LEGISLATIVE UPDATE FROM ASSEMBLYMEMBER SKINNER: BILLS GOING TO GOVERNOR BROWN
The California State Legislature approved the following bills by Assemblymember Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley):
To learn more about Assemblymember Skinner's legislation, please visit her website.
HELPING DREAMERS
AB 2189 - Driver’s Licenses for Dreamers
This legislation, co-authored by Assemblymembers Skinner and Gil Cedillo, would allow young immigrants covered by President Obama's "Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals" to be eligible to apply for California driver’s licenses.
HELPING K-12 SCHOOLS
AB 1186 – Saving Energy, Saving Our Schools
This bill establishes a dedicated school energy efficiency program for deep energy retrofits of public K-12 schools.
HELPING WOMEN AND FAMILIES
AB 2610 – The Renters' Rights Act of 2012
This bill is part of the “California Homeowner Bill of Rights” sponsored by Attorney General Kamala Harris and provides protections to renters living in foreclosed homes by requiring – with limited exceptions – new purchasers of foreclosed homes to honor a tenant’s lease until the end of the lease term. Where there is no lease, the tenant must be provided with at least 90-days’ notice prior to eviction (unless a longer period is required by local law).
AB 2356 – Equal Access to Fertility Services
Single women and same-sex partners using known sperm donors do not have access to the same insemination procedures as women with a male partner when attempting to conceive. This bill would update California law to provide single women and same-sex partners with equal access to fertility services.
AB 1359 – CalFresh Expedited Needs
This bill requires county human services agencies to evaluate all applications for CalFresh expedited services, which conforms to federal law. Households that qualify for expedited service will receive benefits by the third calendar day after filing the application.
ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT
AB 296 – Cool Pavements
This bill creates a program for using alternatives to traditional paved surfaces in order to mitigate the urban heat island effect. The standards will complement those in the California Green Building Code.
AB 1124 – Energy Efficiency for All
This bill clarifies that current law regarding a landlord’s responsibility to maintain a habitable rental unit does not prohibit a utility company from providing energy efficiency assistance to tenants or owners of rental property.
STREAMLINING GOVERNMENT
AB 2641 – Non-Profit Paperwork Reduction Program
This bill provides a single government website through the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development that provides all of the necessary information and forms for incorporation and renewal processes for non-profit organizations.
AB 318 - Income Tax Holiday & LLC Conformity
This bill will codify the Internal Revenue Service’s definition of a legal holiday; and apply the existing $2,000 penalty for failure to file a tax return to Limited Liability Corporations.
HEALTHCARE
AB 439 – Medical Records
This bill updates current law with regard to medical information in the digital age, protecting patient privacy while also recognizing that unintentional release may occur even when providers adopt strict protections.
THE STATE LEGISLATURE ALSO APPROVED:
AJR 40 – Federal Housing Finance Agency
This resolution urges the Federal Housing Finance Agency Director, Edward DeMarco, to immediately allow principal reductions for homeowners “underwater” on mortgages owed to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Assemblymember Skinner was elected in 2008 to serve the 14th Assembly District, which includes Albany, Berkeley, El Cerrito, Emeryville, Kensington, Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda, Pleasant Hill, Richmond, San Pablo and parts of Oakland and El Sobrante. Skinner serves as Chair of the Assembly Rules Committee.
To learn more about Assemblymember Skinner's legislation, please visit her website.
