Learn More About CWLC’s 2018 Legislative Accomplishments

Learn more about CWLC’s policy advocacy for the 2018 legislative session.

Senate Bill 1023 (Hernandez)

CWLC supports SB 1023, which expands access to sexual and reproductive health services including contraception and STD testing, prevention and treatment, by ensuring coverage for those services via telehealth. Read SB 1023 Letter of Support. SB 1023 was introduced on February 7, 2018. SB 1023 was ordered to the inactive file on August 31, 2018. 

Senate Bill 990 (Wiener)

CWLC supports SB 990, which ensures the dignity, identity and gender of LGBTQ people are honored in incarceration. SB 990 will allow LGBTQ people and others at high risk of sexual assault and harassment the equal opportunity to access rehabilitative, educational and work programs that will help them succeed upon release. Read SB 990 Letter of
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Assembly Bill 2841 (Gonzalez Fletcher) – 5 Paid Sick Days

CWLC supports AB 2841, which reduces the impact that unexpected illnesses have on California’s working families. AB 2841 requires employers to allow employees to use five or more paid sick days without wage loss or retaliation. Read AB 2841 Letter of Support. AB 2841 was introduced on February 16, 2018, and was held under submission on
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Assembly Bill 2366 (Bonta)

CWLC supports AB 2366, which would provide greater workplace protections to survivors of sexual harassment, sexual assault and domestic violence. This bill would also expand to include victims’ families by allowing family members to take time off from work to support the family member who has been victimized. Read AB 2366 Letter of Support. AB 2366
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Senate Bill 1284 (Jackson)

CWLC supports SB 1284, which will help close the gender and race-based wage gaps in California by requiring large employers to submit an annual pay data report to the Department of Industrial Relations outlining data regarding employee compensation and hours worked by gender, race, ethnicity and job category. Read SB 1284 Letter of Support. SB 1284
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Assembly Bill 2413 (Chiu) – The Right to a Safe Home Act

CWLC supports AB 2413, which would allow every Californian to call for help without fear of eviction. Read AB 2413 Letter of Support. Read AB 2413 Letter Urging Signature. AB 2413 was approved by the Governor on August 24, 2018. 

Senate Bill 167 (Skinner) – Successful Re-Entry

CWLC supports SB 167, which enables county human services agencies to work with correctional facilities to facilitate pre-enrollment into CalFresh for jail inmates before they are released. Read SB 167 Letter of Support. SB 167 was approved by the Governor on September 29, 2017.

Senate Bill 62 (Jackson) – Expanding Job Protection to Caregivers

CWLC supports SB 62, which would extend the protections of the California Family Rights Act (CFRA) to include caring for seriously ill grandparents, grandchildren, siblings, parents-in-law, and adult children. Read SB 62 Letter of Support. SB 62 was introduced on December 22, 2016 Held in committee under submission on September 1, 2017

Paid Leave Letter

CWLC, along with 342 other organizations from more than 40 states, signed this letter urging congress to stand with working families across the nation supporting paid family leave. Read the group letter to congress in support of real paid leave here.

Assembly Bill 10 (Garcia) – Feminine Hygiene Products – Access in Schools

CWLC supports AB 10, which would increase access to menstrual products for students in California’s public schools. Read AB 10 Letter of Support. AB 10 was approved by the Governor on October 12, 2017.

Assembly Bill 1033 (Garcia) – Stealthing

CWLC supports AB 1033, which would make the nonconsensual intentional removal or tampering with a condom during sexual intercourse a form of rape. Read AB 1033 Letter of Support. Introduced on February 16, 2017 In committee, held under submission September 1, 2017

Senate Bill 755 (Beall)

CWLC supports SB 755, which would implement sensible parameters regarding how long a child under 15 years of age can be interviewed in any action where there is credible evidence the child has been sexually abused. Read SB 755 Letter of Support. SB 755 was approved by the Governor on July 24, 2017.      

Gun Violence & Trauma Town Hall Meeting

CWLC and UCI Law School hosted a Town Hall Meeting about gun violence and trauma at the Feminist Majority Foundation. Led by Michele Goodwin, UCI Law School Professor and Director for the Center for Biotechnology and Global Health Policy, there were important discussions with policy makers, academics, advocates, and law enforcement.

Senate Bill 169 (Jackson & de León) – Gender Equity in Education

CWLC supports SB 169, which would amend the Education Code to codify existing Title IX protections into California law and help ensure safety and equity on our school campuses. Read SB 169 Letter of Support. SB 169 was vetoed by the Governor on October 15, 2017.

