SACRAMENTO --- During her first session as the Assembly Majority Leader, Assemblymember Karen Bass helped managed to move more than 400 pieces of legislation to the Senate to meet the deadline to pass legislation out of its original house.   

“It was really important that we achieved our legislative goals which we outlined at the start of the session,” states Majority Leader Bass regarding this year’s agenda for the Democrats. “This was the first step to ensuring that we stay on track.”

At the same time, Majority Leader Bass had nineteen of her own bills passed to the Senate. According to Bass, the goal of her legislative packet was to bridge the disparity gaps that affect the most vulnerable communities as well support businesses and the working families. These bills include:

EDUCATION

AB 177 – Funding Extension for Soledad Enrichment Action (SEA) Charter School
Extends funding for another 10 years for the Soledad Enrichment Action Charter School, which serves at-risk youth in Los Angeles County. SEA is an educational alternative to keep youth in school and out of gangs  

AB 1014 – New School Construction
Helps school districts qualify for state construction funds in urban areas like Los Angeles. Under the current funding formula year around schools are at a disadvantage

AB 1316 – Income Supplement for Retired Teachers
Enables disabled teachers to receive a retirement allowance while their application for disability is processing  

AB 1540 – Cash for College Program
Creates a statewide Cash for College Program, which helps low-income and first generation college-goers complete the application process so they can access state and federal financial aid

ENVIRONMENT

AB 3 – Baldwin Hills Conservancy
Continues funding the Baldwin Hills Conservancy, which purchases land to extend Kenneth Hahn Park 

VETERANS

AB 138 – Veterans Parking Exemption
Provides veterans with a special license plate so they won’t have to pay parking fees for specified state of local parking facilities

WORKING FAMILIES

 AB 167 – CalWORKS Asset Limit Elimination
Enables working families with assets like a car or retirement account to apply for CalWORKS

FOSTER CARE

AB 149 – Foster Youth Relative Searches
Provide computer technology to help social workers identify family members to help foster youth connect with their families after leaving the System 

AB 184 – Independent Living Parity
Allows foster youth adopted at age 14 or older or in care of non-relative guardianship placement to be eligible for Independent Living Program Services

AB 845 Housing for Foster Youth
Increases funds to develop housing for foster youth when they leave the System

HEALTH

AB 741 – Infant Mortality Reduction Strategies
Establishes pilot programs to address the infant mortality rates of African-Americans. 

AB 658 – Homicide Prevention Study/Pilot Programs
Requires a study to examine the disproportionate rate of African American male homicide rates throughout the state focusing in the inner city to develop pilot programs

 Business and Professions

AB 220 – Firefighters Bill of Rights
Establishes a Firefighters Bill of Rights

AB 1696 – Runaway Film Production
Creates keep film production from leaving California and going to other states and countries

 Housing

AB 1091 – Proposition 1C Funding Criteria
Establishes guidelines for allocating Proposition 1C Transit Oriented Development funds

 Karen 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 Assemblymember 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.