Senator Henry Stern

Tuesday, August 25, 9:00-11 a.m. in Capitol Room 112 SACRAMENTO – Two committees of the Senate and Assembly will hold a joint informational hearing on Tuesday regarding the release of a first-of-its-kind scientific review of the controversial practice of hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) to facilitate oil and natural gas production in the California.

SACRAMENTO – Californians from all parts of the state call global warming a threat and support existing and proposed state government efforts to curb emissions of all types of pollution. Climate change is happening now and already is affecting California’s economy and quality of life, said 62% of the people who responded to a new poll by the Public Policy Institute of California. Slightly more believe there’s a link between global warming and the four-year, severe drought. 

SACRAMENTO -- A key Assembly panel has endorsed legislation by Sen. Pavley to extend California’s efforts to reduce climate-changing pollution well into the 21st Century. Senate Bill 32 on Monday passed the Assembly Natural Resources Committee and now goes to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

This report validates my reasons for authoring California’s first “fracking” regulation law, Senate Bill 4, in 2013.The California Council on Science and Technology study – required by SB 4 – concludes that fracking as well as all oil and gas drilling and waste-disposal activities should be done transparently.Government agencies, the public in general and residents living near well sites need to know in detail about the presence of dangerous chemicals mixed in water used in fracking and then pumped to the surface as byproducts.

SACRAMENTO – The state Senate voted unanimously Thursday to send the governor a bill giving judges greater power to protect victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.The legislation by Sen. Fran Pavley (D-Agoura Hills) closes an unforeseen gap in state criminal law. It allows judges to issue protective orders when they sentence defendants to “mandatory supervision” by county probation departments.Senate Bill 307 was sponsored by the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office.

SACRAMENTO – California motorists have a new incentive for buying low-emission, plug-in hybrid cars.Gov. Jerry Brown on Wednesday signed into law Assembly Bill 95. The legislation, first conceived by Sen. Fran Pavley (D-Agoura Hills), expands to 85,000 from a current 70,000 the number of vehicles eligible to carry a so-called green sticker.The sticker allows drivers of such low-polluting cars to use carpool or “HOV” lanes, even if they carry no passengers. The measure takes effect July 1.

SACRAMENTO – A new state spending plan sent to the governor by California lawmakers includes an incentive aimed at boosting sales of low-emission, plug-in hybrid cars.AB 95, a bill that implements part of the spending plan for the fiscal year that begins July 1, would expand to 85,000 from a current 70,000 the number of vehicles eligible to carry a so-called green sticker.The sticker allows drivers of such low-polluting cars to use carpool or “HOV” lanes, even if they are not carrying passengers.

SACRAMENTO – The California Senate has endorsed efforts by Sen. Fran Pavley to protect California’s underground drinking-water supplies from oil-related contamination.With a 22 to 18 vote, Senators approved and sent to the Assembly SB 248. The bill requires regulators to boost controls over the petroleum industry’s disposal of potentially tainted water by injecting it into underground aquifers.

SACRAMENTO – The Senate has approved legislation by Sen. Fran Pavley that sets a long-range target for slashing emissions of greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming.Senators approved SB 32 on a vote of 22 to 15 and sent it to the Assembly. The bill is part of a multi-bill, climate-change initiative sponsored by Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de León.Nine years ago, Pavley authored the landmark bill, AB 32, which mandated a drop in climate pollution to 1990 levels by 2020. This year’s proposal goes farther: 80% below 1990 levels by mid-century.