Caucus News

(SACRAMENTO, CA) – Today, Assembly Bill (AB) X2 15, coauthored by Senator Bill Monning (D-Carmel), passed  out of the Assembly Committee on Finance on a 5 to 3 vote and is now headed to the Assembly Floor.  Modeled after Senator Monning’s Senate Bill (SB) 128, this newly introduced bill in the Second Extraordinary Session will continue the effort to pass the End of Life Option Act in California this year.

SACRAMENTO, CA – With unanimous bi-partisan support, the Senate approved SB 695 (De León/Jackson), aimed at preventing sexual assault by providing formal education to high school students about affirmative consent, developing healthy peer and dating relationships, and the perils and harsh consequences of aggressive and violent sexual behavior.

SACRAMENTO – Legislation that helps ensure the state’s judicial resources are used effectively is headed to Governor Jerry Brown’s desk. Senate Bill 682, authored by Senator Mark Leno, requires state trial courts to fully analyze the impact of hiring private contractors to ensure that important judicial services are not compromised through the privatization process.

The Legislature sent two bills by Senator Jerry Hill’s to the Governor that create privacy protections for powerful surveillance tools used by local law enforcement officials and businesses.

SACRAMENTO – Senator Jim Beall’s twin bills to increase training for peace officers to improve their ability to safely cope with people who have mental illnesses or developmental disabilities were approved this week by the Legislature, drawing bipartisan support. Senate Bills 11 and 29 will be sent to Governor Brown for his consideration.

SACRAMENTO – A bill authored by Senator Mark Leno that gives homeless youth in California greater access to the high school proficiency and equivalency exams is headed to Governor Jerry Brown’s desk. Senate Bill 252 prohibits the Department of Education and testing companies from charging an exam fee to young people who are homeless.

SACRAMENTO – Hoping to avert crippling federal budget cuts to a national service program that greatly benefits California communities and non-profits, the Assembly passed a resolution today by Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de León that urges Congress to fully fund the entity that runs AmeriCorps.

(SACRAMENTO, CA) – Today, UC Berkeley posted a new study showing Californians “overwhelmingly” support aid-in-dying medication for terminally ill individuals.  In the article “IGS poll: Californians support medical aid in dying for terminally ill,” the survey asked people about “pending legislation to allow terminally ill people to voluntarily end their own lives by taking drugs prescribed by a physician,” and it shows consistently high support among almo

SACRAMENTO – The Assembly passed a bill today by Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de León and Speaker Toni G. Atkins to reduce the threat of deportation of immigrant crime victims and foster their trust and cooperation with law enforcement.
“Every time a criminal goes free because the victim fears deportation and the police, we are all a little less safe,” said Pro Tem De León (D-Los Angeles). “Fear and mistrust are obstacles to the administration of justice.”

SACRAMENTO – In support of diversion programs that reduce recidivism among certain mentally ill offenders, the Assembly passed and sent to Gov. Brown a funding plan sponsored by Sen. Bob Hertzberg.