SB 782
(Limón)
Gubernatorial Appointments

Co-Sponsor

Summary: This bill requires the Office of the Governor to maintain on its internet website a list of every state board and commission, including specified data of every state board and commission. In addition, this bill requires the Office of the Governor to publish on its internet website a report that contains aggregate demographic information of appointments by the Office of the Governor.

Commission Nexus: Women make up 50% of our population, yet that isn’t represented in our state boards and commissions. We need more data to better understand where these gaps exist and in order to better address this issue.

AB 1863
(Ramos)
Emergency Services Act: Notification Systems

Summary: This bill would require the Department of the California Highway Patrol, in consultation with specified groups including tribal nations, to develop policies and procedures providing instruction specifying how a law enforcement agency and certain entities involved in emergency warnings are required to proceed after a missing person has been reported to a law enforcement agency and prescribed conditions are met. The bill would require those policies and procedures to include, among other things, procedures for the transfer of information regarding the missing person and the circumstances surrounding the missing person’s disappearance. The bill would also require the Department to issue a Feather Alert within 48 hours of receiving a request from law enforcement or a tribe.

Commission Nexus: National studies have found that Indigenous Women are murdered at a rate ten times (10x) higher than all other ethnicities. Yet, in too many instances tribal people are not receiving timely information or conclusions. A 2016 study by the National Institute of Justice found that more than 84.3 percent American Indian and Alaska Native women have experienced violence in their lifetime, including 56.1 percent who have experienced sexual violence. In the year leading up to the study, 39.8 percent of American Indian and Alaska Native women had experienced violence, including 14.4 percent who had experienced sexual violence. Additionally, the Commission co-sponsored last year’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous People week with Assemblymember James Ramos, and will be doing so again this year.

AB 3031
(Lee and Low)
LGBTQ+ Commission

Summary: This bill would establish the LGBTQ+ Commission in state government. The bill would provide for the appointment of 9 members, appointed by the Governor, the Speaker of the Assembly, and the Senate Committee on Rules. Establish the goals of the commission, which would include, among other things, acting in an advisory capacity to the Legislature and the Governor on policy matters affecting the state’s LGBTQ+ community and its members. Commencing July 1, 2025, require the commission to convene quarterly meetings to identify the statewide needs of the LGBTQ+ community and to assist in implementing supportive policies and initiatives to address the needs of the LGBTQ+ community.

Commission Nexus: LGBTQ+ rights are under attack nationwide and as California becomes one of the few safe states this Commission will be uniquely positioned to better advise state leaders. There is much overlap and natural alignment with this Commission and CCSWG. CCSWG has also been supportive of the creation of other Commissions where there is overlap and alignment like the Racial Equity Commission.

SB 953
(Menjivar)
Period Equity Now

Summary: This bill would add menstrual products to the schedule of covered benefits under Medi-Cal.

Commission Nexus: Period poverty remains a persistent issue for our most vulnerable communities. According to California data released in 2022 by the Alliance for Period Supplies, 1 in 3 Low-income menstruators reported missing work, school, or similar commitments due to lack of access to menstrual products. We must continue to advocate for a more inclusive and responsive healthcare system that prioritizes the well-being of Medi-Cal recipients through menstrual product coverage.

AB 1846
(Bauer-Kahan)
Judicial Officers Training: Sexual Abuse and Assault

Summary: This bill directs the Judicial Council to create training for judges on sexual assault with an emphasis on appropriate treatment and trauma. This training will be informed by victim’s advocacy groups in order to ensure its survivor centered.

Commission Nexus: We have seen a lack of concern within the courtroom setting by some judges overseeing sexual assault cases. 1 in 6 women will be the victim of a rape or attempted rape in her lifetime. We need those impacted by sexual assault to feel safe and protected in an environment where they could be face-to-face with their offender. We need judges that comprehend the volatility of the situation and keep court-room proceedings fair and appropriate.

AB 2319
(Wilson and Weber)
CA Dignity in Pregnancy and childbirth act

Summary: This bill makes legislative findings that the Legislature recognizes all birthing people and extends the evidence-based implicit bias training requirements to also include hospitals that provide perinatal or prenatal care. Requires an implicit bias program to include recognition of intersecting identities and the potential associated biases and would require, by February 1 of each year and that a facility provide the department with proof of compliance. This bill also authorizes the State Department of Public Health to issue an administrative penalty if it determines that a facility has violated these provisions, and would require the department to annually post on its internet website a list of facilities that did not submit timely proof of compliance and have been issued administrative penalties. Each health care provider that does not complete the required training constitutes a separate violation. Lastly, under this bill the State Department of Public Health will have full administrative power and jurisdiction to ensure full implementation of this bill.

Commission Nexus: The need for implicit bias training is necessary to ensure all birthing people have access to quality health care and to prevent maternal mortality particularly within communities of color.

AB 2515
(Papan)
Menstrual Products: PFAS

Summary: This bill would require, no later than January 1, 2027, the Department of Toxic Substances Control, in consultation with the State Department of Public Health, to identify and assess the hazards of chemicals or chemical classes that can provide the same or similar function in menstrual products as regulated PFAS and that can impact vulnerable populations and to make this information publicly available on the DTSC’s internet website.

Commission Nexus: Harmful chemicals have no place in necessary medical devices like period underwear, tampons, or pads used by our state’s women and girls. Getting rid of these chemicals in menstrual products is vital to prevent serious illnesses, including cervical cancer.

SB 1245
(Ochoa Bogh)
Streamlining IHSS Paramedical Forms

Summary: This bill would streamline the process for obtaining paramedical services by aligning which licensed healthcare professionals may sign the form to obtain paramedical services with those who can already authorize services through In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) to begin with. IHSS clients can therefore have both forms signed at the same time by the same provider, saving time and reducing delays in obtaining critical care.

Commission Nexus: A majority of our state’s care givers and those receiving care are women. As of January 2024, there were 754,332 authorized IHSS recipients – a majority (58%) of whom are women – who receive an average of nearly 116 hours of authorized care a month, most (77%) of which is provided by relatives and spouses. By reducing administrative barriers to services, we will better ensure that our most vulnerable populations – especially women with disabilities – receive the care they need in a timely manner.