It has been three weeks since the California Legislature adjourned for the session and sent a stack of more than 1,000 bills to Governor Jerry Brown for his signature or veto.
The California Catholic Conference (CCC) is pleased to report that the Governor has signed several educational and environmental bills that will benefit all Californians, while we continue to await news on others that could have devastating impacts.
AB 2285 (O’Donnell, D-Long Beach), which will recruit more out-of-state teachers in high-demand subjects was signed along with SB 972 (Portantino, D-La Cañada Flintridge), which will require that all student identification cards are imprinted with an anti-suicide helpline. AB 1868 (Cunningham, R-San Luis Obispo County) will enable students to be educated under the Healthy Youth Act on the dangers of messaging sexually explicit materials through digital media.
The CCC is pleased that the Governor also signed SB 100 (de León, D-Los Angeles), which will quantifiably reduce the emissions harmful to our planet and the health of our communities, especially for our most vulnerable Californians.
In the same vein, Governor Brown signed SB 720 (Allen, D-Santa Monica) to better integrate Environmental Principles and Concepts (EP&Cs) throughout California’s elementary and secondary curriculum across multiple subject areas. The CCC believes an integrated approach should be used where students learn how to combat poverty, restore dignity to the excluded, protect the most vulnerable among us, and at the same time protect nature.
There are still important bills (including the abortion pill on college campuses) that could have dire consequences if signed and others that will improve the lives and safety of Californians. Click here to view the alerts and quickly let the Governor hear the Catholic voice on these critical bills.