Caucus News

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Contact:   Charles Stewart (213) 745-6656 office

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SACRAMENTO, CA — Senator Holly J. Mitchell’s measure to restrict the practice of civil asset forfeiture of private property seized by law enforcement agencies in California has been approved by the state Legislature and now heads to Governor Jerry Brown for final approval.

Reasserting its historic commitment to clean energy and curtailing climate pollution, the Legislature on Wednesday sent to Gov. Jerry Brown a two-bill package that will extend the state’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets to 2030 and also ensure that the policies to achieve those targets are carried out with equity, transparency and accountability.

(SACRAMENTO, CA)  - Legislation to create a more rigorous process when prescribing potentially harmful psychotropic drugs to foster children, Senate Bill (SB) 253, by Senator Bill Monning (D-Carmel) moved to the Governor’s desk today.

(SACRAMENTO, CA) – Senate Bill (SB) 945, which establishes minimum standards of care and safety at pet boarding facilities, passed out of the California State Legislature today and is now awaiting action by the Governor.  The measure, authored by Senator Bill Monning (D-Carmel), would provide pet boarding operators with clear guidance about the health and safety standards needed at their facilities and provide consumers with protection against faulty and/or dangerous practices that may threaten their animals. 

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.

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.

Bills promote water efficiency, role of farms & other open space in greenhouse gas reduction
(SACRAMENTO, CA)– The State Senate voted today to send two natural resources measures by Senator Lois Wolk (D-Davis) to Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. for his signature, including Senate Bill 1340, a bill to close a loophole in state law enabling large new landscaping projects for existing homes and businesses to avoid state and local water efficiency requirements.

SACRAMENTO – Asserting California’s long-term commitment to a clean-energy future, the Assembly on Monday voted to establish in law a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030.

In approving SB 32 by Senator Fran Pavley, the Assembly acted to codify the target spelled out in Gov. Jerry Brown’s Executive Order B-30-15. Establishing that target in statute will remove any uncertainty over the state’s authority to extend its climate policies beyond the 2020 emissions-reduction target set by the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, or AB 32.

SACRAMENTO – A bill authored by Dr. Richard Pan and principle co-authored by Senator Bill Monning, which would allow California to partner at the federal level to reduce gun violence, was passed by the State Assembly today and will be heard next in the State Senate. 
SB 877 is sponsored by the Union of American Physicians and Dentist and would require California to establish and maintain a data-tracking system on violent deaths, including gun deaths. 

Sacramento, CA – The Assembly on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved Sen. Steve Glazer’s groundbreaking legislation to smooth the way for California State University students to graduate in four years.

Senate Bill 412, establishing the “California Promise,” proposes to boost CSU’s 4-year graduation rate which, at 18.6 percent, is 25 percent lower than the national average for comparable public universities. Some CSU campuses’ four-year graduation rates hover at or below 10 percent.