Legislation 2019-2020

Senator Stern Bills Introduced During the 2019-20 Session

SB 120 (2020) intended to keep guns out of the wrong hands by adding three misdemeanor violations to the prohibited persons list: unlawfully carrying a concealed firearm, carrying a loaded firearm in public, and openly carrying an unloaded handgun. Status: Died in the Assembly.

SB 140 (2019) attempted to fund coastal access programs and strengthen coastal conservancy efforts by creating the “Endless Summer” specialty license plate program. Status: Died in Senate Appropriations.

SB 462 (2019) introduced two proposals intended to create a workforce to undertake the scale of landscape work California needs to do to reduce vulnerability to fire in the state.  The workers would be trained and assigned to projects conducted by Cal Fire, Resource Conservation Districts, the California Conservation Corp and others.   Status: Died in Assembly Appropriations.

SB 463 (2019) required the Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources division to monitor the chemical emissions from gas storage wells, like those at Aliso Canyon, to reveal what’s being pumped into California’s air and water.  It also required state regulators to increase oversight over gas storage facilities in response to evidence showing negligence at Aliso Canyon. Status: Signed into law.

SB 471 (2019) requires a subpoena to contain a unique serial number so subpoenas could be issued and receipt could be confirmed through electronic mail. Status: Signed into law.

SB 474 (2020) intended to put California on the path toward fire-safe growth by prohibiting new residential, commercial and industrial development in very high fire hazard severity zones (VHFHSZ). Status: Died in the Assembly.

SB 524 (2020) sought to promote California’s energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction goals and protect ratepayer funds by ensuring subsidized energy efficiency equipment is installed by properly trained and qualified workers. Status: Died in the Assembly.

SB 542 (2019) created The Trauma Treatment Act to ensure firefighters and law enforcement officers suffering from post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI) could receive treatment and assistance. Status: Signed into law.

SB 596 (2020) requires county social services agencies inform people applying for certain benefits they may also be eligible for a local utility’s medical baseline program.  This would provide them with discounted energy rates and advanced notice of planned power shutoff events often triggered by wildfires. Status: Signed into law.

SB 613 (2019) would have require the State Air Resources Board to estimate the greenhouse gas emissions related to every state agency’s purchase of food. Status: Died in Assembly Appropriations.

SB 626 (2019) reinstates, until tax year 2028, the minimum franchise tax and the annual tax exemption for a limited liability company or corporation solely owned by a deployed member of the armed forces. Status: Died in the Assembly.

SB 630 (2019) sought to clarify the law does not prevent or limit local governments from enforcing regarding human trafficking laws or enacted ordinances that supplement state and federal laws. Status: Died in the Assembly.

SB 633 (2020) would have established the California Electric Vehicle Authority within the Governor’s Office to provide funding and financing programs to accelerate the transition to a zero emissions transportation system. Status: Died in the Assembly.

SB 636 (2019) sought to include a list of signers for both the support of and opposition to a statewide ballot measure to be printed on the ballot. Status: Died in the Assembly.

SB 652 (2019) prohibits a property owner, landlord, or sublessor, from preventing religious items from being displayed or affixed on any entry door frame to a home or apartment. Status: Signed into law.

SB 681 (2019) allows local governments to give proponents of referendums and charter amendments to withdraw their measures after they have submitted their petitions to elections officials for signature verification. Status: Signed into law.

SB 724 (2019) would have amended California’s Bottle Bill Program to provide temporary financial assistance to recycling centers. Status: Died in Senate Appropriations.

SB 727 (2019) sought to permit eligible 15-year-olds to “pre-register” to vote, closing an inefficient and unnecessary hole in California’s New Motor Voter program and encouraging more young people to register to vote. Status: Died in Senate Appropriations.

SB 730 (2019) sought to create the Commission on Tech Equity to develop recommendations on a policy framework to manage the development, deployment, regulation, taxation and fair distribution of innovation and technology. Status: Died in Assembly Appropriations.

SB 739 (2020) penalizes people who intentionally mislead voters about their right to apply for, receive, or return a vote-by-mail ballot. Status: Signed into law.

