Sen. Dodd: Wildfire Safety + Delta Week + Capitol Update

A Message from Bill Dodd

Dear Neighbor, 

Students start returning to school this month as we in the Capitol make a final push on legislation to protect consumers from hidden fees, prevent wildfire and prepare for emerging AI technology, among many other topics.

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. Also, follow me on Facebook and Twitter.

Sincerely,

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Senator, 3rd District

 

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Wildfire & Safety Preparedness

We know the geography, weather patterns and number of communities bordering wild lands in California make us vulnerable to devastating wildfire. As catastrophic wildfires continue to increase each year in California, make sure to protect yourself and your family. 

Cal Fire, our statewide firefighting agency, urges everyone to be familiar with its Ready, Set, Go!  guidelines:

  1. Be ready: Create and maintain defensible space and harden your home against flying embers.
  2. Get set: Prepare your family and home ahead of time for the possibility of having to evacuate. Ensure you have a plan of what to take and where to go – evacuation plans will be different this year due to COVID-19. Ask friends or relatives outside your area if you would be able to stay with them, should the need arise. If you do need to evacuate and plan to stay with friends or relatives, ask first if they have symptoms of COVID-19 or have people in their home at higher risk for serious illness. If that is the case, make other arrangements. Check with hotels, motels and campgrounds to learn if they are open. Also get set by learning about your community’s response plan for each disaster and determine if these plans have been adapted because of COVID-19.
  3. Go: When wildfire strikes, go early for your safety. Take the evacuation steps necessary to give your family and home the best chance of surviving a wildfire.

More information: https://www.readyforwildfire.org/

 

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 Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Week

To bring attention to Delta and its central role in California’s water story, I am designating the last week of September as Sacramento-San
Joaquin Delta Week.

Those interested in learning about the Delta and helping to preserve the precious resource will have an opportunity to participate in numerous clean-up events. They will follow by about a week the annual California Coastal Clean-Up Day on Sept. 21.

Learn more as the week approaches: http://deltaconservancy.ca.gov/updates-events/
 

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 Legislative Update

As the 2024 legislative season enters the home stretch, I’m proud of the work we’ve done to pass laws that are important to you. Most of my bills have now been approved by the Senate and Assembly, and are awaiting Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature. A handful of my bills have already been signed.

I will continue to push forward strong public policy that will leave our state a better place for future generations. This year’s highlights:

  • SB 278 Elder financial abuse: Holds financial institutions accountable for fraud against seniors.
  • SB 495 Alcoholic beverage delivery: Enables specific ABC license holders to deliver beverages.
  • SB 504 Defensible space: Encourages local governments to assess defensible space through grant priority.
  • SB 896 AI Accountability Act: The AI Accountability Act ensures state agencies advance safeguards and consumer protections around AI.
  • SB 1159 Roadside vegetation management: Directs the Office of Planning and Research to evaluate, and the California Secretary of Natural Resources to consider, including certain roadside wildfire risk reduction projects are categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act.
  • SB 1166 Higher Ed data reporting: Extends existing reporting requirements mandating the California State University system to deliver detailed reports to the Legislature and public on sexual harassment and sex discrimination cases and extends these requirements to include both the California Community Colleges and the University of California systems.
  • SB 1384 Powered wheelchair repair: Establishes a comprehensive framework designed to empower consumers and independent repair providers by facilitating access to crucial components, tools, and documentation necessary for the upkeep and repair of powered wheelchairs.

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In the News

Here is some of the latest news coverage that may be of interest to you:

 

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