State Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, today honored Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton as the 2019 Woman of Year for the 9th Senate District. Becton is the first woman and the first African American to serve as Contra Costa County district attorney since the office was established in 1850. Over her distinguished career as a judge, lawyer, and manager, she has been committed to safeguarding communities from crime and working on positive outcomes for seniors and youth.
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The California Legislature today approved SB 206, the Fair Pay to Play Act, by state Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley. SB 206 will give California student athletes the right to their name, image, and likeness, allowing them to earn money from sponsorships, endorsements, and other activities related to their hard work and talent — a right that all other students and California residents have.
“California is loud and clear: Our student athletes will no longer be denied the right to their name, image, and likeness,” Sen. Skinner said. “SB 206 brings an end to the exploitation of student athletes by the multibillion-dollar college sports industry, which generates wealth for all involved except the students. SB 206 doesn’t force colleges to pay; it simply opens the door for athletes to earn money just like any other student, whether it’s monetizing YouTube videos, teaching swim lessons, or accepting sponsorships.”
Gov. Newsom today signed Senate Bill 419 by state Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley. SB 419 is designed to keep kids in school by eliminating willful defiance suspensions in grades 4-5 and banning them in grades 6-8 for five years. The new law applies to both traditional public schools and charter schools.
“SB 419 puts the needs of kids first,” Sen. Skinner said. “Ending willful defiance suspensions will keep kids in school where they belong and where teachers and counselors can help them thrive.”
SB 419 received bipartisan support in the California Legislature, winning approval in the state Senate on a 31-8 vote, and garnering a 58-17 vote in the state Assembly. It takes effect on July 1, 2020.
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law Senate Bill 234, the “Keeping Kids Close to Home Act,” by state Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley. SB 234 will expand childcare opportunities for California families and reduce costs and red tape for home childcare providers statewide.
“Family childcare homes are an accessible and affordable way to provide the care our children need,” Sen. Skinner said. “But neighborhood childcare providers have increasingly been pushed out by rising costs and onerous licensing requirements. SB 234 eases the permit process for family childcare homes.”
The California Legislature has approved Senate Bill 330, the Housing Crisis Act of 2019, by Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley. SB 330 will accelerate housing construction in California by cutting the time it takes to obtain building permits, limiting fees on housing, and barring local governments from reducing the number of homes that can be built.
“Our failure to build enough housing has led to the highest rents and home ownership costs in the nation,” Skinner said. “My bill, SB 330, gives a greenlight to housing that already meets existing zoning and local rules and prevents new rules that might limit housing we so desperately need.”
A new study released today by researchers at UC Davis School of Medicine suggests that California’s Gun Violence Restraining Order law (GVRO), also known as a “red flag” law, has prevented mass shootings since it went into effect on Jan. 1, 2016.
California’s law, AB 1014, the first of its kind in the nation, was authored by then-Assemblymember Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley. AB 1014 allows either a law enforcement officer or a family member to seek a court injunction to remove firearms from a person who poses a significant danger to himself or others.
“The UC Davis study shows the importance of having a tool to get guns out of the hands of dangerous people before it’s too late,” Sen. Skinner said. “It’s imperative that here and across the country we do whatever we can to prevent more mass killings.”
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.
Senate Bill 206, The Fair Pay to Play Act, by state Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, won bipartisan support today and was approved by the state Senate on a 31-4 vote. SB 206 punches a hole in unfair rules that exploit college athletes and allow the NCAA, universities, TV networks, and corporate sponsors to pocket huge sums.
Under SB 206, California college athletes would be able to earn income from endorsements or sponsorships for the first time. It now goes to the state Assembly for consideration.
“The California Senate has spoken loud and clear: Student athletes should enjoy the same right as all other students — to earn income from their talent,” Skinner said. “SB 206 gives our college athletes the same financial opportunity afforded to Olympic athletes."