All 11 of Sen. Holly J. Mitchell’s bills aimed at promoting economic and health equity to Californians who need it most, have cleared the Senate by deadline. The measures now await Assembly action.
Understanding that economic health can depend on physical and mental health, and that the same is true in reverse, Mitchell’s 2019 package includes eight bills to support #EconomicJustice and three bills to promote #HealthJustice.
The measures seek to remove economic shackles that currently make re-integration into their communities impossible for many who have already paid their debt to society.
Below are the bills comprising her #EconomicJustice and #HealthJustice packages:
SB 144 Families Over Fees: This reform bill would reduce recidivism and eliminate barriers to success by eliminating various criminal administrative fees that hurt impacted families the most. Status: Approved by the Senate 26-8 on May 29, SB 144 is awaiting a hearing date in the Assembly.
SB 188 The CROWN Act: Creating a Respectful and Open Workplace for Natural hair would fight school and job discrimination based on hair styles.
Status: Approved by the Senate 37-0 on April 22, SB 188 is set to be heard Tuesday, June 4, by the Assembly Judiciary Committee.
SB 321 Child Care: This bill would remove unnecessary barriers to participation in CalWORKs childcare, including expanding eligibility from six to 12 months and granting full time eligibility. Status: Approved by the Senate 38-0 on May 23, SB 321 is awaiting in Assembly and is under consideration in the 2019-20 state budget.
SB 329 Housing Vouchers: This would improve housing security for voucher holders. Status: Approved by the Senate 24-11 on May 23, SB 329 is awaiting Assembly review.
SB 639 Medical Credit Cards: Curtails predatory lending practices in doctor’s offices by reforming various aspects of medical credit cards including deferred interest. Status: Approved by the Senate 27-10 on May 20, SB 639 is awaiting Assembly review.
SB 555 Jail Fees: the “Fair Access and Connection to Support” (FACTS) Act reduces the cost of phone calls and commissary items purchased by incarcerated people in county jails and their families and ensures that the inmate welfare fund is used solely for the benefit of inmates. Status: Approved by the Senate 30-5 on May 23, SB 555 is awaiting Assembly review.
SB 716 Court Schools: This bill is “Building the Juvenile Hall to Career Pipeline” by requiring court schools to establish post-secondary education and/or vocational training programming for all youth in custody who have graduated or tested out of high school. Status: Approved by the Senate 37-0 on May 23, SB 716 is awaiting Assembly review.
SB 740 Unclaimed Life Insurance: The “Unclaimed Life Insurance and Annuities Act” codifies the settlement agreement for over 30 life insurance companies by mandating use of the social security death master file for locating life insurance beneficiaries and annuitants. Status: Approved by the Senate 38-0 on May 29, SB 740 is awaiting Assembly review.
#HealthJustice
SB 464 Maternal Wellness: The “Dignity in Pregnancy and Childbirth Act” intends to address the inequities of maternal care for black mothers and infants by requiring implicit bias training for perinatal providers involved in services at hospitals and birth centers; requires DPH to track and publish data on maternal mortality rates and pregnancy related conditions. Status: Approved by Senate 37-0 on May 22, SB 464 is awaiting Assembly review.
SB 361 Health Homes Program: Updates California’s 2014 law to help Medi-Cal beneficiaries who are homeless and/or live with multiple chronic health conditions or serious mental illnesses. Status: Approved by Senate 37-0 on May 23, SB 361 is awaiting Assembly review.
SB 647 Safe Jewelry: “The California Safe Jewelry Act” improves consumer protection by conforming California law to current national and international standards for lead and cadmium in jewelry. Status: Approved by the Senate on May 23, SB 647 is awaiting Assembly review.
Ray Sotero
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