Legislative Update: Portantino Bills Headed to the Senate

The California State Assembly has passed several bills penned by Assemblymember Anthony Portantino, D-La Cañada, his office announced. Earlier in the session, AB 144, Portantino’s bill to ban the Open Carry of unloaded firearms on Main Street California was approved.  It will be heard this week in the Senate Public Safety Committee.

These measures will next head to the Senate for approval:

• AB 2 Higher Ed Accountability -  Measures the performance of California's Higher Education systems. It provides parents, students and teachers with a report card on the successes or deficiencies of the California Community Colleges, the Cal State Universities, and the University of California.

• requires the Chancellor’s office to establish a three-year pilot program to increase student participation in state and federal financial aid programs with the goal of making it easier for students to apply for aid.

• AB 160 Concurrent Enrollment makes it easier for high school students to attend community colleges while encouraging school districts to enter into partnerships with community college districts.

• AB 245 Childcare Payments requires the State Controller to pay child care contractors via direct deposit. A roundtable discussion of childcare providers in the 44^th Assembly District led to the creation of AB 245.

• requires law enforcement agencies to report annually the number of rape kits collected and tested during the past year.

• AB 491 HIV Testing makes changes to ensure that California law keeps pace with public health strategies relative to HIV screening. The state Office of AIDS estimates that there are approximately 32,000 Californians unaware that they are living with HIV.