August 2019 District Report

A Message from Senator Bill Dodd

Dear Neighbor,

Students return to school this month as we in the Capitol make a final push on legislative proposals to protect you from wildfires, build more houses and improve educational opportunities, among other things. An update on key bills is included in this newsletter.

In this Issue:

Please feel free to reach out to me with your suggestions or concerns. As always, my office is available to help you with a state agency or answer any questions you might have. You can contact me by visiting my website.

Sincerely,

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Bill Dodd
Senator, 3rd District

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National Back to School Month

With August comes the start of a new school year. Education is absolutely critical to the future of our state and I am committed to making sound investments in our public schools and universities, as well as early childhood education. Throughout the district there are also organizations that have taken it upon themselves to help out with school expenses for our students and teachers. Our office would like to recognize the following outstanding organizations:

United Way of the Wine Country – Providing backpacks with school supplies and volunteer opportunities to help increase children’s reading skills at local schools. (District-wide)

Backpacks for Kids – Providing backpacks full of school supplies for students in need. (Yolo County)

Teacher Resource Center – Focuses on providing the best environment for students by donating school supplies to classroom teachers. (North Bay)

I hope all students and parents in my district have a happy and successful school year. 

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Legislative Updates

As the legislature reconvenes this month, I’m proud of the legislative package my team and I have developed. Four of my bills have already been signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, with more still going through the legislative proves. I will continue to push forward strong public policy that will leave our state a better place for future generations.

  • SB 173 College Student Food Insecurity – Last month, the governor signed my bill to remove barriers to students to get subsidies under Cal Fresh, in part by streamlining the application process. More than 50,000 California college students could be enrolled in food assistance thanks to the new law. The California Welfare Directors Association, the County of Yolo, student groups and area food banks supported the measure.
     
  • SB 314: Elder Abuse Prevention – The governor also signed my bill inspired by the 2017 wildfires that adds “abandonment” to the list of offenses eligible for enhanced civil remedies under the Elder Abuse and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act. During the wildfires, it was found that two Santa Rosa assisted living centers left behind 20 frail, elderly residents who could have died if they had not been rescued by family members.
     
  • SB 469:  Horse Racing Safety – In June, the governor signed my bill prompted by deaths of horses at Santa Anita Park. The new law authorizes the California Horse Racing Board to immediately halt racing at tracks where dangerous conditions exist. It came in response to the growing number of racing horse deaths in our state.

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Delta Watershed Protection Week

The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is one of the state’s most important waterways and we must continue to safeguard it from environmental degradation. That’s why I have declared the week of Sept. 21- Sept. 28 as Delta Watershed Protection Week. In addition to raising awareness of the fragile nature of the Delta, it is a call to action for anyone who appreciates this valuable resource and wants to get involved in preserving it for future generations. We will kick off Delta Week with the annual cleanup day on Saturday, Sept. 21. Find a place near you to volunteer your time on this website: http://deltaconservancy.ca.gov/

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Davis Resident Honored for Civic Engagement

Davis Resident Honored for Civic Engagement

Her passion – as well as the 258 emails she sent to my offices over the past five years – has earned her a special distinction as the most civically engaged resident of Senate District 3. I honored Sherrill in the Capitol with a certificate of recognition earlier this month.

Sherrill is incredibly thoughtful and engaged. It’s not surprising that a former civics teacher is so community-minded. I really appreciate hearing from the people I serve, and Sherrill is an inspiration when it comes to speaking out to improve our state.

After graduating from UC Berkeley, Sherrill taught at Dixon High School for 34 years before retiring in 1998. She remains active in civic and community affairs in Davis, and volunteers as a researcher and writer for the UC Davis History Project.

Sherrill regularly corresponds with her representatives, expressing her opinion on issues ranging from environmental protection to social justice. Over the five years that I have served in both houses of the Legislature, she has sent more emails than any other constituent.

Said Sherrill: “I’m a civics teacher so of course I’m going to be pestering our elected officials. It’s because I care. It is important.”

Sherrill believes civics education has never been more important than it is today. She supports the idea of teaching it at a younger age and more often.

It’s essential for democracy, which is being attacked in this country as we speak,” she said. “As a society, we must do a better job of educating our children. We owe it to young people to give them the tools they need to continue our way of life.”

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In the News

While California has made meaningful progress in a number of areas over the last year, there is still much work to be done. Here is some of the latest news coverage that may be of interest to you. As always, please contact my office if you have any questions about state policy or want to express your position or ideas for legislation.

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