Caucus News

Sacramento – Bay Area residents could see more transit-oriented developments near BART stations after the state Assembly approved a bill authored by Senator Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) today. Senate Bill 680 now heads to Governor Jerry Brown for his consideration.

SB 680 extends the boundaries where BART can pursue commercial, residential or mixed-use development from a quarter mile to a half-mile of its stations.  The move is consistent with policies for other transit village developments in California.

SACRAMENTO – A second component of the Senate’s funding package to combat California’s shortage of affordable housing was approved on a two-thirds majority vote today and sent to the Assembly.

“The approval last month of my bill, SB 3, a $3 billion bond proposal to generate more affordable housing units, combined with the today’s passage of SB 2 (Atkins) now forms the most viable package in the Legislature to solve the affordable housing crisis,’’ said Beall, chairman of the Transportation and Housing Committee.

Sacramento –  Today the Assembly Governmental Organization Committee approved Senate Bill 384, a bill authored by Senator Scott Wiener to allow – but not require – local communities to extend alcohol service to as late as 4 a.m. The LOCAL Act, which stands for Let Our Communities Adjust Late Night, applies to bars, nightclubs, and restaurants, but not to liquor stores.

SACRAMENTO – The Assembly Labor and Employment Committee today passed legislation by Sen. Bob Hertzberg, D-Van Nuys, to improve protections for whistleblowers so they can keep their jobs while retaliation complaints against their employers are being investigated.

SACRAMENTO, CA – Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) honored the B Room Barber Salon as Senate District 33 Small Business of the Year for its hard work and dedication to the community.

“Small businesses are the heart and soul of our communities, and they bring a lot more than jobs to our cities,” said Senator Ricardo Lara. “The B Room is building bridges to Long Beach’s LGBT community and showing how immigrant-owned businesses are bringing economic vitality and inclusion.”

SACRAMENTO, CA – Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) recognized Centro C.H.A. as Senate District 33 Nonprofit of the Year for their work to promote health and combat violence in the Long Beach community.

Sacramento, CA – Senator Anthony Portantino (D–La Cañada Flintridge), author of SB 328 (Healthy School Start Time), applauds the recent action by the National PTA, which voted to adopt a Resolution on Healthy Sleep for Adolescents.   Research has shown that moving high school and middle school start time later improves student health and academic performance.  Last week’s action by the National PTA embraces that research.  SB 328 is a California specific proposal that passed through ">

Nine bills authored by Sen. Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) have moved forward in the state Assembly:

Transgender Work Opportunity Act will expand anti-harassment training and require poster for businesses

SACRAMENTO, CA – Responding to high unemployment among transgender workers, Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) introduced the Transgender Work Opportunity Act (Senate Bill 396). Senate Bill 396 combats discrimination and encourages greater inclusion of transgender Californians in the work force.

Sacramento, CA – On Wednesday, Senator Ben Allen (D – Santa Monica) recognized Westside Food Bank as Senate District 26’s Nonprofit of the Year.  Outstanding nonprofit honorees from legislative districts across the state attended a luncheon in Sacramento.  Executive Director, Bruce Rankin, was unable to attend the ceremony, but was represented by his wife, Catherine Wagar, who accepted the award from Senator Allen.