Caucus News

LOS ANGELES - On Wednesday, Senator María Elena Durazo (D-Los Angeles) with co-authors Senators Nancy Skinner (D-Alameda) and Steven Bradford (D-Gardena) and Assemblymembers Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens) and Alex Lee (D-San Jose) introduced SB 731, groundbreaking criminal justice reform legislation that would create a comprehensive process to automatically seal conviction and arrest records in the state of California.

SACRAMENTO, CA – Senator María Elena Durazo (D-Los Angeles) has introduced SB 639, legislation that would prohibit paying workers with disabilities less than the California minimum wage. SB 639 advances economic justice for workers with disabilities by phasing out the payment of sub-minimum wage and transitions workers with disabilities to competitive, integrated employment. 

Senator Dave Cortese (D-San Jose) issued the following statement regarding a Bay Area-wide effort led by State Legislators, community leaders, and community-based organizations, urging the state to reformulate the latest state vaccine distribution plan unveiled late in the week of March 1st. Even though the Bay Area accounts for 20% of the population of California and includes many hard-hit communities with COVID-19 infection rates that are twice that of the state's overall rate, 

Sacramento, California - Senate Anthony J. Portantino (D-La Canada) released the following statement regarding legislation passed today to return California students back to their classrooms.

SACRAMENTO – With another hot and dry fire season on the horizon and potential drought settling in over California, preparedness efforts throughout the state are underway. In anticipation of this, Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) and the Senate’s Wildfire Working Group have released a plan and introduced a budget framework to prioritize fire prevention and response efforts.

SB 390 will require the EDD to establish and routinely revise a recession plan to increase the department’s efficiency during an economic downturn

NAPA – Napa County’s public health officer, Dr. Karen Relucio, who led the community response to the coronavirus pandemic, providing critical direction to limit infections and save lives, has been named Woman of the Year by Sen. Bill Dodd.

Sacramento – The state Senate Budget Subcommittee on Resources, Environmental Protection and Energy approved a $573 million proposal on early action wildfire budget issues today, expanding on Governor Newsom’s request for $323 million in funding in this year’s budget.  The early action wildfire package will be part of negotiations with the Assembly and the Newsom administration.

“We have two competing truths: Learning with teachers and friends in a classroom is better for most kids, yet in the midst of a pandemic, reopening schools increases the risk of exposure to COVID-19. So, details matter. It was important to do our best to land on a school reopening plan that truly prioritizes the safety of families, teachers, staff, and the community. Thankfully, AB 86 strikes that balance.”

Senator Dave Cortese (D-San Jose) issued the following statement about School Reopening Legislation, SB/AB 86 as amended March 1st, 2021, that would provide funding to open California schools and aid in learning recovery efforts: