Caucus News

State Courts Unveil Online Help Center for Californians Applying for Name or Gender Change

SACRAMENTO – California Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) today encouraged residents seeking a gender and/or conforming name change on their state-issued identity documents to visit the California Courts’ online help center for assistance with new procedures established by two pieces of legislation authored by Atkins and signed by Governor Jerry Brown last year.  

Sacramento, CA — Today, the California Legislature passed Senator Nancy Skinner’s (D-Berkeley) SB 1200, “Strengthening California’s Gun Violence Restraining Order.” SB 1200 would enhance California’s existing Gun Violence Restraining Order (GVRO), a law Skinner authored when she was in the Assembly. SB 1200 is now on its way to Governor Brown’s desk for his signature.

California would become the first state to require doctors to notify patients if placed on probation for serious professional misconduct involving harm to patients under a bill passed by the Legislature Friday and now on its way to Governor Jerry Brown’s desk. Senate Bill 1448, the Patient’s Right to Know Act, is one of 23 bills by state Senator Jerry Hill that await the governor’s consideration. Most of the senator’s bills cleared the Legislature in the final days of the 2018 session, which concluded late Friday. Governor Brown has until September 30 to sign or veto bills.

Sacramento, CA — Today the California State Legislature passed State Senator Nancy Skinner’s (D-Berkeley) SB 1369 laying the groundwork for California to produce and utilize green electrolytic hydrogen to store excess renewably-generated electricity so that it can be deployed when needed. SB 1369 now goes to Governor Brown’s desk for his signature.

SACRAMENTO – The California State Senate closed the 2018 legislative session this evening approving significant initiatives that support California’s working families, invest in our education system, protect our environment and prepare California for the harsh new realities of climate change.

“I am proud of the work we have done this year,” said Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins. “We continue to be one of the nation’s most active and effective legislative bodies, confronting age-old inequities and finding innovative solutions to new problems.”

SACRAMENTO -- Lawmakers approved a comprehensive wildfire safety plan tonight that will prevent future infernos like those that have been ravaging the state while protecting utility ratepayers from bearing unfair costs.

Senate Bill 901 was approved on votes of 29 to 4 in the Senate and 45 to 10 in the Assembly. It heads next to Gov. Jerry Brown for his signature.

Sacramento, CA — Today, with bipartisan support, the California Legislature passed SB 1421, Senator Nancy Skinner’s (D-Berkeley) “Protecting Communities and Law Enforcement” legislation. SB 1421 would open public access to a limited set of records related to investigations of law enforcement use of serious force, on the job sexual assault, or dishonesty. SB 1421 now awaits Governor Brown’s signature.

Sacramento, CA — Today the California Legislature passed Senator Nancy Skinner’s (D-Berkeley) SB 607, the “Keep Kids in School Act,” which would curtail the harmful practice of suspending students for low-level misbehavior. Skinner’s bill now awaits Governor Brown’s signature.
“Kicking students out of school does nothing to address underlying problems and ultimately makes it more likely they will drop out,” said Senator Skinner. “SB 607 puts the needs of kids first.”

SACRAMENTO – People struggling with addiction and mental health disorders may soon have a new important source of support and counseling from certified peer providers who have real-life experience from forging their own paths to recovery.

Senate Bill 906, introduced by Senator Jim Beall, D-San Jose, approved by a 39-0 concurrence vote in the Senate, now moves to the Governor’s office for consideration.