Legislation 2023
SB 307 – Fostering Futures, The Patric Brian Ashby Act
Expands the Middle Class Scholarship program to allow foster youth enrolled in an associate’s degree, transfer pathway, or career technical education certificate program at a community college or a four-year program at a CSU or UC to have 100% of their unmet need covered, including books, food, and lodging. SB 307 is jointly authored by Senate Majority Leader Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg).
Folded into 2023-2024 Budget. For information about Free College for Eligible Foster Youth, click here.
SB 314 – Sacramento County Independent Redistricting
Creates an independent citizens redistricting commission to draw district boundaries for the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors beginning in 2030.
Signed by Governor.
Partners with the State Library to facilitate partnerships between local public libraries and elementary schools to issue Student Success Cards to third grade students in order to help ensure that all children, regardless of socioeconomic status, can succeed in school and life through education by creating public library partnerships with schools.
Signed by Governor.
SB 350 – Student Support for Mental Health and Bereavement
Increases the amount of days that a student shall be excused from school from one to five days when the absence is for attending funeral services, grieving the death of the student’s immediate family member, or obtaining victim services for violence or abuse.
Signed by Governor.
SB 374 – Firefighter Memorial Park Restoration Act
Increases funding for the California Fire Foundation to renovate and update the California Firefighters’ Memorial in Capitol Park by bringing the fees paid by firefighters for a firefighter license plate in line with other specialty plates.
Signed by Governor.
SB 408 – Supporting Youth in Crisis
Establishes 10 regional health teams across California that will provide mental health and medical services to foster youth, foster families and youth who may be at risk of entering foster care. The regional health teams will be led by a physician and composed of: a physician, licensed clinical social worker, public health nurse, nutritionist/dietician, occupational therapist, community health worker, peer support specialist, and a training coordinator.
Two year bill.
SB 578 – Trauma-Informed Harm Reduction for Youth
SB 578 seeks to reduce the harm a child endures by requiring a trauma-informed analysis be provided to judges in advance of any decision to remove a child from their home. Judges will make a more informed decision in the best interest of the child when given more information to weigh what the safest and healthiest outcome is, given all that is happening in the life of the child.
Signed by Governor.
SB 659 - California Water Supply Solutions Act of 2023
SB 659 allows the Department of Water Resources to provide actionable recommendations to develop additional groundwater recharge opportunities by 2028, when the next California Water Plan update is due.
Signed by Governor.
SB 705 – Utility Worker Safety
Requires the Public Utilities Commission to create and implement a public education campaign on the increased frequency of aggression and violence towards utility workers and the importance of utility workers for safe and reliable electric and gas service.
Held in Senate Appropriations.
SB 731 – Return to Office Employee Notification Act
Requires employers in California to provide at least 30 days' notice to employees who work remotely before requiring them to return to in-person work. This notice period would give employees the flexibility to manage their work and family responsibilities effectively, request continued remote work through disability accommodations, or find alternative employment.
Vetoed by Governor.
SB 788 – Cider & Perry Manufacturing
Eliminates barriers for small craft breweries to be licensed to produce both cider and perry.
Signed by Governor.
SB 824 – Foster Care Extended Family Placement Act
Allows more foster children to be placed with a non-relative extended family member or extended family member by removing barriers for tribes, family members or close family friends with a criminal history to be considered as a foster care placement for kin when it is safe for a child.
Held in Assembly Appropriations.