Legislative update
Two bills passed; one to go
A bill that authorizes dependent children to be eligible for coverage under group life insurance policies up to age 26 and maintains protections for older dependents with intellectual or developmental disabilities, has now become law.
This bill, SB 220 authored by Sen. Curren D. Price Jr. (D-26th District), mimics changes allowed in dependent coverage under the Federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (PPACA). It was signed by Gov. Jerry Brown on Sept. 7.
“This bill will expand access to life insurance coverage, provide young people with support they currently are unlikely to have and parents with the assurance that in the event of catastrophe, some of their expenses can be paid down by effective life insurance,” said Sen. Price.
Current law limits the age of eligible dependents to all unmarried children from “birth through 20 years of age” or “through 24 years of age” if the dependent child is attending an educational institution.
The coverage would remain in force regardless of whether the dependent is married or attending an educational institution.
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A bill that aims to reduce California’s recidivism rate—currently the highest in the nation—by providing low-level offenders with a meaningful opportunity to obtain employment, was signed by Gov. Jerry Brown on Sept. 7. The bill, AB 1384, was authored by Assembly member Steven Bradford (D-Gardena).
AB 1384 amends the California Penal Code and allows the courts more discretion in expunging misdemeanors and other infractions from the criminal records of offenders who have otherwise demonstrated good behavior and rehabilitation.
“I am pleased that the governor agrees on the need to eliminate barriers to employment for people with misdemeanors or infractions on their record,” Bradford said. “Putting people back to work is the best way to fix our economy and ease the strain on our justice system.”
Current California law allows courts discretion in dismissing a person’s conviction if that person was sentenced to probation. That benefit, under AB 1384, is extended to those not sentenced to probation, and to people convicted of an infraction.
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The Legislature approved AB 420, authored by Assemblyman Mike Davis by an Assembly vote of 41-32. which concurred with Senate amendments.
The bill requires the Department of Corrections to submit the last known address of inmates to the Citizen’s Commission on Redistricting every ten years, coinciding with each Census. It also requests that the Commission on Redistricting deem each inmate as residing at the last known residence, rather than in a correctional facility, for purposes of establishing a population count when drawing district lines.
“This bill will ensure that the 160,000 inmates are counted appropriately and California law will be followed while counting prisoners for redistricting purposes,” said Assemblyman Davis.
“Under the current practice, large numbers of incarcerated Californians are counted in districts where they are serving their sentences. This unfairly dilutes the representation of minority communities when they are not counted in their legal residence as it is defined in California Elections Code Section 2025.”
In Gov. Jerry Brown’s late rush to dispatch more than 140 legislative bills before midnight Sunday, Assemblyman Mike Davis had three bills to make the cut—AB 420, AB 126 and AB 1329.
Lancaster continues to frame the national debate about the merits of green technology as it welcomes Chinese automaker BYD Co. here to produce electric buses. The city is rapidly becoming known as the “solar capital of the world,” and local officials believe the new manufacturing deal will provide an economic boost on both sides of the Pacific Rim.
BYD Co. (Build Your Dreams) opened shop Wednesday at 46147 BYD Blvd. (formerly 7th Street W., just north of Avenue H) to make the “K9” electric bus destined first for Long Beach Transit.
California’s balance sheet is mired in an unusual dilemma: while the criminal justice portion of the state budget has shot up, the higher education portion has shot down.
During recessions, higher education budgets typically experience significant state funding cuts (money for proposed construction projects, campus refurbishment, scholarships/grants) but the corrections budget remains about the same.
“This money is so dirty it had to be laundered five times—and it still stinks.” —Gov. Jerry Brown
Assemblyman Mike Davis and KJLH’s Adai Lamar will be among those participating in a proposition forum and barbecue sponsored by Los Angeles Urban League Young Professionals, in association with S.C.O.P.E. and the League of Women Voters, on Saturday, Oct. 27. The public is urged to attend discussion on the important propositions that will appear on the Nov. 6 ballot.
The event with be held at S.C.O.P.E. headquarters at 1715 W. Florence Ave., Los Angeles.
