Legislation 2017-2018

Senator Stern Bills Introduced During the 2017-18 Session

SB 57 (2017) would have maintained an existing moratorium on injections of natural gas into the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility until the root cause analysis of the 2015 leak at the facility is complete. Status: Died in the Senate.

SB 225 (2017) requires the California Department of Justice to revise its model human trafficking notice to allow people to text, in addition to call, the state and national hotlines for assistance. Status: Signed into law.

SB 286 (2017) allows a vote-by-mail voter who needs to vote in person to cast a regular, nonprovisional ballot. Status: Signed into law.

SB 332 (2017) created at way for the state to provide early voter registration forms to foster youth so they have more equitable access to vote when they turn 18 and can register to vote. Status: Signed into law.

SB 358 (2017) required the Secretary of State (SOS) to include conspicuous hyperlinks to local government agency websites that contain publicly disclosed campaign finance information on the SOS website. Status: Signed into law.

SB 511 (2017) clearly established that the duties of the Secretary of State are to educate and engage voters, as well as to promote participation in our democracy through voter outreach and promotion. Status: Signed into law.

SB 596 (2017) sought to create a Student Empowerment Commission to establish civics-related regional and statewide conferences for high school students. Status: Died in the Senate.

SB 659 (2017) would have made changes to the California Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority Act and provide money to fund alternative energy projects. Status: Died in the Senate.

SB 683 (2017) would have required the budget to be made available in a machine readable format in order to increase financial transparency. Status: Died in the Senate.

SB 702 (2017) sought to create a program that offers state employees the ability to use bicycles during the workday. Status: Died in the Senate.

SB 717 (2017) sought to improve access to more equitable, sustainable, and healthier food choices for all Californians. Status: Died in the Senate.

SB 732 (2017) created a voluntary framework that cities and counties can use to specifically incorporate agricultural land preservation in the development of their general plans. Local governments that have enacted such plans will receive priority consideration for grants issued by the Department of Conservation. Status: Signed into law.

SB 745 (2017) would have established the Climate Policy Rebate program and the Climate Policy Rebate Special Fund to offset the cost of electric vehicles by providing rebates to car buyers. Status: Died in the Senate.

SB 756 (2017) closed a legal loophole in state law and requires restitution to be paid to young children who are victims of serious sex crimes. Status: Signed into law.

SB 773 (2018) would have required the Department of Justice to bolster investigations and intelligence gathering efforts of people involved in criminal organizations via the creation of regional investigative teams. Status: Died in the Assembly.

SB 794 (2018) sought to create the Fireworks Stewardship Program, would have required wholesalers of “Safe and Sane” fireworks to create a stewardship plan as a condition of receiving their annual license. Status: Died in the Assembly.

SB 801 (2017) required Southern California Edison (SCE) and Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) to deploy grid-connected energy storage solutions should they be cost effective and feasible to operate.  This supports the electricity grid in the Los Angeles area, maximizes demand reduction, and shares grid data to help deploy distributed energy resources where they are most needed. Status: Signed into law.

SB 807 (2017) would enact a tax credit and income exclusion for teachers who work in high-poverty schools in order to incentivize them to attain their teaching credential and encourage people to hold that job. Status: Died in Senate Appropriations.

SB 1153 (2018) allows the proponent of a county, municipal, or special district initiative to withdraw the initiative at any time prior to the 88th day before the election, regardless of whether the petition has been found sufficient by the elections official. Status: Signed into law.  

SB 1171 (2018) allows provisional voters to register to vote by completing the requested information on a provisional ballot envelope without having to additionally complete a duplicative registration form. Status: Signed into law.   

SB 1275 (2018), the Plan to End College Hunger (PACH) program, aimed to reduce college student hunger and promote college student success. The PACH program would have awarded each Cal Grant B eligible student who is attending college half-time or more a supplement equal to the cost of a 10-meal per week meal plan. Status: Died in Senate Appropriations.  

SB 1281 (2018) closed a loophole that allowed people with sealed juvenile records to attain a gun even though another section of the law already prohibited from owning a gun to possess a gun. Status: Signed into law.  

SB 1320 (2018) extended important confidentiality protections to victims of elder or dependent adult abuse to encourage them to come forward without having to fear their names would be made public. Status: Signed into law.  

SB 1339 (2018) requires the California Public Utilities Commission to make it financially feasible for customers of large electrical providers to attain microgrids and connect them with the existing electrical grids by creating separate electrical rates and tariffs. Status: Signed into law.  

SB 1347 (2018) would have required the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to consider procurement strategies for up to a statewide total of 2,000 megawatts (MW) of energy storage systems. Status: Died in the Assembly.  

SB 1349 (2018) intended to update the California High School Proficiency Examination (CHSPE) and increase the current statutory cap on the administrative fee for the High School Equivalency (HSE) program to assist homeless and foster youth. Status: Died in Senate Appropriations.  

SB 1350 (2018) sought to provide financial assistance for research, development, and demonstration of climate change mitigation technologies. Status: Died in the Senate.  

SB 1370 (2018) sought to require funds collected by the Public Utilities Commission related to the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility be used to promote energy efficiency and decrease reliance on fossil fuels in the Los Angeles Basin. Status: Died in the Assembly.  

SB 1380 (2018) would have created a centralized Clean Energy Financing Clearinghouse within the Office of Planning and Research (OPR) to provide strategic leadership and a central point of contact for this massive project of coordinated public and private investment. Status: Died in Senate Appropriations.  

SB 1400 (2018) would have permitted eligible 15-year-olds to pre-register to vote at the Department of Motor Vehicles. Status: Died in the Senate.  

SB 1441 (2018) attempted to protect cats from animal abuse by banning the inhumane practice of declawing in the state. Status: Died in the Senate.  

SB 1470 (2018) intended to establish a Commission on the Future of Work comprised of eight members appointed by the Governor, Senate and Assembly to convene a public process and commission research  to address the impact of technology on the workplace and the sustainability of the middle class. Status: Died in the Assembly.  

SB 1487 (2018) would have banned the possession of the most iconic – and endangered – African “big game” animals, including African elephant, African lion, leopard, black rhinoceros, white rhinoceros, giraffe, Jentink’s duiker, plains zebra, mountain zebra, hippopotamus, and striped hyena. Status: Vetoed..  

SB 1489 (2018) sought to put a $4.1 billion California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection, and Outdoor Access For All Act of 2018 bond on the June 2018 ballot. Status: Died in the Senate.  

SB 1490 (2018) sought to lift the voices and stories of Native Americans by changing the name of Columbus Day to Indigenous People's Day. Status: Died in the Senate.