State Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, today issued the following statement on the 2019-20 budget agreement approved by both houses of the California Legislature:

“This budget supports California, its schools, families, and communities. In response to our housing crisis, it includes more than $2 billion for affordable housing and homeless services as well as rental assistance and legal help for tenants to help prevent homelessness,” Skinner said.

“Our 2019-20 budget will also help middle-class Californians cover their health insurance costs, ensures that 15,000 additional California students can attend UC and CSU, and provides a significant funding increase for our K-12 schools. And California families additionally benefit with more paid family leave time, more funding for childcare, and no more sales tax on diapers and tampons,” Skinner added.

"Every right should be restored," said state Sen. Nancy Skinner of Berkeley. "Once you've done your time, that's enough."

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The NCAA may be forced to deal with players earning money from their names, images and likenesses whether it wants to or not, after a California bill to allow players to sign sponsorships and endorsements cleared a key legislative hurdle this week.

The California Senate on Wednesday voted 31-4 to pass a bill to allow college athletes in the state to earn income from endorsements or sponsorships despite rules prohibiting such income. The move sends the bill to the state Assembly for review.

Nancy Skinner, a state senator from Berkeley who introduced 1421, says "sunshine is a great disinfectant,” noting that complying with the law should benefit departments.

"For law enforcement to do their job, they need the community’s trust," says Skinner. "When you block access to information from the public, that trust will not be there.”

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