Fri 8/16: Two actions for kids and today’s update on our favorite CA bills!

Summary of AB 1505 text reflects insertions in blue by, reputedly, the governor’s office to weaken the strong version passed by the Assembly. The language in red with strikeouts represents strong Assembly language in the April 24, 2019 version, and the blue text with red X represents a rollback to status quo Ed Code that favors charter authorization, as if the Assembly version had never been voted through.

ICYMI:

• CA legislation actions against the proliferation of plastic pollution and the mysterious and possibly toxic chemicals behind the words “fragrance” and “flavoring” in your hygiene products and cosmetics earlier this week, go here.
• Ask the governor to sign the bill that bans trapping for fur in CA. Also ask your federal legislators to use a CRA (Congressional Review Act) against the Endangered Species Act. Go here.

Also, check out bill updates from 8/16/19 at the bottom.)

Action #1 – Hey, Gavin, who got to you over summer vacation?

At the last election, we told our legislators that public funds should be prioritized for public schools with public oversight. Charters deplete Oakland Unified schools of about $57 million a year, and Los Angeles Unified of nearly $600 million a year. Our governor and State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tony Thurmond were all on board and our state legislature responded by passing a strong Charter School Accountability Bill. But something happened over the June-July recess and the Governor’s office added amendments to AB 1505 and AB 1507 that once again allow state and county school boards to authorize charter schools while undermining the ability of local elected school boards to deny fly-by-night operators.  Local control with the intentional abeyance of the state, is crucial to the decision making of school districts to allow or deny charter expansion within their borders.

Minimum script:  I am a parent/ community member and support local school control and strong charter school accountability found in the Assembly version of AB1505. I DO NOT support the amendments you pushed on behalf of the California Charter Schools Association. Please recall those changes and sign into law robust Charter Accountability that ALL California families deserve!”

Please Call Governor Newsom at (916) 445-2841 and ask him to put AB 1505 back the way he found it.

Action #2 – Tell these kids they are not forgotten…

(guest action) “Hello. We are teachers in El Paso. We would like to know if anyone is interested in sending us postcards to help our students know there is plenty of good in our world. As teachers, we may only be able to say so much. We think concrete messages of support would help us calm some fears. Any thoughts?  You can send them here:  

1) E. Flores, Hillside Elementary, 4500 Clifton Ave., El Paso, TX 79903, and
2) Teresa Garrett, Tom Lea Elementary, 4851 Marcus Uribe Dr., El Paso, TX. 79934.

CA legislature progress update.

Our assemblymembers and state senators created a record 2,576 new bills on a strict timetable for the 2019 CA legislative term. Here’s a update of +140 bills that are interesting to us and groups, like the Sierra Club, that we coalition with. You will recognize a number of these bills as the subject of calls or emails we’ve asked you to make.

• Black words – the bill is still “live and waiting for additional votes or enrollment.
• Blue words –  Next step for bills
• Gray crossed out – the bill is dead.
• Green means that the bill has been signed into law.
• “suspense file”: A bill or set of bills, with a fiscal impact above a set limit, are set aside in Appropriations Committee and are then considered at one hearing after the state budget has been prepared and the committee has a better sense of available revenue. No testimony is presented – author or witness – at the Suspense File hearing. Bills which are “moved out of suspense” go to the floor while “bills held in suspense” die.
• APPR. = “Appropriations Committee”. Because we are now in “opposite land”, Assembly Bills (AB) are now being heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee, while Senate Bills (SB) being reviewed by the Assembly’s version.
• Enrolled = Whenever a bill passes both Houses of the Legislature, it is ordered enrolled. Upon enrollment, the bill is again proofread for accuracy and then delivered to the Governor. 
• Senate Rule 28.8 = if the Chair determines that any state costs of a bill are not significant, the measure will be sent directly to the Senate Floor for Second Reading without a hearing in the committee.
• Chapter – After a bill has been signed by the Governor, the Secretary of State assigns the bill a Chapter Number, for example, “Chapter 123, Statutes of 1998,” which subsequently may be used to refer to the measure.

