Sacramento, CA – A measure authored by Senator Ben Allen (D – Santa Monica) and Senator Mark Leno (D – San Francisco) urging California’s Congressional representatives to work to overturn the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision will appear on the November 2016 ballot. Today, Governor Jerry Brown allowed SB 254 to become law without his signature, clearing the way for the Citizens United question to advance to the statewide ballot.
Sacramento, CA – Legislation authored by Senator Ben Allen (D – Santa Monica) to
improve the mitigation of methane gas leaks from underground storage facilities passed the state Senate on a vote of 28—10 today. SB 888 requires gas leak emissions to be fully mitigated and paid for through the fines and penalties assessed against the responsible gas company, not rate payer funds. It also will improve the state’s response to similar gas leaks in the future by designating the Office of Emergency Services as the lead point of contact for the government.
Santa Monica, CA - Every year, in a 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, May 27th, more than 200 community members joined Senator Ben Allen (D – Santa Monica) at the historic Santa Monica Bay Woman’s Club as he honored Amy Ziering as this year’s Senate District 26 Woman of the Year.
Sacramento, CA – Urgency legislation authored by Senator Ben Allen (D – Santa Monica) passed the legislature and was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown today decriminalizing organ donations by HIV-positive persons to HIV-positive persons in need of an organ transplant. The bill, SB 1408, will improve the life expectancies of people with HIV who need organ transplants by removing California’s prohibition on donating organs while HIV positive.
Sacramento, CA – Today Senator Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica) recognized the dental practice of Dr. Jay Grossman and Associates as Senate District 26’s Small Business of the Year. The award was presented to Dr. Grossman at a luncheon in Sacramento honoring outstanding small businesses from legislative districts across the state.
Sacramento, CA – Senator Ben Allen (D – Santa Monica), chair of the Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments Committee, issued a statement today addressing confusion among some voters who have received a vote-by-mail ballot, or a sample ballot, that have no presidential candidates listed on it.
By way of clarification, Senator Allen gave the following explanation:
Sacramento, CA – Legislation authored by Senator Ben Allen (D – Santa Monica) and Senator Mark Leno (D – San Francisco) passed the state Assembly today on a vote of 48 – 26. Senate Bill (SB) 254 would place an instructional measure on the November 2016 ballot which, if passed, would urge California’s elected officials to use all of their constitutional authority, including, but not limited to, proposing and ratifying one or more amendments to the United States Constitution, to overturn Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission.
Sacramento, CA – The legislature’s Joint Committee on the Arts, chaired by Senator Ben Allen (D – Santa Monica) will hold a hearing to review the findings of the latest statewide data in this year's Otis Report on the Creative Economy. Now in its third year, the Otis Report on the Creative Economy of California features an expansion highlighting local creative industries via eight regional snapshots, developed with support from the California Arts Council.
