September 2017 - District Report
Dear Neighbor,
This month marks the end of a legislative session and Governor Brown has until October 15th to sign the bills remaining on his desk. While we still have much work to do, I’m proud to have authored and supported legislation that will help people in my district and across California. We’ve made progress in infrastructure and education, supporting immigrants and our environment, and job growth.
Do you have an idea for a new law or a change to existing law that will help our state better serve the public? Previous ideas submitted to legislators have included laws that have cracked down on misleading advertising and a measure creating a pilot program to link the state’s community colleges with local chambers of commerce to promote job creation.
In this Issue:
- Breast Cancer Awareness & Prevention
- Fire Safety - National Fire Prevention Week
- Legislative Update - Housing, Transportation, Environment
- Submit your idea for a new law
As always, my office is available to help you with state agency or answer any questions you might have. You can contact me by visiting my website.
Sincerely,
Bill Dodd
Senator, 3rd District
Breast Cancer Awareness & Prevention
Many of us have loved ones who have been affected by breast cancer. October is National Breast Cancer Prevention Awareness Month, which is an opportunity to promote early detection and treatment of the disease.
Early detection through screenings and mammograms can save lives. That is why I am supporting the Pink Plate Breast Cancer Awareness program to provide low-income women with easy access to screenings. The state legislature and Governor enacted Assembly Bill 49, which authorized a specialty license plate to raise awareness about early detection and fund California’s Every Woman Counts Program, which provides screenings, mammograms and other services to low-income women throughout the state.
You can order the plate for yourself or give one as a gift. Part of the cost is tax-deductible. Visit the California Department of Health Care Services website to learn about the Every Woman Counts program. More information about the pink plate is available at pinkplate.org.
Fire Safety - National Fire Prevention Week
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Most fires start in the home and that is why it is important for every home to have a smoke detector. Indeed, according to the California Building Code, all residences must have one. They should be installed on every level of your home, outside each sleeping area and inside each bedroom.
Promoting this information is the purpose of National Fire Prevention Week, which runs from October 8 through 14. You must regularly check to ensure your smoke alarm has power and is functioning properly. You should also ensure your home has defensible space in the evnet of wildfire.
Learn more about how you can protect your home from the risk of fires
Legislative Updates
While we still have much work to do, I’m proud to have authored legislation that will have a significant impact on people in my district and across California. This year the Legislature passed my bills to protect consumers from fraud, protect our environment, support our military servicemembers, and promote jobs. I also coauthored bills that will help address our housing crisis, expand parks, and invest in water infrastructure.
I will continue to push forward strong public policy that will leave our state a better place for future generations. Here are some other key highlights from this year’s legislative session:
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We confronted California’s housing crisis by increasing funding to proven programs for homeless veterans, families, seniors and people with disabilities. The Legislature’s affordable housing package is anchored by the Senate’s proposals to place a $4 billion general obligation bond on the November 2018 ballot, create a permanent funding source for affordable housing and reform regulations to speed up new housing construction.
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Over the next decade, California will invest an additional $5.4 billion annually in road, freeway, bridge and transit projects – creating jobs, lowering commute times and making our roads safer. The plan includes accountability measures to ensure the funding cannot be spent on anything but transportation.
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Not only did we successfully extend the state’s landmark greenhouse gas reduction program known as Cap and Trade, they led the way with a new plan to retrofit, replace and invest nearly $1 billion in new clean technologies to replace older, dirty diesel engines. The #CACleanAirInitiative is a historic effort to reduce the public health risk from diesel pollution.
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Threats of a mass deportation policy by the federal government rallied California to protect our immigrants, who contribute greatly to our culture and economy. We authored a package of legislation to safeguard our people and communities, anchored by the California Values Act, to ensure that state and local resources are not diverted to enforcement of federal immigration laws. Senators also secured $75 million dollars for the One California Program and California’s DREAMers.
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Not since 2002 have voters had the opportunity to approve a statewide general obligation bond for parks. We led the way, placing a $4 billion plan on the June 2018 ballot to address park access, water quality and flood protection. In response to environmental threats from the Trump Administration, Senate Democrats also passed landmark measures to protect science and ensure that California's precious federal lands will always remain in public hands.
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This year's budget spends a record amount on K-12 schools, raising per pupil spending to over $11,000 – the highest in California history. We also expanded funding for CalGrants and a program that incentivizes college completion in four years.
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We passed a new measure that promotes transparency in the health care system by shining a light on the true costs of pharmaceuticals.
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We set new standards with laws on equality, including measures to provide 12 weeks of unpaid maternity and paternity leave if you work for a small employer; defending and strengthening Title IX standards in California to ensure all schools, colleges and universities implement federal regulations regarding sexual harassment and sexual violence prevention; and passing supporting LGBT residents by respecting their gender identity.
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We eliminated dark money from California campaigns. The California Disclose Act makes it easier for voters to identify the top-funders of campaign ads and allows voters the opportunity to make better informed decisions based on honest information.
Submit your idea for a new law
Do you have an idea for a new law or a change to existing law that will help our state better serve the public? All constituents are invited to submit ideas and proposals of their own for a new state law.
The law can cover any issue, from something particular in our neighborhoods to something that can improve the quality of life throughout California. Previous ideas submitted to legislators have included laws that have cracked down on misleading advertising, a bill that enables individuals who vote by mail to confirm their ballots were counted, and a measure that created a pilot program to link the state’s community colleges with local chambers of commerce to promote business development and job creation.
What is your idea? If it is the one selected, you may have the opportunity to travel to Sacramento and testify before a Senate Committee on the merits of the bill.