The California legislature’s legislative session resumed Monday! Here’s our latest list of bills we’re following and what you can expect in the next month:

• August 12: Legislature reconvened after summer break!
• August 30: Bills must pass out of Appropriations
• September 13: Final deadline for bills to be passed

Look for your favorites here!

Call your senator to support AB# bills and your assemblyperson to support SB# bills, because we’re coming to the end of “opposite land” in the legislature. (See a graphic map of bill progress below).

Economic/Finance/Commercial

• AB-25 California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018. (“From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.”)
• AB-37 Personal income taxes: deductions: business expenses: commercial cannabis activity. (Referred to APPR. suspense file )
• AB-539 California Financing Law: consumer loans: charges. – (Com. on APPR. – Hearing ON 19-AUG-19 10 a.m.)
• AB-818 Local government finance: vehicle license fee adjustment amounts.
• AB-857 Public banks. – Banking (Com. on APPR. – Hearing ON 12-AUG-19 10 a.m.)
• AB-1066 Unemployment insurance: trade disputes: eligibility for benefits – (Re-referred to Com. on APPR.)
• AB-1525 Cannabis: financial institutions.
• SB-203 Public bank.

Education

• AB-2 Community colleges: California College Promise. (2 year free community college)  – Education (Senate Appropriations Committee )
• AB-39 Education finance: local control funding formula: aspirational funding level: reports. – (Referred to APPR. suspense file.)
• AB-123 Early childhood education: state preschool program: access: standards. – (Com. on ED. – postponed)
• AB-1505 Charter schools: petitions. – (From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. – Set FOR Hearing ON 19-AUG-19 10 a.m.)
• AB-1506 Charter schools: statewide total: authorization restrictions. (Verify)
• AB-1507 Charter schools: location: resource center. – (Referred to Com. on APPR. – Set FOR Hearing ON 19-AUG-19 10 a.m.)
  
• AB-1578 School Pavement to Parks Grant Program. (Sierra Club SUPPORT) – Education – (Re-referred to Com. on APPR.)
• SB-468 Taxation: tax expenditures: California Tax Expenditure Review Board. – Rev. and Tax – (Re-referred to Com. on APPR. – Set FOR Hearing ON 21-AUG-19 9 a.m.)
• SB-756 Charter schools: moratorium.

