Dear Friends,
It is my pleasure to be your representative for State Senate District 35. I have worked hard in my first year in the California State Senate to ensure that the issues and concerns affecting you and your families are addressed in the Capitol and implemented throughout our communities. Overall, this was a very successful year. In total, I authored 29 measures, with 18 being approved by both the Assembly and Senate, and 11 signed into state law by Governor Jerry Brown. In addition, I was a joint author or co-author of 53 additional measures.
This Fall Newsletter will provide you with a recap of my 2017 legislative package as well as a few highlights from recent events. Thank you for reading and I appreciate your support.
Best wishes,
Steven Bradford
2017 Legislative Recap
Public Safety
- SB 620: Firearms: crimes: enhancements - allows a court, in the interest of justice and at the time of sentencing, to strike a sentence enhancement for using or discharging a firearm during the commission of a felony.
Business, Professions and Economic Development
- SB 182: Transportation network company (TNC) driver single business license - prohibits a local jurisdiction from requiring a TNC driver to obtain more than one business license, regardless of the number of jurisdiction in which they operate.
Labor
- SB 189: Workers' compensation: definition of employee - decreases the ownership threshold for corporate officers and owners from 15% to 10%, reducing the number of small business that would be required to purchase workers compensation insurance when the owners are employees of the business.
- SB 489: Workers' compensation: change of physician - makes necessary technical changes to allow for timely payments for emergency treatment for injured workers
- SB 490: Wages: Barbering and Cosmetology Act - allows beauty salon employees to be paid a percentage or flat sum commission under specified conditions, including that employees are appropriately licensed, as defined, and that they also receive a base hourly pay rate of at least twice the state minimum wage.
Energy and Environment
- SB 549: Public utilities: reports: moneys for maintenance and safety - requires an electrical or gas corporation subject to the jurisdiction of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to report back when money authorized by the CPUC for maintenance or safety are redirected for other purposes.
- SB 618: Load-serving entities: integrated resource plans - makes clear that the integrated resource plans (IRPs) of all investor-owned utilities, electric service providers, and community choice aggregators must contribute to a diverse resource portfolio in order to meet environmental and reliability goals.
Education
- SB 344: School attendance: inter-district attendance - extends the requirement of county boards of education that they determine within certain deadlines whether a pupil can attend a school within the district that the pupil and parents desire.
- SB 621: Overtime compensation: private school teachers - clarifies that the minimum salary standard for classifying part-time private school teachers as exempt employees is in proportion to the full-time instructional schedule for which the employee is employed.
Governmental Organization
- SB 582: Alcoholic Beverages Tied-House Advertising Exemption: LA Sports Venues - extends an existing exception in the Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Act pertaining to the general prohibition against advertising arrangements between retail, wholesale, and manufacturer licensees to include the Los Angeles Stadium at Hollywood Park and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
Insurance and Human Services
- SB 380: CalWORKs: child support - excludes from the CalWORKs assistance unit calculations a child for whom an adult in the assistance unit receives child support payments.
Resolutions
- SR 43: Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science - urges recognition of Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science as a Historically Black College and University by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
- SR 47: Juneteenth - recognizes June 19, 2017, as Juneteenth Day or "Emancipation Day" and the oldest African American holiday.
- SR 49: Desegregation of the Armed Forces - recognizes July 26, 2017, as the 69th anniversary of the desegregation of the United States Armed Forces.
- SR 66: Recovery Happens Month - declares September 2017, as Recovery Happens Month in California, recognizing support and commitment to substance abuse prevention, treatment and recovery.
17th Official California Senate Delegation to Japan
Tokyo, Japan
Senator Bradford joined eight of his esteemed colleagues in the Senate as they took part in the 17th official delegation to Japan at the invitation of the Japanese government. The purpose of the trip was to further strengthen the positive ties between the California State Senate and the Japanese government, focusing on our economies, healthcare, climate change, infrastructure development, education systems and culture.
Minority Apartment Owners Association 30th Anniversary
Senator Bradford joined the Minority Apartment Owners Association (MAOA) in Los Angeles to celebrate their 30th anniversary. The MAOA is a network of minority and non-minority rental property owners throughout Southern California. They represent over 30,000 property owners and managers, focusing on concerns about housing in the community, insurance, red-lining, rent control, health and safety, as well as poor housing and crime reduction. Senator Bradford was proud to join them, recognizing MAOA with a proclamation for their longstanding service and commitment to fair housing advocacy, local investment, community development, and landlord-tenant education. Congratulations again for 30 years of success!
Senator Bradford Supported the Jazz at Drew Fundraiser for Charles Drew University Students
Senator Bradford with two Tuskegee Airmen at the Jazz at Drew: Great Music for a Greater Cause.
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The Jazz at Drew event helps raise money for campus services at Charles Drew University, while also exposing the community to world renowned musicians and entertainers. This year's festival headliners were Earth, Wind, and Fire and Sheila E who put on an amazing show.
Charles Drew University educates and graduates more African-American health professionals than any 4-year institution in the nation and that is why it deserves to be designated a Historically Black College and University by the U.S. Department of Education. This year, Senator Bradford authored Senate Resolution 43, honoring the historic impact CDU has had on South LA and the greater Los Angeles region, as well as minority health professionals who are far too underrepresented.
Senator Bradford presents $5000 grant to Purche Ave Elementary Students from the Barona Band of Mission Indians
Senator Bradford smiles from ear to ear while taking a photo with kindergarten students at his Alma mater, Purche Avenue Elementary School.
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Senator Bradford takes great pride in representing and recognizing all the schools he has attended on his way to becoming a State legislator. So, when he is able to give back and inspire the next generation, he jumps at every opportunity. Senator Bradford and the Barona Band of Mission Indians presented his alma mater, Purche Avenue Elementary School, with a $5000 check to help foster the development of our young and talented students. The money will specifically be used to purchase art supplies, which will help support visual arts lesson plans focused on nurturing a student's creative thinking process. Innovative teaching methods that are tailored to individual responses to learning will help the future academic success of all our youth.
Senator Bradford Visits El Camino College
Senator Bradford with Dr. Maloney and Executive Director Sala, toured every inch of the STEM and AUTO Facility.
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Senator Bradford met with El Camino College's new President Dr. Dena Maloney and toured their new STEM and Automotive program facility with the President and El Camino College Foundation, Executive Director Andrea Sala. El Camino College received a distinguished Community College Award this year by the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office and was identified as a "Strong Workforce Star" because of their machine tool technology department's ability to educate and prepare highly skilled workers who can immediately be productive and successful members of the local workforce. El Camino, along with Compton and Los Angeles Harbor Colleges all received awards and are all located in Senate District 35. We are truly proud of these institutions and their commitment to preparing well-equipped students.
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