Four decades of US Supreme Court decisions have left states and municipalities with limited options on how they may regulate campaign spending. The Senate Committee on Elections and Constitutional Amendments, chaired by Senator Ben Allen (D – Santa Monica), will examine current state and local practices as well as the outlook for advances in campaign finance regulation and disclosure.
Press Releases
Sacramento, CA – The Senate Select Committee on the Refugio Oil Spill will meet on Tuesday, November 10, 2015 in Manhattan Beach, California to conduct an oversight hearing on the local impacts of the Refugio Oil Spill to the South Bay.
What: Senate Select Committee on the Refugio Oil Spill Oversight Hearing - “Local Impacts of the Refugio Oil Spill to the South Bay”
Who: Senator Hannah-Beath Jackson, Chair (D – Santa Barbara)
Senator Ben Allen (D – Santa Monica)
Sacramento, CA – Senator Ben Allen (D – Santa Monica), chair of the state legislature’s Joint Committee on the Arts, will convene an oversight hearing to examine the state of arts education in California schools on Friday, November 6, 2015. Current state law requires all schools to provide arts education to students, but many schools are not doing so. The lack of arts education is particularly prevalent in disadvantaged communities. The hearing will delve into why there is a high rate of noncompliance with the arts education mandate, and what steps can be taken to compel more schools to
Sacramento, CA - Every year, in a rich tradition dating back to 1987, the California State Senate celebrates Women’s History Month by recognizing remarkable women throughout the state who make a positive difference in their communities. On Friday, October 30th, it was “standing room only” as Senator Ben Allen (D – Santa Monica) honored Stacey Anne Armato in Hermosa Beach as this year’s Senate District 26 Woman of the Year.
Sacramento, CA – Today, Governor Jerry Brown signed into law a measure authored by Senator Ben Allen (D – Santa Monica) authorizing counties to allow voter registration and voting at satellite locations in the 14 days preceding an election. The bill, Senate Bill (SB) 439, expands existing law that allows counties to set up satellite offices where voters can register to vote, and vote provisionally, on election day only.
Sacramento, CA – Today Governor Jerry Brown signed legislation authored by Senator Ben Allen (D – Santa Monica) that will protect California rivers and streams from environmentally hazardous suction dredge mining. This legislation, Senate Bill (SB) 637, requires suction dredge mining to be regulated by the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB), which is responsible for ensuring that water quality standards are met in the course of any activities affecting state waterways.
Sacramento, CA – Today, Governor Jerry Brown signed legislation authored by Senator Ben Allen (D – Santa Monica) that will improve diagnosis, treatment and care for people with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. The bill, Senate Bill (SB) 613, requires the California Department of Public Health to update guidelines used by physicians to reflect changes in the health care system, and the latest scientific research on these illnesses. The current guidelines have not been updated since 2008.
Sacramento, CA – Today Governor Jerry Brown signed into law a measure authored by Senator Ben Allen (D – Santa Monica) to protect veterans from pension scams. The bill, Senate Bill (SB) 386, was proposed in response to the increasing number of veterans who are falling prey to investment schemes in which they are promised a lump-sum cash payment in exchange for their monthly retirement income.