Environmental 

• Economic/Government Regulations
  • AB-296 Climate change: Climate Innovation Grant Program: voluntary tax contributions. – (Re-referred to Com. on APPR.)
  • AB-1276 Green New Deal. (Sierra Club SUPPORT)
  • AB-1673 California Environmental Quality Act: judicial challenge: litigation transparency: identification of contributors. (Sierra Club – OPPOSE)
  • SB-1 California Environmental, Public Health, and Workers Defense Act of 2019. (Sierra Club SUPPORT) – (Com. on APPR. – Set FOR Hearing ON 21-AUG-19 9 a.m.)
  • + SB-25 California Environmental Quality Act: projects funded by qualified opportunity zone funds or other public funds. (Sierra Club – OPPOSE) – (Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES. – Hearing postponed by committee. )
  • SB-632 California Environmental Quality Act: injunction: vegetation treatment projects.  (Sierra Club removed opposition after amendment – SUPPORT) (Re-referred to Com. on APPR. – On 14-AUG-19 the following history action was applied: “From committee: Do pass.)
• Energy
  • AB-56 Electricity: procurement by the California Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority. (OPPOSE)
  • AB-961 Community Energy Benefits (Sierra Club SUPPORT)
  • AB-1083 Energy and energy infrastructure procurement requirements: California Council on Science and Technology. – (On 14-AUG-19 the following history action was applied:“From committee chair, with author’s amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on APPR.”)
  • AB-1690 Biomass electrical generation facilities: contract extension requirements – converted to 2 year bill. (Sierra Club – OPPOSE)
  • SB 386 California Renewables Portfolio Standard Program: irrigation districts. This one has been converted into a 2-year bill. (Sierra Club – OPPOSE)
  • + SB-457  Biomethane: gas corporations. (Sierra Club – OPPOSE) – Utilities and Energy – (Ordered to third reading. – Call your assemblymember to vote “NO”)
  • SB-772 Long duration bulk energy storage: procurement. Converted to 2-year bill. (Sierra Club – OPPOSE)
• Emergency/Safety monitoring
  • AB-38 Fire safety: low-cost retrofits: Fire Hardened Homes Revolving Loan and Rebate Fund: regional capacity review. (Sierra Club SUPPORT) (Re-referred to Com. on APPR.)
  • AB-39 Education finance: local control funding formula: aspirational funding level: reports. (Senate – Education) (Sierra Club SUPPORT) – (Referred to APPR. suspense file. )
  • AB-191 Building standards: exemptions: rebuilding after disasters. Converted to 2-year bill (Sierra Club – OPPOSE)
  • AB-936 Oil spills: response and contingency planning. (Sierra Club SUPPORT)(Re-referred to Com. on APPR.)
  • AB-1083 Energy and energy infrastructure procurement requirements: California Council on Science and Technology. (Sierra Club – OPPOSE) – (Re-referred to Com. on E., U. & C. – Call your senator to vote “NO”)
  • SB-160  Emergency services: cultural competence. (Sierra Club SUPPORT) – (Com. on APPR. – Set FOR Hearing ON 14-AUG-19 9 a.m.)
  • SB-169 Pipeline safety: records. (Assembly Governmental Organization) (Sierra Club SUPPORT)  – (Referred to Com. on G.O. Failed passage in committee. (Ayes 8. Noes 5.) Reconsideration granted. Call your assemblymember)
  • SB-182 Local government: planning and zoning: wildfires. (Sierra Club SUPPORT)– (Com. on APPR. Set FOR Hearing ON 21-AUG-19 9 a.m.)
  • SB-463 Natural gas storage wells: monitoring and reporting. (Sierra Club SUPPORT) – (Re-referred to Com. on APPR. – Set FOR Hearing ON 14-AUG-19 9 a.m.)
  • SB-551  Oil and gas: decommissioning, cleanup, and remediation: costs. Sierra Club SUPPORT) – (Re-referred to Com. on APPR.)

