The south Central Valley is an area with needs as diverse as the region. California is in the midst of a drought, which impacts so many in Senate District 16. As a result, one major legislative priority Senator Melissa Hurtado focuses on is water. Water is essential in the Central Valley for all aspects of life: for farming, drinking, and recreation. Food security is also another issue that the Senator cares deeply about. Various pieces of legislation address her concerns that due to climate change, and drought, California and beyond will start to experience disruptions in the food chain, which may lead to food insecurity. The Central Valley has limited health access, forcing many to drive great distances or wait long periods, to receive adequate medical attention. Senator Hurtado is working to improve health access and increase health equity across the Valley.
2023-2024 Legislation
SB 245 increases access to food by removing the exclusion of income-eligible Californians from CFAP due to their immigration status. It also ensures that California holds true to the promise of the targeted age based expansion it made last year.
SB 265 takes action to combat the growing issue of cyber threats and cyberattacks by directing the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal-OES) and the California Cybersecurity Integration Center (Cal-CSIC) to develop outreach and funding plans to improve cybersecurity preparedness in California’s critical infrastructure sectors.
SB 697 amends penalties under the Cartwright Act to align with the state’s federal counterpart, the Sherman Act, increasing corporate fines up to $100 million and individual fines to $1 million with possible 10-year imprisonment.
SB 1151 requires any person acting as a foreign agent within the state of California to disclose their affiliations to any foreign principle. SB 1151 also requires the Secretary of State to include a statement on filing forms to educate any person acting as a foreign agent about the requirements under the United States Foreign Agent Registration Act (FARA).
SB 1155 aims to broaden the scope of lobbying restrictions by including executive members of state agencies. The bill proposes a one-year prohibition period for these officials from engaging in lobbying activities, creating a longer buffer period to reduce conflicts of interest, promote transparency, and restore trust in the integrity of state agencies and the policymaking process.
SB 1156 promotes transparency, prevent conflicts of interest, and ensure accountability within Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) by requiring members of the executive team and board of directors to disclose any economic or financial interests that may influence decision-making related to groundwater management.
SB 1183 allows community colleges within CA the authority to award admission points to students from local workforce areas. COS indicated that many of their Nursing Students placed in their program are not from the local area and do not end up working in the CV. Students from other parts of the state apply to these nursing programs and then go back to serve in their own communities instead of staying and working in the CV. This leaves a huge gap in the healthcare workforce.
SB 1248 requires schools and school districts to develop and implement a comprehensive climate change protocol that includes guidelines for evaluating weather conditions, modifying or canceling physical activities, ensuring access to hydration, and training staff on appropriate responses to heat-related emergencies.
SB 1366 proposes mandatory disclosure requirements for sellers and real estate agents, ensuring transparent communication to potential buyers regarding the non-conveyance of water tank assistance when purchasing homes with a history of water well issues.
SB 1367 would extend the secretary’s authority to designate a specified amount of the revenues from that tax to provide funding for research and education from January 1, 2025, to January 1, 2031. By extending the purposes for which funds in a continuously appropriated fund may be spent, the bill would make an appropriation.
SB 1448 supports farmer equity by addressing land equity and access to markets for small family farmers. It does this by addressing implementation issues for two important existing programs 1.) The California Agricultural Land Equity Task Force 2.) The Farm to Community Food Hub Program.
SCA 10 would declare that the state recognizes the fundamental human right to food access for everyone in California. Establishing a fundamental right to food access is one-step closer to addressing the detrimental food insecurity that many Californians face.
2022-2023 Legislation
SB 367 requests UCs and requires CSUs and Community Colleges to maintain nasal spray dosages of naloxone at all campus health centers and ensure that CDPH’s administration training for the substance is included in campus orientation materials.
SB 847 establishes a grant program, administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development that allows for distribution of funds to homeowner applicants, upon appropriation by the Legislature.
SB 892 requires CalOES to adopt optional reporting guidelines for companies in the food and agriculture, and water and wastewater sectors, if they identify a significant and verified cyber threat or an active cyberattack. The bill requires CalOES to work with the California Cybersecurity Integration Center to develop an outreach plan to assist the food and agriculture sector and water and wastewater sectors to improve cybersecurity and an evaluation of options for providing grants and potential voluntary actions to improve preparedness.
SB 900 makes a substantive, non-controversial change to the business and professions code relating to the Gambling Control Submission.
SB 910 makes a substantive, non-controversial change to the business and professions code relating to gambling licenses.
SB 920 enhances the authority of the Medical Board to allow them to inspect licensee records, including patient and client records. The bill conforms the timeframe in which pharmacies are required to respond to request from the Medical Board to those required by the Board of Pharmacy. The bill also provides a voice to complainants, by allowing their statement to be included in the investigation.
SB 1023 establishes the Blue Ribbon Commission on Strengthening our Health System by Transforming Medical Training and Education to Improve Patient Protection. The commission’s mission is to review various questions related to medical education, helping to implement a strong, robust and fair licensing and disciplinary process that focuses on patient safety.
SB 1029 requires the California Department of Public Health and the California Department of Food and Agriculture to establish and develop a framework for interagency coordination to carry out One Health principles and goals.
SB 1066 addresses the impacts of climate change on farmworkers by creating the California Supplemental Pay for Farmworkers Pilot Project, providing eligible farmworker households with financial assistance to meet basic needs.
SB 1084 puts California in control of its food supply chain by preventing foreign governments from purchasing agricultural land, and requiring all purchasers of agricultural land to disclose the acquisition of that land to the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
SB 1090 ensures the Family Urgent Response can serve all children or youth in the various stages of the child welfare system and make other technical fixes to eliminate any confusion about who can access FURS.
SB 1091 requires the California Department of Social Services to fund contracts with community based organization or provide local assistance allocations to counties and Indian tribes, or both to support new or expanded family finding and engagement programs. This has a corresponding budget ask to support its implementation.
SB 1092 makes a variety of reforms to address consumers’ difficulties in navigating the fair hearing process and lack of access to justice. The bill requires the California Department of Developmental Services to contract with the Department of Social Services for the provision of hearing officers and fair hearings. The bill also makes various changes to fair hearing procedure and mandate mediation for a service agency, if requested by the service recipient.
SB 1093 modernizes and streamlines the California Department of Social Services process for transferring background clearances for employees who provide childcare, home care and older adult care.
SB 1218 enhances reporting around water reliability by the Delta Stewardship Council to enhance the State’s ability to effectively plan for long-term agricultural productivity and economic vitality, while continuing to work towards existing environmental preservation and protection goals.
SB 1219 requires the Natural Resources Agency and California-Environmental Agency to create a blue ribbon commission to develop goals and recommendations to create a more sustainable water system for all of California.
SB 1220 clarifies that provisions outlining sustainable groundwater management act requirements to make submissions to the Department of Water Resources do not prohibit groundwater sustainability agencies that have developed multiple plans from amending coordination agreements following Department assessment of those plans.
SCR 63 designates January 27, 2022 as Rose Ann Vuich Day. Rose Ann Vuich was the first woman elected to the California State Senate.
SCR 76 designates March 2022 as Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood Awareness Month.