Caucus News

SACRAMENTO – The Senate today passed legislation by Sen. Bob Hertzberg, D-Van Nuys, to improve protections for whistleblowers so they can keep their jobs while retaliation complaints against their employers are being investigated.

SACRAMENTO – A bill by Senator Bill Dodd (D-Napa) to protect victims of mass fraud and identity theft passed the state Senate on Tuesday. Dodd’s bill was introduced in response to the recent Wells Fargo scandal where millions of accounts were fraudulently opened without consent, using consumer’s personal information from preexisting accounts.

Sacramento – With the proposed elimination of the Legal Services Corporation, the federal agency that provides partial funding for legal aid, threatening to reduce access to justice for low-income Californians, the state Senate today approved a bill by Senator Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) requiring attorneys to report to the State Bar how many hours of pro bono work they perform each year.  Other states have found that mandatory reporting results in greater pro bono activity and improved relationships between lawyers and non-profit legal organizations.

Sacramento – Victims of cyber retaliation (revenge porn) who are using a pseudonym in their court case to protect their identity would have enhanced privacy protections under Senate Bill 157, authored by Senator Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont).  The bill passed the state Senate this afternoon with overwhelming bipartisan support and now heads to the state Assembly for consideration.

SACRAMENTO – The California State Senate voted today to approve the Preserve California legislative package, which insulates the state from dangerous rollbacks in federal environmental regulations and public health protections, shields public lands from exploitation, and protects whistleblowers and public scientific data.   

Today, Senate Bill 338, authored by State Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) passed the California Senate.

On Tuesday, May 30, the California State Senate passed Senate Bill 201, authored by Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), that will provide collective bargaining rights to research assistants in the University of California system.

“While UC teaching assistants and other graduate student employees have had labor protections for years, research assistants (RAs) have been left in the cold,” stated Senator Skinner.

On Tuesday, Senate Bill 802, authored by State Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) received bipartisan support and passed the Senate floor with a vote of 26-11.

SB 802 establishes an interagency working group to ensure that as ride sharing and autonomous vehicle use expands, these strategies help rather than hinder California’s air quality, carbon reduction, traffic congestion and sustainable community goals.

On Tuesday, Senate Bill 242 authored by State Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) received bipartisan support and passed the Senate floor with a vote of 33 - 3.

Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) is a financing program that began in California to assist homeowners, hospitals, schools, and businesses finance energy and water efficiency, clean energy and seismic upgrades to their buildings.

Sacramento, CA – Senate Bill (SB) 503, authored by Senator Josh Newman, passed the State Senate today with no opposition. The measure will allow taxpayers to continue to voluntarily contribute to a dozen tax check-off programs. The measure also extends the sunset date for the “Keep Arts in Schools” Fund to July 2022.