• Public lands
  • AB-342 Public lands: leasing: oil and gas: prohibition. (Sen. Natural Resources and Water  – Senator Jackson, June 11th) (Sierra Club SUPPORT) – (Ordered to third reading.)
  • AB-345 Oil and gas: operations: location restrictions. Converted to 2 year bill (Sierra Club SUPPORT)
  • AB-585 Public lands: oil, gas, and mineral leases. (Approved by the Governor. Chaptered by Secretary of State – Chapter 123, Statutes of 2019.)
• Vehicle standards/use
  • AB 40 Zero-emission vehicles: comprehensive strategy. Converted to 2-year bill. (Sierra Club SUPPORT)
  • AB-210 Smog check: exemption. (Sierra Club – OPPOSE)
  • AB-753Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program: fuels: fueling infrastructure. (Sierra Club – OPPOSE) –(Referred to Coms. on TRANS. and EQ.- Hearing postponed by committee. – Now a two year bill)
  • AB-1411 Integrated action plan for sustainable freight. (Sierra Club (Sierra Club SUPPORT)
  • AB-1406 Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program. – Transportation – (Re-referred to Com. on APPR.)
  • SB-44 Medium- and heavy-duty vehicles: comprehensive strategy. – Transportation – (Com. on APPR.- Set FOR Hearing ON 14-AUG-19 9 a.m.”)
  • SB-210 Heavy-Duty Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Program (Sierra Club SUPPORT) – (Com. on APPR. – Set FOR Hearing ON 21-AUG-19 9 a.m.)
  • SB-402 Vehicles: off-highway vehicle recreation: County of Inyo. 
  •  (Sierra Club – OPPOSE) – (Com. on APPR. – On 14-AUG-19 the following history action was applied: “From committee: Do pass.)
  • SB-767 Off-highway vehicular recreation: Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area: Alameda-Tesla Expansion Area. (Sierra Club SUPPORT) – (Com. on APPR. – Hearing ON 14-AUG-19 9 a.m. )
• Waste Reduction /Pollution /monitoring
  • AB-161 Solid waste: paper waste: electronic proofs of purchase. – (re-refer to Com. on APPR.) More information here.
  • AB-936 Oil spills: response and contingency planning. (Re-referred to Com. on APPR. )
  • AB-966 Reducing emissions in cement plants. Converted to 2-year bill (Sierra Club endorsement)
  • AB-1080 – California Circular Economy and Plastic Pollution Reduction Act. (Sierra Club SUPPORT) Ban single use plastics – (Com. on APPR.- Set FOR Hearing ON 26-AUG-19 10 a.m.)
  • SB-54 California Circular Economy and Plastic Pollution Reduction Act. (Sierra Club SUPPORT) Ban single use plastics – (Set FOR Hearing ON 21-AUG-19 9 a.m)
  • SB-463 Natural gas storage wells: monitoring and reporting. – (Re-referred to Com. on APPR.)
• Wildlife/Human health
  • AB-273 Fur-bearing and nongame mammals: recreational and commercial fur trapping: prohibition. – (Ordered to third reading. PASSED! In Assembly. Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling.)
  • AB-454 Migratory birds: California Migratory Bird Protection Act. (Sierra Club SUPPORT) – (From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8..)
  • AB-1254 Bobcats: take prohibition. (Sierra Club SUPPORT) – (“Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly.”)
  • AB-1788 Pesticides: use of anticoagulants. (Sierra Club SUPPORT) –(Re-referred to Com. on APPR. Set FOR Hearing ON 19-AUG-19 10 a.m..)
  • + SB-458 Public health: pesticide: chlorpyrifos (Sierra Club SUPPORT)
• Water systems/Safety
  • AB-134 Safe Drinking Water Restoration. – (Referred to Coms. on EQ. and N.R. & W. Hearing canceled at the request of author.)
  • AB-1204 Public water systems: primary drinking water standards: implementation date. Converted to 2-year bill. (Sierra Club – OPPOSE)
  • SB-200 Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund. (Indivisible CA) (Approved by the Governor. Chaptered by Secretary of State – Chapter 120, Statutes of 2019.)
  • SB-307 Water conveyance: use of facility with unused capacity. (Sierra Club SUPPORT) – (Approved by the Governor. Chaptered by Secretary of State – Chapter 169, Statutes of 2019.)
  • SB-559 Department of Water Resources: grant: Friant-Kern Canal. (Sierra Club  OPPOSE) –Water/Parks/Wildlife – (Com. on APPR.- Hearing ON 14-AUG-19 9 a.m.)

Employment

• AB-160 Employment policy: voluntary veterans’ preference. (Coms. on JUD. and V.A. – In committee: Set, first hearing. Failed passage. Reconsideration granted.)
• AB-1022 California Antihunger Response and Employment Training Act of 2019. – (Re-referred to Com. on APPR.)

Guns

• AB-12 Firearms: gun violence restraining orders. (post) – (Referred to APPR. suspense file)
• AB-18 Firearms: excise tax.
• AB-61 Gun violence restraining orders. (Sen. Public Safety – Senator Jackson to vote on this June 18th) – (Referred to APPR. suspense file.)
• AB-893 22nd District Agricultural Association: firearm and ammunition sales at the Del Mar Fairgrounds.  – (Re-referred to Com. on APPR.)
• AB-1669 Firearms: gun shows and events. – (Re-referred to Com. on APPR. – Set FOR Hearing ON 19-AUG-19 10 a.m.)
• SB-281 Cow Palace Authority.

