Senator Nancy Skinner

Senate Bill 206, The Fair Pay to Play Act, by state Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, won bipartisan support today and was approved by the state Senate on a 31-4 vote. SB 206 punches a hole in unfair rules that exploit college athletes and allow the NCAA, universities, TV networks, and corporate sponsors to pocket huge sums.

Under SB 206, California college athletes would be able to earn income from endorsements or sponsorships for the first time. It now goes to the state Assembly for consideration.

Elected officials, community members and leaders, local parents, and anti-poverty advocates will participate in the statewide End Child Poverty Bus Tour, Friday, May 17 to Monday, May 20. 

Led by the End Child Poverty in California coalition, the tour will launch in Chula Vista and will make stops and hold open press events in Los Angeles, Pomona, Weedpatch, Fresno, Salinas, Oakland, and Sacramento. 

State Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, issued the following statement today on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s May Revise budget proposal:

“I applaud Gov. Newsom’s newly revised budget, especially his plan to provide more help to families and more resources to address and prevent homelessness.

The state Senate Public Safety Committee, chaired by Senator Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, today approved substantial amendments to SB 230, by Sen. Anna Caballero, D-Salinas, limiting the legislation to address law enforcement training on police use of force and making the bill’s passage dependent on the passage of AB 392, by Assemblymember Shirley Weber, San Diego.  

State Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, along with Assemblymembers Buffy Wicks, D-Oakland, and Rob Bonta, D-Alameda, announced today Senate Bill 37, “Corporate Fair Share for California & Californians,” which will increase the tax rate on large corporations to provide billions of dollars in new revenue for childcare, schools, and higher ed.

Senate Bill 310, “The Right to be on a Jury,” by state Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, won approval today in the Senate Public Safety Committee on a 5-1 vote. SB 310 would allow Californians who have prior felony convictions to serve on juries. The legislation is designed to expand California’s jury pool so that defendants, particularly those of color, have a better chance of having their criminal cases decided by a jury of their peers.

State Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, issued the following statement in support of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s decision to suspend capital punishment in California:

“I strongly support Gov. Newsom’s action to suspend California’s death penalty, and I deeply respect his moral courage.

State Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, today announced Senate Bill 44, also known as “Ditching Dirty Diesel.” The legislation is designed to phase out, over time, the use of polluting, diesel-fueled medium- and heavy-duty trucks and buses in California and to speed up the transition to cleaner vehicle technologies and fuels, including zero emission vehicles (ZEVs).

State Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, today honored Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton as the 2019 Woman of Year for the 9th Senate District. Becton is the first woman and the first African American to serve as Contra Costa County district attorney since the office was established in 1850. Over her distinguished career as a judge, lawyer, and manager, she has been committed to safeguarding communities from crime and working on positive outcomes for seniors and youth.

State Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, today unveiled Senate Bill 419, which seeks to keep kids in school by eliminating the suspension of students for low-level offenses known as “willful defiance.” Such suspensions have disproportionately impacted students of color, LGBTIQ students, and those with disabilities in California.