Dear Friends,
As your representative in the California Senate, it is my duty to keep you up to date with the latest and most important proceedings in the Legislature. Last Friday was the deadline for both the Senate and Assembly to pass bills for the 2017-18 legislative session. This was another very successful year on many fronts, and I am proud to work on issues affecting our communities, our cities, and the entire state.
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Eleven of the bills I authored this year have been approved by both houses and now await signature by Governor Jerry Brown.
These bills include:
- Income tax exclusions for relocated residents in Carson (SB 343)
- Improve law enforcement accountability and policy transparency (SB 978)
- Builds consumer financial security (SB 1055)
- Relieves taxpayers from increased debt to public utilities (SB 1110)
- Save low-income working families money on their electricity bills (SB 1135)
- Afford victims of crime more time to apply for compensation from the state (SB 1232)
- Clarify residency requirements for elected officials (SB 1250)
- Support the growth of local craft breweries (SB 1283)
- Establishing the California Cannabis Equity Act of 2018 (SB 1294)
- Increase transparency between government agencies and financial institutions (SB 1361)
- Expand employment opportunities for rehabilitated individuals (SB 1412)
There were a number of bills that I co-authored, which are also heading to the Governor’s desk, including bills that:
- Streamline the Inglewood Revitalization Project and LA Clippers Arena (AB 987)
- Utilize unused space to temporarily house homeless citizens (SB 519)
- Prevent young teenagers from being prosecuted as adults (SB 1391)
- Allow judges the discretion to strike an additional conviction enhancement (SB 1393)
- Permits the safe release of police records involving the use of firearms, serious use of force, or great bodily harm (SB 1421)
I was also successful at securing the following funding in our State Budget:
- $10 million and four positions at the Bureau of Cannabis Control for local cannabis equity programs and applicants
- $5 million for formerly incarcerated student programs at California Community Colleges
- Millions of dollars in aid for Inglewood Unified School District: an ongoing appropriation until 2023 to relieve IUSD of fiscal insolvency, and a comprehensive plan to equip IUSD for long-term success and sustainability for students, teachers and administration.
While there is still much more work to be done, we can look back on a successful legislative session and look forward to what we can accomplish next!
Thank you for your continued support and engagement.
Best wishes,
Steven Bradford
Senate District 35