Health 

• AB-4 Medi-Cal: eligibility. (CAUSE) (Indivisible CA) – (Hearing in Health committee cancelled)
• AB-174 Health care coverage: financial assistance. – (Com. on APPR. – Hearing ON 19-AUG-19 10 a.m.)
• AB-333 Whistleblower protection: county patients’ rights advocates. – (Re-referred to Com. on APPR).
• AB-414 Health care coverage: minimum essential coverage. – (“From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.”)
• AB-666 Pupil mental health: model referral protocols.
• AB-1246 Health care coverage: basic health care services. – (Ordered to third reading. Set FOR Hearing ON 19-AUG-19 10 a.m.)
• AB-1611 Emergency hospital services: costs. Prohibits surprise emergency room billing – (Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH. Hearing canceled at the request of author.)
• SB-29 Medi-Cal: eligibility. (CAUSE) (Indivisible CA) – (Re-referred to Com. on APPR. – Set FOR Hearing ON 14-AUG-19 9 a.m)
• SB 276 Immunizations: Medical Exemptions (post) – (Placed on APPR. suspense file.)
• SB-361 Medi-Cal: Health Home Program. – (Re-referred to Com. on APPR.)

Health – Women

• AB-31 Sales and use taxes: exemption: sanitary napkins: tampons: menstrual sponges and menstrual cups.
• SB-24 Public health: public university student health centers: abortion by medication techniques. (Com. on APPR. – Set FOR Hearing ON 14-AUG-19 9 a.m.)
• SB-464 California Dignity in Pregnancy and Childbirth Act. – (Com. on APPR. – Set FOR Hearing ON 14-AUG-19 9 a.m.)

Homelessness/Poverty/Tenants Rights

• AB-10  Income taxes: credits low-income housing: farmworker housing. – (Com. on APPR – Set FOR Hearing ON 26-AUG-19 10 a.m..)
• AB-58 Homeless Coordinating and Financing Council. – (Be ordered to second reading file pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8 and ordered to Consent Calendar.)
• AB-67 Homeless integrated data warehouse. – (Com. on APPR.)
• AB-302 Parking: homeless students. – (Com. on APPR. – Hearing ON 19-AUG-19 10 a.m.)
• AB-307 Homeless youth: grant program. – (Re-referred to Com. on APPR.) 
• AB-344 New Beginnings California Program. – (Referred to APPR. suspense file.)
• AB-694 Veterans Housing and Homeless Prevention Bond Act of 2019. – (Com. on APPR. – Hearing ON 19-AUG-19 10 a.m.)
• AB-728 Homeless multidisciplinary personnel teams. – (On 15-AUG-19 the following history action was applied:”Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly.”)
• AB-816 California Flexible Housing Subsidy Pool Program.
• AB-1188 Dwelling units: persons at risk of homelessness. – (Ordered to third reading.)
• AB-1434 Public social services: SSI/SSP.
• AB-1481 Tenancy termination: just cause.
• AB-1482 Tenancy: rent caps.Anti-rent gouging & just cause eviction – (APPR – Hearing ON 19-AUG-19 10 a.m.)
• AB-1534 Regional Homeless Management Planning Act.
• ACA-1 Local government financing: affordable housing and public infrastructure: voter approval. (verify)
• SB-18 Keep Californians Housed Act. – (Approved by the Governor. Chaptered by Secretary of State – Chapter 134, Statutes of 2019.)
• SB-48 Low Barrier Navigation Center developments.
• SB-248 Taxation: renters’ credit. – (Com. on APPR. – Hearing ON 14-AUG-19 9 a.m.)
• SB-282 Supportive housing for parolees. – (Com. on APPR. – Hearing ON 14-AUG-19 9 a.m.)
• SB-329 Discrimination: housing: source of income. –(Placed on APPR. suspense file.)
• SB-330 Housing Crisis Act of 2019. –(Com. on APPR. – Set FOR Hearing ON 21-AUG-19 9 a.m.)
• SB-450 California Environmental Quality Act exemption: supportive and transitional housing: motel conversion.– (Com. on APPR – Set FOR Hearing ON 21-AUG-19 9 a.m..)
• SB-529 Tenant associations: eviction for cause.
• SB-573 Homeless Emergency Aid program: funding. – (Referred to Com. on H. & C.D. First hearing canceled at the request of author.)
• SB-687 Homeless Coordinating and Financing Council.  – (Com. on APPR. –
  On 14-AUG-19 the following history action was applied:”From committee: Do pass.)
• SB-744 Planning and zoning: California Environmental Quality Act: permanent supportive housing. – (Com. on APPR. –On 14-AUG-19 the following history action was applied:”From committee: Do pass.)
• AB-816 California Flexible Housing Subsidy Pool Program.
• SCA-1 Public housing projects.

