Senator Benjamin Allen

SACRAMENTO, CA — Today, Senator Ben Allen (D – Santa Monica) issued the following statement regarding the confirmation of Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education.

Sacramento, CA — TechNet, the national, bipartisan network of innovation economy CEOs and senior executives, today named Senator Ben Allen and Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin as California Legislators of the Year.

“We are honored to recognize and award Senator Ben Allen and Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin as TechNet’s Legislators of the Year for 2016,” said Andrea Deveau, TechNet’s Vice President of State Policy and Politics.  “These legislators are true champions of technology, and we thank them for their leadership and ongoing support of the innovation economy.”

Sacramento, CA – Legislation authored by Senator Ben Allen (D – Santa Monica) to establish single-subject teaching credentials for theatre and for dance was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown today.
“California is the arts and entertainment capital of the world, yet we are one of only two states in the country that does not authorize teaching credentials in theatre or dance,” Allen said.  “I am so pleased that we have finally elevated these two important disciplines to the stature they deserve,” he added.

SACRAMENTO, CA – Legislation authored by Senator Ben Allen (D – Santa Monica) to

strengthen the mitigation of methane gas leaks from underground storage facilities was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown today.  The bill, SB 888, requires fines and penalties assessed for a gas leak to be at least equal the amount needed to fully mitigate the climate impacts of the leak.  The legislation also improves the state’s response to future gas leaks by designating the Office of Emergency Services as the lead point of contact for the government.

Sacramento, CA – Legislation authored by Senator Ben Allen (D – Santa Monica) to remove current law’s prohibition on public financing of campaigns received final approval from the legislature today.  The measure, SB 1107, passed the state Senate on a vote of 27 – 12, just one day after it received a bipartisan, 55 votes in the state Assembly.

Sacramento, CA – A measure authored by Senator Ben Allen (D – Santa Monica) and Senator Robert Hertzberg (D – Van Nuys) to transform the way elections are conducted passed the legislature today.  The bill, SB 450, was approved on a bipartisan, final vote of 26 - 11in the state Senate.

Sacramento, CA – Legislation authored by Senator Ben Allen (D – Santa Monica) to allow counties and general law cities to establish independent redistricting commissions passed the legislature today on a vote of 35 – 3 in the state Senate.

“This is a good government policy that will bring a refreshing level of independence to what historically has been a very politicized process across the state,” Senator Allen said. 

Sacramento, CA – Legislation authored by Senator Ben Allen (D – Santa Monica) that will transform the way elections are conducted in California passed the state Assembly today on a vote of 42 - 28.

“Our current system of limiting voters to one polling location on a single day has failed.  It is time to implement a new voting model that allows people to vote conveniently, close to where they work, shop and congregate,” Senator Allen said.

Alzheimer’s Association recognizes Allen for compassion, intellect and persistence

(Sacramento, CA) --  In a gathering Tuesday of over 200 Alzheimer’s advocates representing the entire state of California, Senator Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica) was presented with the 2016 Legislator of the Year award by his constituent in the 26th Senate District, Elizabeth Gelfand Stearns, a former local and national board member of the Alzheimer’s Association. 

Sacramento, CA – A measure authored by Senator Ben Allen (D – Santa Monica) and Senator Mark Leno (D – San Francisco) urging California’s Congressional representatives to work to overturn the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision will appear on the November 2016 ballot.  Today, Governor Jerry Brown allowed SB 254 to become law without his signature, clearing the way for the Citizens United question to advance to the statewide ballot.