AB 32 to End Use of For-Profit, Private Prisons in California Passes Assembly Appropriations Committee
(From Press Release) – The Assembly Appropriations Committee today passed key legislation by Assemblymember Rob Bonta (D-Oakland) that would end the use of for-profit, private prisons in California.
“I’m extremely pleased to see AB 32 pass the Assembly Appropriations Committee. A company that’s traded on Wall Street will inherently be incentivized to maximize profits and minimize costs. They have a duty to shareholders, not to California.,“ said Bonta. “It’s time we redirect our criminal justice system to value and prioritize effective prison rehabilitation programs, which will help minimize recidivism rates and maximize successes for inmates upon their reentry into society.”
AB 32 would prohibit the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation from entering into a contract or renewing a contract with a for-profit, private prison facility located in or outside of the state, on or after January 1, 2020, and completely phase out their use by 2028. The bill now moves to the Assembly Floor for a vote.
Berman’s Safe Lot Bill Passes Major Hurdle
(From Press Release) – Assemblymember Marc Berman (D-Palo Alto) released the following statement in response to Assembly Bill 302 passing out of the Assembly Appropriations Committee today. Championed by Berman and sponsored by the Student Senate for California Community Colleges, the bill would require community colleges to grant overnight access to campus parking facilities for homeless students to sleep in their vehicles.
“AB 302 passing out of the Assembly Appropriations Committee today with unanimous bipartisan support moves us one step closer to making safe lots a reality for California’s homeless community college students. I want to thank Chair Lorena Gonzalez for her support in recognizing the value that AB 302 will provide in meeting the immediate needs of these students. While we work towards the long term goal of building much more housing across the state, we must do everything we can to alleviate the fear and suffering that these students are facing tonight.”
A recent report released by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office and The Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice, which surveyed nearly 40,000 students at 57 community colleges, found that 19% of respondents experienced homelessness in the previous year. Extrapolated to California’s community college population of 2.1 million students that means nearly 400,000 students have experienced homelessness in the last year.
Assembly Bill 302 would require community colleges to grant overnight access to campus parking facilities to any homeless student that is enrolled in coursework, has paid enrollment fees if not waived, and is in good standing with the community college, without requiring the student to enroll in additional courses. The governing board of each community college would be required to develop an implementation plan that includes, in part, an overnight parking form and liability waiver, designation of a specific parking area or areas, accessible bathroom facilities, hours of operation, and overnight parking rules. Further, AB 302 importantly specifies that it is the intent of the Legislature that homeless students who use the overnight parking facilities shall be connected to available state, county, community college district, and community-based housing, food, and financial assistance resources.
The bill previously passed out of the Assembly Higher Education Committee 10-0. It now heads to the Assembly Floor.
Assembly Bill 302 is also supported by the Alliance for a Better Community, Alliance for Children’s Rights, California Faculty Association, California School Employees Association, California YIMBY, Dreams for Change, Faculty Association of California Community Colleges, Homeless United Huntington Beach, LifeMoves, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, National Association of Social Workers, California Chapter, NextGen California, Safe Parking LA, South Bay YIMBY, and Western Center on Law & Poverty.
CBD Legislation Clears Major Hurdle In California Legislature
(From Press Release) – Legislation to clarify that hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) is legal for manufacture, distribution and sale in California was approved today by the powerful Assembly Appropriations Committee.
Authored by Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters), Assembly Bill 228 would expressly permit the retail sale of hemp-derived CBD in foods and supplements, and also in topical applications. The legislation now heads to the full Assembly for approval next week.
The bill was introduced in the wake of raids by local and state health officials on retail outlets throughout the state selling the popular products. The agencies have been inaccurately alleging that hemp-derived CBD products are prohibited by law from being sold in the state.
Retailers report losses in the tens of thousands of dollars from these regulatory actions.
“The unanimous vote today reflects broad support to clarify the law and allow Californians to continue to have access to and experience benefits from quality hemp-derived CBD products,” notes Joseph Dowling, Chief Executive Officer of San Diego-based CV Sciences, a leading manufacturer of industry-dominating brand, PlusCBD Oil™. “The federal government is removing the barriers for legal use of hemp-derived products and we are pleased that the California Legislature also is moving in that direction with this vote.”
The passage of AB 228 would redress that pronouncement which has cast a chill on legal commerce in popular products that promote health and wellness among California citizens, making clear that hemp and hemp-products are legal for retail sale.
The legislation includes an “urgency clause” that would allow it to go into effect immediately if signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom.
Source of the “Press Release”?
All good info… but credit should be given where credit is due…
They all came from the sponsoring legislator’s office.
Thx… wasn’t clear…
Discrimination? Only community colleges, not state colleges, universities? Only students who have vehicles, not those who only have tents, cardboard boxes, less?
Again… access to the bolded services, only for community college students who have cars, and use the community college overnight parking facilities?
Guess I’m dense… not getting why this is good legislation… if there are needs, should they not be addressed, perhaps even, in a much broader manner (including all public facilities, all homeless, whether ‘in good standing’ or not?) but the way it’s presented, smells of male (un-‘altered’) bovine fecal matter…
“Posturing”?
“Discrimination? Only community colleges, not state colleges, universities? ”
Modest proposal? Community colleges have about a 19percent homeless rate and a 60 percent housing insecurity (cite) and I also think they wanted to do something more limited first and move to something larger if it proves effective.
Fair response, but still think it is posturing, not real, unless there is a funding allocation attached… gotta’ put money where your intentions are… [aka, unfunded mandates]