Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) passed the California State legislature with bipartisan support.

SB 498 is targeted at increasing the number of EVs and other zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) in public and private vehicle fleets. The bill builds on Governor Brown’s 2012 Executive Order that set a target of 1.5 million ZEVs on California’s roads by 2020.

This measure was approved and sent to the governor shortly after the remarks by Sen. Holly J. Mitchell, D-Los Angeles.

SACRAMENTO – An ambitious bond proposal that raises $15 billion in state and federal funding to kick start construction of thousands of affordable housing units and simultaneously create 137,000 jobs won a crucial two-thirds majority approval in the Assembly today.  The bill passed on a 55-20 vote.

SACRAMENTO – Late Monday evening, Governor Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 489, which will extend the period of time allowed for hospitals and emergency physicians to bill for emergency services provided to workers injured on the job.

SACRAMENTO – This afternoon, Senate Bill 620 was once again approved by the Senate, this time for a concurrence vote, following its passage in the Assembly. Senator Steven Bradford (D-Gardena) introduced SB 620 to provide California judges with necessary discretion at sentencing for felony criminal cases in which a firearm was used.

SACRAMENTO – Sen. Bob Hertzberg, D-Van Nuys, introduced legislation this week as part of a two-track effort to figure out why the bail bond insurance market, unlike other forms of insurance, doesn’t link the cost of insurance with the risk assumed by the insurer. In addition to SB 779, Hertzberg announced that the Senate Committee on Insurance, Banking and Financial Institutions plans to conduct an informational hearing on the issue later this year.