SACRAMENTO – To kick-off the last year of the 2007-2008 legislative session, Assembly Majority Leader Karen Bass (47th Assembly District) introduced a packet of bills that address a variety of issues ranging from foster care to the mortgage crisis.

“This legislative package addresses some of the key issues that affect Californians in every part of the state,” states Majority Leader Bass. “It’s important that we develop legislative solutions that will help residents professionally, economically and socially. As we continue to move our state forward, we will need to bridge our disparity gaps and make it possible for Californians to believe in our state.”

Majority Leader Bass’ key legislation includes:

· AB 180 – Foreclosure Consultants Accountability Act

Ensures the real estate industry is more accountable to the consumer to help stop predatory practices

· AB 2070 – Parental Rights: Incarcerated Parents

Provides social workers and family courts more flexibility to try to keep families together when a parent is incarcerated

· AB 2423 – Remove Barriers to Employment for Parolees

Eliminates employment barriers for parolees who’ve met their parole requirements by authorizing various state issued probationary licenses

· AB 2541 – Re-entry best practices and Re-entry Courts

Establishes best practices for successful re-entry programs as well as establishing Re-entry Courts modeled after the San Francisco program that has effectively prepares people to transition back into society after being incarcerated

· AB 2096 – Group Homes: Extracurricular Activities

Allows group home providers to provide foster youth with extracurricular activities including playing sports, going to the prom, etc.

· AB 2483 – Foster Teen Parents Rights

Gives foster teen parents the right to legal counsel to help keep their family together

· AB2927 – Foster Care Funding

Creates a permanent source of funding for the state’s child welfare system

· AB2648 – Master Plan for Career Technical Education

Establishes a 5-year plan to expand and establish career technical education programs

· AB 190 – Veterans Metered Parking Exemption Program

Provides some veterans a special license plate so they will not have to pay parking fees at metered parking

· AB 2177 – Ensuring Prevailing Wages for Workers

Provides training for inspectors who will ensure workers are paid fair wages

· AB 2302 – Special Education Credentials for Children with Autism

Provides some licensed educators to teach and address needs of children with autism

· AB 2370 – Residential Care Facility Notification and Disclosure Requirements

Requires residential care facilities to provide current residents its average monthly rate increases for the previous three years

Log on to www.assembly.ca.gov for a complete list of Majority Leader Bass’ 2008 legislation.

Majority Leader Bass has been a State Assembly Member representing Los Angeles’ 47th District since 2005. Speaker Fabian Núñez selected Bass as the Majority Leader for the California State Assembly during the 2007-2008 legislative session, making her the first African American and the first woman to hold this leadership position. As the Assembly member for the 47th District, Karen Bass serves the cities and communities of Culver City, West Los Angeles, Westwood, Cheviot Hills, Leimert Park, Baldwin Hills, Windsor Hills, Ladera Heights, the Crenshaw District, Little Ethiopia and portions of Korea Town and South Los Angeles.