This Week Inside The Capitol

In spite of California’s budget debacle, over 2,000 bills were introduced in the California Legislature prior to Friday’s deadline – the majority pouring in during the last few days. While many are “intent” bills, skeletal bills which will later be given much more content, we have a few hints of the plans of the legislative majority.  

Since 1999, when the California Legislature created an alternative to marriage known as domestic partnerships, activists have chipped away at the institution of marriage by incrementally expanding benefits for domestic partners – benefits that were historically given only to married couples. While the constitutionality of Proposition 8 and traditional marriage in California remains the focus of the courts, California’s lawmakers are continuing to expand legal benefits for homosexual individuals. Relying on findings in the 2009 California Supreme Court decision legalizing Proposition 8, SB 651, authored by Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco), would “declare the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would eliminate statutory differences between marriage and domestic partnerships.”

• AB 620 (Block, D-San Diego) would greatly expand the special rights of homosexual students and faculty at public colleges and universities, and implement anti-harassment and awareness training for staffs.

• SB 747 (Kehoe, D-San Diego) would require that health-care personnel complete a continuing-education course in “cultural competency, sensitivity, and best practices for providing adequate care to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons.”  

While California is a notoriously anti-life state, several “life” bills are worth watching:  

• AB 1217 (Fuentes, D-Arleta) would regulate assisted reproductive technology, defining terms and setting standards. Prior to beginning a procedure, AB 1217 would require informed consent, binding agreements concerning the future of any embryos created, and mental health counseling for participants. 
• SB 135 (Hernandez, D-West Covina) would express the intent of the Legislature to establish specialized hospice facilities to “improve access to care, to provide an additional care option, and to provide a home-like environment within which to provide care and treatment for persons who are experiencing the last phases of life.” 

Bullying, the subject of many recent headlines, will be another major issue. AB 746 (Campos, D-San Jose) expands the definition of “cyberbullying” to include posts on online social networks. Three other intent bills (AB 9, AB 630, and SB 453), expand anti-bullying programs in the public schools. Still other bills would make it easier to report bullying to authorities and for a victim to transfer to another school in the district. 

Other bills relate to “sexting,” the sending of sexually suggestive or explicit photos of oneself or others via text messaging. Twenty percent of teens aged 13-19 in one study admitted to having sent an explicit photo; thirty-one percent say they’ve received one. AB 321 (Hernandez, D-West Covina) would define “sexting” in California law, and penalize minors in possession of these images with counseling – to be paid for by parents – and a fine of up to $1,000.  

Protecting children online continues to be a high priority among California legislators of both parties. No fewer than six bills, several of them “reruns” from last year, limit the online activities of convicted sex offenders who often troll online for young victims. These measures would require sex offenders to register their Internet accounts, service providers, e-mails, and user names.  

With bills introduced, the focus of our legislators should turn once again to the budget and Gov. Jerry Brown’s continued hope for a brokered deal by March 10. California Family Council will keep you informed as key bills face initial hearings next month. You can follow the bills we are tracking – and express your opinions to your elected representatives – by visiting our Legislative Action Center.