Bill Introduction Deadline

Today was the final day to introduce new bills in the 2007-2008 Legislative Session. Here's a list of the Yee bills.

And here is a sampling of the bills you may hear about (if I do my job):

SB 685 makes pet trusts enforceable and ensures a person's pet does not add to overcrowded shelters after the owner's death.

SB 696 allows hotels that don't have a bar to sell alcohol to their guests for consumption only on hotel grounds.

SB 697 protects people enrolled in the state's Healthy Families program (low to moderate income families) from facing the unfair practice of balance billing, i.e. receiving surprise medical bills after a hospital visit.

SB 863 reforms the California Horse Racing Board by prohibiting a majority of the board members from having a financial interest in the industry.

SB 1199 (a reintroduction of last year's SB 999) prohibits life without parole sentences for juvenile offenders.

SB 1217 is one of a number of bills in response to the San Francisco Bay oil spill, provides more public oversight of the commission overseeing the bar pilots.

SB 1250 provides better opportunities for incarcerated youth to communicate with their families.

SB 1267 brings protections to whistle blowers in state government.

SB 1356 protects victims of domestic violence from incarceration when they choose not to testify against their abuser.

SB 1370 protects student speech by prohibiting retaliation or discipline of journalism advisors by administrators based solely on the expression of students. Two years ago, we passed a bill prohibiting retaliation or discipline of students for their speech.

SB 1419 protects pedestrians on San Francisco's deadly 19th Avenue by creating a Safety Enhancement Double Fine Zone.

SB 1505 provides school loan forgiveness for mental health professions who practice in underserved communities.

SB 1527 allows for the sale of the state's Cow Palace to the City of Daly City to help revitalize a blighted neighborhood.

SB 1596 provides for the University of California to contract with only responsible businesses and to require contracts be put out to bid every three years, ensuring taxpayer dollars and the rights of workers are protected.

SB 1606 provides for easier implementation of Laura's Law, the statute that allows counties to enforce Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) orders for some potentially dangerous mentally ill patients.

SB 1696 ensures all government contracts with private entities are open and public and comply with the Public Records Act, and prohibits contracts that keep such agreements confidential.

SCA 12 allows the voters of California to decide if a fee can be levied to clean storm drains and protect the environment from urban runoff.

SCR 71 names the San Mateo County coastside tunnel currently being constructed the Tom Lantos Tunnel at Devil's Slide in honor of late Congressman Tom Lantos.

If you are intersted in more information on these or other bills, visit www.senate.ca.gov/yee. Many of the bills are linked to their respective press releases above. Others will have press releases forthcoming in the weeks ahead. Videos can be found here. Audio clips can be found here.