Assembly Bill 1109 (Kalra) – Safe Consumer Lending Act

CWLC supports AB 1109, which provides important regulatory protections against predatory lending practices. Read AB 1109 Letter of Support Introduced on February 17, 2017 From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56 on February 1, 2018

Assembly Bill 42 (Bonta) and Senate Bill 10 (Hertzberg)

CWLC supports AB 42 (Bonta) and SB (10) Hertzberg – the California Bail Reform Act of 2017 – which will ensure that Californians are not held in dangerous and overcrowded jails after an arrest simply because they cannot afford to post bail. Read AB 42 and SB 10 Support Letter AB 42 was introduced on
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Assembly Bill 1209 (Gonzalez Fletcher) – Gender Pay Gap Transparency Act

The California Women’s Law Center supports AB 1209, The Gender Pay Gap Transparency Act, introduced by Senator Gonzalez-Fletcher, which seeks to address the gender wage gap in California. Read AB 1209 Support Letter AB 1209 was vetoed by the Governor on October 15, 2017.

Senate Bill 213 (Mitchell) – Foster Care Placement

The California Women’s Law Center supports SB 213, introduced by Senator Mitchell, which will reduce unnecessary delays in relative placement for children in foster care and will expand the number of available foster care placements by streamlining the review process of a prospective caregiver’s criminal history. Read SB 213 Letter of Support SB 213 was
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Senate Bill 245 (Leyva) – Protecting Foster Youth Act

The California Women’s Law Center supports SB 245, the Protecting Foster Youth Act, introduced by Senator Leyva, which will ensure access to comprehensive sexual health education by age 12 and likely decrease the rate of unintended pregnancies among foster youth in California. Read SB 245 Letter of Support SB 245 was introduced on February 6,
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Assembly Bill 1371 (Stone) – Juveniles: Wards or Dependent Nonminor Dependent Parents

CWLC supports AB 1371, introduced by Senator Stone, which would provide important protections for parenting foster youth who are under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court. Read AB 1371 Letter of Support AB 1371 was approved by the Governor on October 11, 2017. 

Assembly Bill 1446 (Cooley) – Dependent Children: Periodic Review Hearing

CWLC supports AB 1446, introduced by Senator Cooley, which would provide critical oversight to ensure that children in foster care do not linger in transitional, temporary, or emergency shelter placements not intended for long-term care. Read AB 1446 Letter of Support Introduced on February 17, 2017 Ordered to inactive file at the request of Senator
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Senate Bill 320 (Leyva) – College Student Right to Access Act

The California Women’s Law Center supports SB 320, the College Student Right to Access Act, introduced by Senator Leyva, which will secure students’ access to reproductive health services at public universities and colleges by providing medication abortion at student health centers that receive state funding. Read SB 320 Letter of Support SB 320 was introduced
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Senate Bill 743 (Hernandez) – Freedom of Choice in Family Planning Act

The California Women’s Law Center supports SB 743, the Freedom of Choice in Family Planning Act, introduced by Senator Hernandez, which would ensure that Medi-Cal managed care enrollees continue to maintain flexibility in choosing family planning providers in the event that the federal “free choice of provider law” is repealed. Read SB 743 Letter of Support
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Assembly Bill 569 (Gonzalez Fletcher) – Reproductive Health Nondiscrimination Act

CWLC supports AB 569, the Reproductive Health Nondiscrimination Act (RHNDA), introduced by Assemblymember Gonzalez Fletcher, which would ensure that California’s workers are protected against workplace discrimination that is based on their personal reproductive health care decisions, such as using in vitro fertilization or birth control. Read AB 569 Letter of Support AB 569 was vetoed
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Assembly Bill 625 (Quirk-Silva) – CalFresh for Foster Youth

The California Women’s Law Center supports AB 625, introduced by Senator Quirk and Senator Silva, would enable youth in foster care to access resources to ensure they have food security. Read AB 625 Letter of Support AB 625 was introduced on February 14, 2017  From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56
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Assembly Bill 766 (Friedman) – Foster Youth

CWLC supports AB 766, introduced by Senator Friedman, which would provide vital educational housing support for foster youth attending college that are still minors. Read AB 766 Letter of Support AB 766 was approved by the Governor on October 12, 2017. 

Assembly Bill 563 (Arambula) – CalFresh

CWLC supports AB 563, introduced by Senator Arambula, which would support CalFresh recipients in securing employment and earnings that will allow them to exit poverty. Read AB 563 Letter of Support AB 563 was approved by the Governor on September 28, 2017.

Senate Bill 190 (Mitchell, Lara) – Ending Juvenile Administrative Fees

The California Women’s Law Center support SB 190, introduced by Senator Mitchell and Senator Lara, which would end the harmful assessment and collection of administrative fees against the families of youth in the juvenile justice system. Read SB 190 Support Letter SB 190 was approved by the Governor on October 11, 2017. 

