Caucus News

Legislation authored by Senator Ben Allen and Senator Mark Leno passed the state Assembly today on a vote of 48 – 26.  Senate Bill (SB) 254 would place an instructional measure on the November 2016 ballot which, if passed, would urge California’s elected officials to use all of their constitutional authority, including, but not limited to, proposing and ratifying one or more amendments to the United States Constitution, to overturn Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission.

Sacramento, CA – Legislation authored by Senator Ben Allen (D – Santa Monica) and Senator Mark Leno (D – San Francisco) passed the state Assembly today on a vote of 48 – 26.  Senate Bill (SB) 254 would place an instructional measure on the November 2016 ballot which, if passed, would urge California’s elected officials to use all of their constitutional authority, including, but not limited to, proposing and ratifying one or more amendments to the United States Constitution, to overturn Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission.

Sacramento, CA –The legislature’s Joint Committee on the Arts, chaired by Senator Ben Allen (D – Santa Monica), today reviewed the findings of a new report on the $217 billion impact of creative industries on the California economy.  The hearing coincided with the release of the “2015 Otis Report on the Creative Economy of California,” an annual report by the Otis College of Art and Design, which for the first time contained a regional analysis of creative industries within eight geographic areas of the state.

Claudia Mercado, a Democrat, from Oakland, was reappointed to the Osteopathic Medical Board of California. Ms. Mercado is President of Ranchito Azul and co-owner of Aztecali. She is a member and Chapter President of the National Society of Hispanic MBAs, and a member of Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE). Ms. Mercado has served as a Senate Rules Committee appointee on the Osteopathic Medical Board since May 2013. Her term end date is June 1, 2019 and compensation is $100 per day and necessary expenses.

Sacramento, CA – The legislature’s Joint Committee on the Arts, chaired by Senator Ben Allen (D – Santa Monica) will hold a hearing to review the findings of the latest statewide data in this year's Otis Report on the Creative Economy.  Now in its third year, the Otis Report on the Creative Economy of California features an expansion highlighting local creative industries via eight regional snapshots, developed with support from the California Arts Council.

Bill supports role of farms, parks, other open spaces in state’s climate change goals
(SACRAMENTO, CA)– On a bipartisan 26-7 vote yesterday, the State Senate approved a measure by Senator Lois Wolk (D-Davis) to promote the protection and management of natural and working lands as part of California’s ongoing efforts to meet its climate change goals.

Bill supports role of farms, parks, other open spaces in state’s climate change goals
(SACRAMENTO, CA)– On a bipartisan 26-7 vote yesterday, the State Senate approved a measure by Senator Lois Wolk (D-Davis) to promote the protection and management of natural and working lands as part of California’s ongoing efforts to meet its climate change goals.

With Gov. Jerry Brown’s signature on SB 380 today, residents of Porter Ranch and surrounding communities can now be assured that natural gas storage at SoCal Gas Co.’s Aliso Canyon facility will not resume until the highest safety standards are met.

Bipartisan proposal to improve compliance with disability access regulations, protect small businesses from threat of predatory lawsuits will take effect immediately

(Sacramento, CA) -- Senator Richard D. Roth’s (D-Riverside) bipartisan measure to protect California’s small businesses and the disabled community has been approved by Governor Jerry Brown.  With the Governor’s signature today, this new law takes effect immediately.

The California Senate voted 23 to 11 today to pass Senator Jerry Hill’s legislation to crack down on excessive water users. The vote sent Senate Bill 814 to the Assembly for consideration by policy committees.