• A bill to modernize language in California law to reflect the fact that same-sex couples can now marry passed off the Senate floor, 35-2, on April 16. Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) authored Senate Bill 414, which would change the portions of California code that use the terms “husband” and “wife” to instead say “spouse.” “It’s important that the language in our laws accurately and clearly reflect the rights of Californians, and that we remove the bias that has existed in state code,” Jackson said in a press release. “This helps ensure the equal and fair treatment of all married couples in California.” The release added that the bill would build on work done last year to update the Family Code, changing the terms “husband” and “wife” to say “spouse.” SB 414 is heading to the Assembly Judiciary Committee.
• U.S. Reps. Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara) and Adam Kinzinger (R-Illinois) reintroduced a bill on April 16 that would make it easier for veterans with military medical training to continue their careers as EMTs (Emergency Medical Technicians) in the civilian workforce. A press release from Capps’ office said the Veteran and Emergency Medical Technician Support Act would assist states in streamlining certification requirements for vets with military medical training, adding that the original bill was introduced in the previous two Congresses, passed in the House, but not in the Senate. This year, Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana) has already introduced companion legislation in the Senate. “This legislation would go a long way toward making the pathway to a job a little smoother for veterans,” Capps said in the release. “Instead of starting their training over at the most basic level to receive certification for civilian jobs, experienced military medics should be able to more easily use the skills they already own.”
• On April 15, a bill (SB 4) by state Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) that would give undocumented immigrants access to Medi-Cal coverage and subsidized health coverage through a new insurance exchange passed out of the Senate Health Committee. According to California Healthline, the Health for All Act stalled in a legislative committee during the last session after lawmakers failed to find funding to cover its estimated $1.3 billion cost. California Healthline reported that the bill is part of a 10-bill package that aims to expand health coverage. The Sacramento Bee reported that the discussion at April 15’s committee hearing centered on finances, which Lara said would be an estimated $400 million to $800 million annually The bill is headed to the Senate Appropriations Committee next.
• Assemblymember Das Williams (D-Santa Barbara) announced on April 13 that he is running for a seat on the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors in 2016. Williams’ terms out of the Assembly in 2016, and he is running to fill a seat that will be vacated by current 1st District Supervisor Salud Carbajal, who recently announced his campaign to represent the 24th Congressional District in the House of Representatives. Lois Capps will be retiring as the district’s representative the end of 2016.
This article appears in Apr 23-30, 2015.