Category: State/Government News

Four  Bills  address  local  control  over authorizing new charter; clarifying site and location of new charters; facilities, academic and fiscal impact on students; and a cap on growth of charters SACRAMENTO – A concerned group of lawmakers, educators, administrators, civil right organizations and classified personnel have come together to address many of the issues surrounding…

SB 574 “will empower consumers so that they can make educated decisions” SACRAMENTO – Senator Connie M. Leyva (D-Chino) introduced legislation earlier today that would require companies selling beauty or personal care products in California to report the presence of toxic fragrance and flavor ingredients in their products to the California Department of Public Health…

SACRAMENTO – The Bureau of Cannabis Control (Bureau) and the Department of Consumer Affairs’ Division of Investigation-Cannabis Enforcement Unit (DOI-CEU) today announced enforcement action on two unlicensed cannabis businesses operating in Sacramento County and Los Angeles. On Thursday, January 31, 2019, DOI-CEU served a search warrant on “Nollie Green-Blu Solutions,” an unlicensed cannabis delivery service…

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, U.S. Representative Norma J. Torres (D-CA) announced that Joe Rodgers, a Federal Aviation Administration Engineer Technician at Ontario International Airport who was one of the 800,000 federal workers furloughed during the 35-day long government shutdown, has been invited as her guest to the State of the Union address. “For more than…

Re: Comprehensive Use-of-Force Legislation Today we join the California Police Chiefs Association in announcing the introduction of Senate Bill XXX, authored by Senator Anna Caballero, which presents a comprehensive package of changes to California’s use-of-force statutes, law enforcement agency policies, and training. In 2017, it was reported that there were 172 law enforcement related deaths…

P.O. Box 3394, San Bernardino, CA  92413 January 23, 2019 Since 1975, the League of Women Voters of the San Bernardino Area has honored more than 750 individuals and more recently, groups of citizens, who have enhanced the quality of life in their communities. Once again, the League is reaching out to the community seeking…

Sacramento – Last month, Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced the recipients of Prop 56 grants to reduce illegal sales of tobacco which included $798,795 for the Cities of Colton and Fontana in the 47th Assembly District.  The Department of Justice’s Tobacco Grant funds will support programs to reduce illegal tobacco sales, particularly to minors. This…

Authors SB 172 Promoting Safe Home Storage of Firearms Sacramento, California –  Early in the 2019 legislative session Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D–La Cañada Flintridge) is continuing his leadership for sensible gun control. This week, he introduced SB 172, which would require stronger storage safety of all firearms within the home. Specifically, the bill would…

SACRAMENTO – California Teachers Association President Eric C. Heins issued the following statement Thursday commending Governor Gavin Newsom for his first state budget proposal and a record $80.7 billion for education as well as record funding for other key programs: “Governor Gavin Newsom’s budget released today reflects his commitment to the children and students of…

Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Public Counsel, and Manatt, Phelps & Phillips Claim Sec Ross Violated Administrative Procedure Act SAN FRANCISCO, CA – The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and Public Counsel, along with law firm Manatt, Phelps & Phillips will make opening statements today in a federal trial regarding a…

Treasurer Chiang Vows to Find Alternate Way to Support California Businesses SACRAMENTO, CA – At a public hearing at the California State Capitol this afternoon, the Cannabis Banking Working Group (CBWG), chaired by California State Treasurer John Chiang, was presented with the results of an independent study that found that establishment of a public cannabis…

SACRAMENTO – Today, Assemblyman Jay Obernolte (R-Hesperia) issued the following statement in response to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) waiting one month to notify Californians that the federal government has rejected the state’s REAL ID residency verification process and has still continued to issue cards that are not compliant: “To date, 2.3 million Californians…

SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced today that schools funded by the California Department of Education’s (CDE) Tobacco-Use Prevention Education (TUPE) Office have lower rates of tobacco use than other schools, according to a comprehensive study by the University of California, San Diego. The findings were based on two statewide surveys, the 2016…

SACRAMENTO, Calif.— California State Parks has reopened several parks in Southern California that were closed due to the devastating Hill and Woolsey fires. Some parts of Point Mugu and Leo Carrillo state parks reopened, while other areas of the parks remain closed due to the damage caused by the Woolsey Fire. Meanwhile Malibu Lagoon and…

SAN FRANCISCO — A federal court issued a ruling on Friday that halts a Trump administration policy that blocked hundreds of lawful permanent residents from serving in the U.S. military. Judge Jon S. Tigar granted a preliminary injunction, holding that the Department of Defense likely violated the federal Administrative Procedure Act after it implemented a…

Back in the days of adding machines and manual ledgers, final election results in California were usually done by midnight on election day. Sometimes there would be a few precincts counting ballots into the wee hours of the morning, and you wouldn’t know a result till the next day. Fast forward to 2018, and the…

SAN FRANCISCO – The ACLU Foundation of Northern California today filed a discrimination complaint on behalf of Black students in the Visalia Unified School District who have faced ongoing racial hostility. The complaint, filed with the Office of Civil Rights within the Department of Education, charges the district with violating Title VI of the Civil…

BURLINGAME – Saying he is a “genuine leader” and the best candidate by far for students, educators and the future of our public schools, the five statewide 2018 California Teachers of the Year are endorsing Assembly Member Tony Thurmond for the state’s top education office – superintendent of public instruction. The five innovative K-12 educators…

Funding will create new recreational opportunities in underserved communities SACRAMENTO. – California State Parks this week released for public review the “Draft Application Guide” for a statewide program that offers $254.9 million to create new parks and recreational opportunities in underserved communities across California. Parks are unique places where children play, people exercise, families and…

Governor Brown has signed SB 1421 by Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley).  Brian Marvel, President of the Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC), representing more than 70,000 public safety members, said “We are disappointed at what we perceive to be a reckless decision by the governor.” Marvel went on to say “PORAC has worked to…

SB 1041 Will Help To Promptly Diagnose & Treat Children SACRAMENTO – Legislation authored by Senator Connie M. Leyva (D-Chino) to help ensure that children at risk of lead exposure receive blood lead screening tests was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown. Earning bipartisan support in the Legislature prior to being signed into law,…

SB 1245 Allows Covered California to Promptly Respond to Federal Actions SACRAMENTO – Governor Jerry Brown signed legislation authored by Senator Connie M. Leyva (D-Chino) that will help Covered California continue to serve over 1.5 million California residents during this era of federal uncertainty. SB 1245 will allow Covered California to have emergency rulemaking authority…

Sacramento, CA – The California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) is pleased to announce the election of Dr. Shirley N. Weber (AD 79) as the incoming Chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus.  Assemblymember Weber has been a champion for education and civil rights.  This year, Dr. Weber authored two Caucus priority bills Assembly Bill 2635…

ScholarShare 529 ranked #1 in the country for investment performance Sacramento –­­­To kick off National College Savings Month, California State Treasurer John Chiang and ScholarShare 529 are reminding California families to start saving for college early. “The cost of higher education may be going up, but that shouldn’t get parents down,” said Treasurer Chiang. “Saving…

Sacramento, CA – Allegations against members of the California Legislature for sexual and violent threats should be taken seriously and addressed promptly. The Chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus, Chris Holden, is calling for a full investigation into Senator Joel Anderson for his alleged threatening remarks towards Stephanie Roberson, a highly respected lobbyist for…