Senate Bill 570 (Newman) – G.I. Bill CalWORKs

CWLC supports SB 570, introduced by Senator Newman, which would amend the rules governing income and eligibility for the CalWORKs program to exempt all education related benefits paid to military, veteran and surviving family members by the United States Veteran Administration (VA) from income tests for the program. Read SB 570 Support Letter SB 570 was
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Senate Bill 282 (Wiener) – The Reducing Hunger Among Vulnerable Californians Act of 2017

CWLC supports Senate Bill 282, introduced by Senator Wiener, which would increase access to prepared food for low income, homeless, elderly and disabled Californians, and will create job opportunities for childless homeless adults. Read AB 282 Letter of Support SB 282 was approved by the Governor on September 28, 2017. 

Assembly Bill 557 (Rubio) – CalWORKs Domestic Violence

The California Women’s Law Center supports AB 557, which would strengthen aid to domestic violence victims who are applicants or recipients of CalWORKs assistance. Read AB 557 Support Letter AB 557 was approved by the Governor on October 12, 2017.

CWLC Honors Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Legacy

Equality and justice were the foundation of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life. In 1983, Congress and President Ronald Reagan enacted legislation to honor Dr. King’s legacy by creating Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

Fall Update 2016

IN THIS ISSUE… Passage of SB 813 – Eliminating the Statute of Limitations of Rape and Other Sex Related Crimes, Training Webinar: Join Us November 9th!, Distinguished Speaker Series with David Codell: November 16th, October: Domestic Violence Awareness Month, CWLC and the Los Angeles Sparks #WeAreWomen Campaign

Hyde Amendment 40th Anniversary – #BeBoldEndHyde

The Hyde Amendment, first passed on September 30, 1976, bans the use of federal funds for abortion services. A few extremely narrow exceptions have been established to the general ban, including for the life of the mother, the health of the mother, and instances of rape and incest.

Lack of access to reproductive health services, including abortion, disproportionately impacts women of color, young people, immigrants, and individuals in low-income communities. Each year since 1976, the Hyde Amendment has been passed with the federal appropriations bill. As a result, low-income women on Medicaid continue to be denied access to abortion services.

Summer Update 2016

IN THIS ISSUE… 2016 Annual Pursuit of Justice Awards, “Aging, Women and Poverty In California” Forum, CWLC and LA Sparks #WeAreWomen Campaign, CWLC Participates in the First United State of Women Summit, CWLC Celebrates Title IX 43rd Anniversary at the Getty House, CWLC Advocacy and Legislative Update, Erika Norman joins CWLC Board, Amy Poyer joins CWLC Staff, Executive Director’s Message

Spring Update 2016

IN THIS ISSUE… 2016 Annual Pursuit of Justice Awards- Tuesday May 17, 2016, “Aging, Women and Poverty in California” Forum- Friday June 3, 2016, CWLC Distinguished Guest Speaker – David Codell’s insight about the United States Supreme Court, CWLC Advocacy – The 2016 Legislative Session, Lisa Gilford joins CWLC Board, Grace Clark and Madeleine Sharp join CWLC staff

43rd Roe v. Wade Anniversary

Today, marks the 43rd anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court case, Roe v. Wade which recognized a woman’s constitutional right to decide whether to carry a pregnancy to term. Thanks to Roe, women can make choices about their body and their health. The California Women’s Law Center is committed to protecting the reproductive rights of women and works to ensure access to safe and affordable healthcare for all women. On this day, we rededicate ourselves to defending Roe and protecting the rights of women and their ability to make personal decisions affecting their lives.

Senator Leyva Introduces “Justice for Victims Act”

SACRAMENTO – On the first day of the 2016 legislative session, Senator Connie M. Leyva (D-Chino) today introduced important bipartisan legislation to end the statute of limitations for rape and related crimes in California. SB 813 seeks to ensure justice for victims and survivors of felony sexual offenses by allowing the indefinite criminal prosecution of rape, sodomy, lewd or lascivious acts, continuous sexual abuse of a child, oral copulation, and sexual penetration.

Senator Leyva: Eliminate Statute of Limitations for Rape

SACRAMENTO – In order to ensure justice for victims and survivors of felony sexual offenses, Senator Connie M. Leyva (D-Chino) today announced that—when the California State Senate reconvenes in early January—she will introduce legislation to end the statute of limitations for rape and related crimes.

Specifically, this legislation will seek to allow the indefinite criminal prosecution of rape, sodomy, lewd or lascivious acts, continuous sexual abuse of a child, oral copulation, and sexual penetration. Currently, existing California law generally limits the prosecution of a felony sexual offense to only 10 years after the offense is committed, unless DNA evidence is found which then offers a victim additional time.