Housing

• AB-68 Land use: accessory dwelling units. – (Re-referred to Com. on APPR.)
• AB-725 General plans: housing element: above moderate-income housing: suburban and metropolitan jurisdictions.
• AB-1486 Surplus land. – Gov. Finance – (Re-referred to Com. on APPR.)
• ACA-1  Local government financing: affordable housing and public infrastructure: voter approval.
• SB-50 Planning and zoning: housing development: incentives.
• SCA-3 Property taxation: change in ownership: inheritance exclusion.

Immigration

• AB-1332 Sanctuary State Contracting and Investment Act. (Indivisible CA)
• AB-1378  Standby guardianship of minors.
• ACR-1 Immigration: public charges. (CAUSE) – (Ordered to Third Reading.)

Law Enforcement

• AB-392 Peace officers: deadly force. (post)(Indivisible CA) – (Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling.)
• SB-22 Rape kits: testing. (Assembly Public Safety) – (Placed on APPR. suspense file.)
• SB-230 Law enforcement: use of deadly force: training: policies. – (Placed on APPR. suspense file.)

Prison Reform

• AB-32 State prisons: private, for-profit administration services. – (Re-referred to Com. on APPR.)
• AB-45 Inmates: medical care: fees. – (Re-referred to Com. on APPR.)
• ACA-6 Elections: disqualification of electors.
• AB-277 Parole: reintegration credits.
• SB-136 Sentencing – Repeal unnecessary sentencing enhancement for people with prior prison conviction (Re-referred to Com. on APPR.)

Transportation

• AB-285 California Transportation Plan. (Senate Transportation Committee) – (Referred to APPR. suspense file)

Voting/Elections/Campaign reform

• AB-59 Elections: polling places: college and university campuses. – (Re-referred to Com. on APPR.)
• AB-177 Election day holiday. (Indivisible CA)
• AB-363 Elections: vote by mail ballots. (Indivisible CA)
• AB-646 Elections: voter eligibility. (Indivisible CA)
• AB-1217 Political Reform Act of 1974: campaign disclosures. DISCLOSE Act for issue ads /ballots (Indivisible CA) – (Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on E. & C.A.)
• AB-1784 Elections: open-source paper ballot voting systems. – (Re-referred to Com. on E. & C.A. Hearing canceled at the request of author.)
• ACA-6  Elections: disqualification of electors. Rights restoration for people on parole Call-in day Aug. 19th!
• SB-27 Primary elections: ballot access: tax returns. – (Approved by the Governor. Chaptered by Secretary of State – Chapter 121, Statutes of 2019.)
• SB-47 Initiative, referendum, and recall petitions: disclosures. DISCLOSE Act for issue ads /ballots (Indivisible CA) – (Com. on APPR. On 14-AUG-19 the following history action was applied:”From committee: Do pass.)
• SB-71 Political Reform Act of 1974: campaign expenditures: limitations. – (Com. on APPR. – Set FOR Hearing ON 21-AUG-19 9 a.m.)
• SB-72 Conditional voter registration: provisional ballots. – (Com. on APPR. – Set FOR Hearing ON 21-AUG-19 9 a.m.)
• SB-139 Independent redistricting commissions. – (Com. on APPR. – Set FOR Hearing ON 21-AUG-19 9 a.m.)
• SB-359 Elections: referendum.– (Com. on APPR. – On 14-AUG-19 the following history action was applied:”From committee: Do pass.)

Here’s a map of the process…