Senator Nancy Skinner

On Monday, May 22, the California State Senate unanimously passed a bill that would contain child support costs for struggling parents. The Family Support Act, authored by Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), passed the Senate floor by a vote of 37-0.

“Low-income parents often face the tough choice of paying the child support they owe or meeting their basic needs,” said Senator Skinner. “SB 469 benefits children and parents by keeping payment amounts manageable so support can be paid consistently and reliably.”

On Monday, Senate Bill 675, authored by State Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) passed the Senate Floor with a vote of 37-0.

SB 675 helps ensure appropriate consumer protections are in place for CalFresh recipients, if the federal government approves the use of EBT cards to purchase groceries online. As more and more Californians purchase groceries online and grocery delivery services become more prevalent, the Federal government has started a pilot program to allow EBT recipients to use their EBT cards to shop online.

On Monday, Senate Bill 607, authored by State Senator Nancy Skinner (Berkeley) passed the Senate floor by a vote of 29-9-2.

Recognizing that student suspensions can do more harm than good Senate Bill 607 eliminates willful defiance as grounds for suspension and expulsion for students grades K through 12th. The prohibition on such suspensions would be permanent for grades K-5th with a 10 year sunset date for grades 6th-12th. SB 607 encourages schools and districts to utilize alternatives to traditional school discipline practices. The bill received bi-partisan support.

Measure takes effect Jan. 1, 2017

SACRAMENTO – A measure that makes permanent a pilot project that helps sexually exploited minors in Alameda County was signed into law today by Gov. Brown.

Action takes place during private ceremony attended by Bay Area family and Irish dignitaries representing Berkeley balcony collapse victims

SACRAMENTO -- Gov. Brown signed Senate Bill 465 in a private ceremony this morning attended by the family of the Bay Area student who died and Irish dignitaries representing the five exchange students killed and the seven others seriously injured when a balcony of a Berkeley apartment building collapsed.

Here are bills passed in 2016

Anti-coal measure sponsored by Sen. Loni Hancock

SACRAMENTO – Less than 48 hours after the California Senate passed Senate Bill 1279, Gov. Jerry Brown today signed into law Sen. Loni Hancock’s bill to halt future state funding for any new project that would allow coal to be shipped or exported through California.

Anti-coal measure wins rapid approval

SACRAMENTO – Less than 24 hours after gaining Assembly approval, the California Senate today passed a Sen. Loni Hancock bill to halt future state funding for any new project that would allow coal to be shipped or exported through California.

Anti-coal measure returns to Senate for concurrence

SACRAMENTO – The Assembly today passed a Sen. Loni Hancock bill to halt future state funding for any new project that would allow coal to be shipped or exported through California.