In the News 2010

O.C. school incident spurs free-speech bill (Orange County Register)

January 12, 2010

By SCOTT MARTINDALE

A state lawmaker who watched with frustration last year as Orange County's largest charter high school ignored laws designed to protect student press freedoms is expected to introduce a Senate bill today that would explicitly bar charter school administrators from unlawful attempts at censorship.

State Sen.

EDITORIAL: Second chance for parole bill (San Francisco Chronicle)

January 12, 2010

What we said: A state with a $24.3 billion deficit and a sputtering economy needs to get serious about reassessing all of its policies. One of California's most senseless practices, in its waste of tax dollars and human capability, is a law that allows juvenile offenders to be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. More than 250 California inmates are locked up without possibility of parole for crimes they committed before the age of 18. The rest of the civilized world recognizes the folly of condemning a juvenile to a life behind bars.

OCHSA Censorship Draws Bay Area Push Back (Orange County Weekly)

January 12, 2010

By Matt Coker

A Bay Area lawmaker is standing up for high school journalists in Santa Ana.

State Sen. Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) was scheduled to introduce legislation to the Senate judiciary committee today that would explicitly bar charter school administrators from unlawful attempts at censoring student newspapers.

Yee seeks to broaden crime-report requirement (San Francisco Chronicle)

January 09, 2010

Bob Egelko, Chronicle Staff Writer

SACRAMENTO -- A Bay Area lawmaker proposed jail sentences Friday for witnesses who fail to report sex crimes or violent attacks on victims under 18, such as the youths who reportedly watched in October while their friends raped a 16-year-old Richmond High School student.

"It is unconscionable that anyone could witness such a crime to a child and not report it to authorities," said state Sen.

Gov plans deep cuts to programs, and fed help (San Francisco Chronicle)

January 09, 2010

Wyatt Buchanan,Marisa Lagos, Chronicle Sacramento Bureau

Sacramento -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger unveiled an $82.9 billion spending plan for California on Friday that relies on deep cuts in health and human services, prison spending and wages for state workers, and on billions in additional federal dollars that the state's U.S.

Reaction to Schwarzenegger's proposed budget (Associated Press)

January 08, 2010

Reactions to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed budget for the 2010-11 fiscal year:

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"Typically, he threatens the Legislature. Now he's threatening the president of the United States, and I have difficulty with that."-Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, D-Los Angeles, about the governor's threat to cut programs unless California gets more federal funding.

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"Raising taxes funds what's broken. It does not fix it. We have to curtail spending habits."-Assemblyman Jim Nielsen of Yuba City, ranking Republican on the Assembly Budget Committee.

Yee revives sunshine bill for CSU, UC auxilliaries (Santa Rosa Press Democrats)

January 06, 2010

By NATHAN HALVERSON
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Sen. Leland Yee, D-San Francisco, reintroduced a bill Tuesday that would force campus organizations, such as the Sonoma State Academic Foundation, to comply with state open record laws.

Last year, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed SB 218 after it was approved by the Legislature. Yee reintroduced the same bill as SB 330.

Currently, the California Public Records Act applies to schools within the California State University and University of California systems.

New year rings in new California laws (UC Davis California Aggie)

January 04, 2010

2010 brings changes to consumers, drivers

Written by Sasha Lekach
Staff Writer

Jan. 1, 2010 ushered in more than a new decade. Friday was the first day many new pieces of California legislation went into effect.

Over 700 new laws were passed, ranging from civil rights issues to more mundane "clean-up" bills - or laws that change or extend the wording of a previous law.

Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) brought nine new laws into 2010.

Hike in fee might fund DV shelters (San Mateo Daily Journal)

January 02, 2010

By Michelle Durand

Funding for domestic violence shelters statewide - snatched in state budget fights but partially reinstated for one year - could be restored on a more permanent basis by hiking the marriage license fee, according to the state senator who helped save the funds.

State Sen.