SB 748 (2019) established the California Youth Poet Laureate, designated for a poet ages 13-19 to be appointed for a term of two years. Status: Signed into law.

SB 752 (2019) attempted to establish a Commission on Tech Equity to create a California Master Plan on Tech Equity, identifying best practices in policymaking and reform to ensure a tech ecosystem which protects consumer rights, minimizes harms and promotes a robust workforce— ensuring California’s continued status as the world’s innovation economy. Status: Died in Senate Appropriations.

SB 766 (2019) sought to encourage the building of wildlife crossing projects by prohibiting the Department of Transportation from charging administrative overhead costs for wildlife crossing projects that receive private funding for more than 50 percent of the project cost. Status: Died in the Assembly.

SB 774 (2020) sought to help our state keep the lights on during wildfires and reduce other reliability risks to the electrical grids by directing investor owned utilities to prioritize their investment in microgrids. Status: Died in the Assembly.

SB 884 (2020) sought to add public safety power shutoffs (PSPS) to the list of emergencies for which a school could receive financial protections if it is forced to close down due to power outage. Status: Died in Assembly Appropriations.

SB 1027 (2020) attempted to expand coastal access programs and strengthen coastal conservancy efforts by creating the “Endless Summer” specialty license plate program. Status: Died in the Senate.

SB 1047 (2020) tried to improve access to mental health services for law enforcement officers, building on SB 542 (Stern) of 2019. The bill creates a rebuttable workers’ compensation presumption for law enforcement personnel in instances where they sustain occupational post-traumatic stress injuries (PTSI). Status: Died in the Senate.

SB 1160 (2020) attempted to create a state policy that all existing and future electrical and communication infrastructure located within high fire-threat districts and the wildland-urban interface should be placed underground. Status: Died in the Senate.

SB 1175 (2020) sought to establish the Wildlife Trafficking and Trade Act to prevent animals with novel, zoonotic viruses (such as COVID-19, Mers and Sars) from being imported into California, banned non-native, invasive animal species from being sold in California, and banned the possession of certain iconic African trophy species. Status: Died in the Senate.

SB 1184 (2019) takes advantage of existing data regarding the state of the fire hydrant systems and puts it into a report that will help the Legislature understand how the state’s fire hydrant system is working. Status: Died in the Senate.

SB 1188 (2020) would have required the Department of Water Resources to collaborate with the State Water Resources Control Board to develop regional maps delineating federally published hydrologic units. Status: Died in the Senate.

SB 1215 (2020) intended to promote the use of microgrids as electric generation by requiring the California Public Utilities Commission to identify critical facilities and infrastructure that need a reliable energy source the most. Status: Died in the Assembly.

SB 1258 (2020) would have enacted the California Climate Technology and Infrastructure Financing Act to provide low-interest loans to entities developing technologies, measures and services that avoid or reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve other benefits, such as creating new green jobs and increasing resiliency. Status: Died in the Senate.

SB 1298 (2020) would have required the Attorney General to create a Terrorist and Criminal Organization Investigation Team to coordinate efforts to thwart hate crimes. Status: Died in the Senate.

SB 1320 (2020) requires the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) to conduct a California-specific climate change assessment to determine the costs and risks faced by Californians if the state fails to address the climate emergency. Status: Signed into law.

SB 1348 (2020) would have increased building code standards in fire prone areas, as well as establish fire prevention measures such as vegetation management programs, defensible space training, and public wildfire resistance education outreach. Status: Died in the Assembly.

SB 1362 (2020) would have directed the California Air Resources Board to adopt a comprehensive strategy to achieve carbon neutrality in California by 2045. Status: Died in the Senate.

SB 1396 (2020) sought to authorize four appointed members of the Legislature to appoint designees who may meet with The California Cultural and Historical Endowment and participate in its activities. Status: Died in the Senate.

SB 1402 (2020) sought to establish CalServe as a California state agency and guarantee debt-free college to Californians who will dedicate two years to frontline service tackling California’s most urgent issues. Status: Died in the Senate.