[Editor’s Note: Sen. Price (D-Culver City) is in the second year of his second term.]
[img]899|left|||no_popup[/img]Dear Friends and Neighbors,
This year-end edition of my eNewsletter will give you an overview of what I have been doing this past year to represent you and your interests in the Capitol and throughout the state. It will highlight my Legislative success this past session as well as my efforts in the Legislature and the community to promote the growth and success of small businesses.
Gov. Brown signed or vetoed hundreds of bill this past session, many of which couldn't meet the financial test. The ongoing economic downturn in California and throughout the country has forced the Capitol to place revenue restrictions on legislation that makes sense but simply costs more than the state budget can afford.
Still, I am happy to report that 80 percent of my bills were signed into law by the Gov. Brown.
I will share with you my continued focus on small businesses. We must ensure opportunities for the businesses and communities in this state that need a voice the most. I intend to lead the efforts to ensure that the strength of emerging businesses is a continued focus to assure maximum participation of our communities and constituents.
As a strong advocate for small businesses, I introduced nearly a dozen bills this year that will positively impact small businesses, including a legislative package aimed at guaranteeing participation for California businesses in all stages of building the California high speed rail.
These bills will set standards for small business involvement in high speed rail contracting, require the California High Speed Rail Authority to specifically outline efforts pertaining to small business in its business plan and specify the role that local employees will play in segments of the project.
I convened numerous forums, symposiums and advisory committees throughout the community to provide guidance, information and access to small businesses that will insure that they get a fair share of the economic pie such as public contracts and procurements.
As Chairman of the Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee, I've been the keynote speaker at several Chambers of Commerce events throughout the state including those hosted by the California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Korean-American Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles.
In conclusion, I believe in policies that spark economic growth, encourage innovation, open the doors of opportunity for all, create jobs and stimulate our state's economy.
I encourage you to visit my official Senate website on a frequent basis to follow the progress of budget negotiations and my legislation as it moves through the legislative process. My website will provide you with information on my legislative efforts in the Capitol, the District and any community events in your neighborhood.
Don't hesitate to contact my office staff or me whenever you have issues of concern or problems that warrant attention.
Sen. Price's 2011 Legislation Signed into Law by Gov. Brown
Gov. Brown signed into law 12 of my bills. Of the 15 bills sent to the governor, only three were vetoed.
These bills expand opportunities for small businesses, protect consumers, ensure that our neediest students receive the resources necessary for success in the classroom, and promote the public safety.
Legislative bills signed by the Governor:
SB 100 — Provides for greater oversight and regulation of surgical clinics and other types of clinics such as fertility and outpatient settings. This bill will ensure that quality of care standards are in place at these clinics and checked by the appropriate credentialing agency. SB 294 — Requires the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) and the California State Teachers' Retirement System (CalSTRS) to develop a five-year strategic plan to expand participation of emerging investment management firms in investing and managing state pension funds.
SB 220 — Authorizes dependent children to be eligible for coverage under group life insurance policies up to age 26 and maintains protections for older dependents with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
SB 451 — Requires the California Student Aid Commission to develop and regularly update the areas of occupational or technical training for which students may utilize Cal Grant C awards, and would require the Commission to give priority in granting the awards to students pursuing occupations or technical training in high growth, high wage or high demand jobs sectors.
SB 509— Allows school districts to purchase the most recently adopted materials for the neediest schools without the financial burden of purchasing for the entire district.
SB 594 — Improves overall efficiency by consolidating certain disclosure and policyholder notices into a single mailing, thereby reducing numerous customer communications that often confuse customers.
SB 706 — Reforms the Dept. of Real Estate's Enforcement Program and the Office of Real Estate Appraisers. This bill states that protection of the public shall be the highest priority for the department and the office in exercising their licensing, regulatory, and disciplinary functions.
SB 756 — Provides local jurisdictions the ability to prosecute sex offenders who fail to register as currently required by California law. This legislation requires sex offenders to provide proof of residence when requested by law enforcement officers.
SB 107 — Extends the authority of the California Interscholastic Federation.
SB 539 — Extends the sunset date of the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians to Jan. 1, 2016, requires employers of vocational nurses and psychiatric technicians to report resignations for cause, and allows the board the option to review vocational nursing schools and psychiatric technician schools for compliance.
SB 540 — Extends the sunset date of the Dental Board of California to Jan. 1, 2016, adds one additional public member to the board, and makes other programmatic changes
SB 541 — Authorizes the boards and bureaus within the Dept. of Consumer Affairs, as well as the state Board of Chiropractic Examiners, and the Osteopathic Medical Board to continue to utilize expert consultants, as done in the past, without having to go through the formal contracting process.
Sen. Price may be contacted at senator.price@outreach.senate.ca.gov
