Caucus News

Sacramento, CA – A coalition of health care, consumer and worker advocates today announced the introduction of two bills that could deliver savings to 10 million Californians with employer-based health insurance and increase transparency in health care pricing. The two bills, AB 731 by Assemblymember Ash Kalra (D-San Jose) and SB 343 by Senator Richard Pan (D-Sacramento), come as the U.S. debates the next round of reform following the Affordable Care Act.

SACRAMENTO – Dr. Richard Pan, a pediatrician and state senator representing the Sacramento region, sent a letter to U.S. Surgeon General Vice Adm. Jerome M. Adams calling on him to issue a call to action on vaccine hesitancy in the United States and make this crisis a public health priority.

In the letter, Dr. Richard Pan wrote:

Los Angeles, CA – February 19, 2019 – A new bill introduced today in the California State Senate would make it illegal to use or allow the use of wild and exotic animals in traveling acts.

The Circus Cruelty Prevention Act (Senate Bill No. 313), authored by State Senator Ben Hueso (D-San Diego), recognizes both the animal welfare concerns, and public safety concerns of circuses and other traveling shows that force wild or exotic animals to perform.

Sacramento–Today, Senators Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) and Jim Nielsen (R-Red Bluff) joined a large coalition of homeowners, school officials, farmers, and small businesses to announce bipartisan legislation aimed at creating a solar bill of rights to protect the right of consumers to generate and store their own clean energy on-site, without interference from utility companies. Senate Bill 288 enables more consumers to install and maintain renewable energy technologies by addressing some of the main barriers consumers currently face.

...from Sen. Holly J. Mitchell, D-Los Angeles.

SACRAMENTO – Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, has introduced legislation that would protect California’s elderly and dependent adults by adding “abandonment” to the list of acts against them that could lead to increased civil penalties for caregivers.

“All too often we’ve seen our vulnerable seniors be left behind to fend for themselves, especially in disasters,” Sen. Dodd said. “I want to send a clear message that such conduct will not be tolerated and those who do it will be held accountable. My goal is to create a deterrent to prevent it from happening again.”

SACRAMENTO – Earlier today, Senator Connie M. Leyva (D-Chino) introduced legislation establishing a service animal assistance program providing support to disabled veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) with the cost of acquiring and training service dogs.

District attorneys would have a new tool in prosecuting cases of elderly abuse and fraud that span multiple counties under legislation introduced today by state Senator Jerry Hill. San Mateo County DA Steve Wagstaffe proposed the bill idea to the senator to better protect elderly individuals from criminals who prey on victims in different counties to thwart prosecution.

(SACRAMENTO) – As stewards of this state, the Legislature is duty-bound to ensure California’s natural resources are appropriately safeguarded. Today, Senator Richard D. Roth (D-Riverside) introduced Senate Bill 307. Co-authored by Assemblymember Laura Friedman (D-Glendale), SB 307 enhances protections to California’s deserts by ensuring any future water transfers – from groundwater basins underlying desert lands – do not adversely affect the desert’s natural or cultural resources, including groundwater resources or sensitive habitats.

Sacramento, California- Today, State Senator Anthony J.