• Gov. Jerry Brown signed a few bills authored by state Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) on Oct. 1, including a historic bill requiring gender diversity on corporate boards in California. SB 826 requires every publicly held corporation in the state to have a minimum of one woman on its board of directors by the end of 2019, and a minimum of two women on boards of five members and at least three women on boards of six or more by 2021. The bill was a priority of the California Legislative Women’s Caucus, according to a release form Jackson’s office. “With the governor’s support of SB 826 today, yet another glass ceiling is shattered, and women will finally have a seat at the table in corporate board rooms,” Jackson stated. “With numerous independent studies showing that corporations with women on their boards are more profitable, SB 826 is a giant step forward for women, our businesses, and our economy.” California is the first state to pass such a law. Brown also signed two bills by Jackson authored to “combat sexual harassment in the workplace by ending the legal tactics used to silence victims, informing employees of their rights, and specifically prohibiting harassment in the unique business relationships not covered by state law,” according to a release from Jackson’s office. SB 1300 guides courts on the legal standard for sexual harassment litigation so that it’s fairly applied to protect victims, prohibiting “non-disparagement clauses and ‘sneaky releases’ that prevent vitims from speaking out about abuse and seeking justice in court for sexual harassment.” SB 224 will expand protections regarding sexual harassment, prohibiting harassment by investors, elected officials, lobbyists, directors, and producers. “The #metoo movement raised awareness of the sexual harassment that so many have endured, but it’s not enough to simply share our stories. We need real, meaningful reforms to end this inappropriate behavior by holding perpetrators accountable and putting an end to the tactics that have been used to silence victims, Jackson stated. “With the governor’s support of SB 224 and SB 1300, California is stating clearly that we believe and support victims.”
• Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill on Oct. 1 authored by Assemblymember Jordan Cunningham (R-San Luis Obispo) to improve special education procedures. According to a release from Cunningham’s office, “In the course of a due process hearing, either party involved may request a continuance, which shall be granted on a showing of ‘good cause.'” “Good cause” remained undefined before AB 2580, the release said. “Special education disputes can be extremely complicated and time consuming for all parties,” Cunningham stated. “Clarifying the criteria for extensions of due process hearing will ensure that the dispute is resolved quickly, allow services to reach students faster, and save both school districts and parents money.”
• The League of Women Voters Santa Maria Valley will hold a candidates forum for Santa Maria City Council candidates on Oct. 1 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Joseph Centeno Betteravia Government Center’s Board of Supervisors room at 511 E. Lakeside Parkway, Santa Maria. Candidates for District 3 include Raymond Acosta, Councilmember Michael Moats, and Gloria Soto; candidates for District 4 include Councilmember Etta Waterfield and challenger Rafael Gutierrez. More information is available at lwvsmv.org or (805) 310-1462.
• Santa Barbara County Clerk-Recorder-Assessor and Registrar of Voters Joseph Holland announced Sept. 28 that Voter Information Guides on local propositions had been mailed to all registered voters in the county. Registered voters should check their mailboxes for the guides, which contain a sample ballot and information specific to each precinct along with a polling location. Vote-by-mail ballots will be sent to voters on Oct. 8, and are also available in at County Elections offices in Santa Maria (511 E. Lakeside Parkway, suite 134), Lompoc (401, E. Cypress Ave., room 102), and Santa Barbara (4440-A Calle Real). More info: (805) 568-2200 or sbcvote.com.
This article appears in Oct 4-11, 2018.