The past couple of months have been incredibly busy in the state Capitol as I've transitioned from rank-and-file member of the Senate to the 48th Senate President pro Tempore -- a fancy mouthful of a title that simply means "leader."

I've been busy making staffing decisions, working on institutional issues and processes, and meeting with my colleagues to hear their ideas and desires for the Senate going forward. There really hasn't been much time to stop and reflect on what it all means.
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In 2017, the first year of the current two-year session, Governor Jerry Brown signed all 12 of my bills that were sent to him by the Legislature. Here is a rundown of the legislation I have introduced in 2018:

SB 945: In 2016, Governor Brown signed my bill AB 1795, providing uninsured and underinsured Californians with expanded access to treatment for breast cancer and cervical cancer. SB 945 builds on AB 1795 by removing arbitrary time limits for care. Currently, the state Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Program stops providing medical care for breast cancer after 18 months and cervical cancer after 24 months, regardless of medical need. SB 945 removes those limits and requires continuation of treatment as long as necessary.
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In March, I was pleased to welcome North Park resident Vicki Granowitz to Sacramento and the Senate floor as my 2018 Woman of the Year honoree for the 39^th District!
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My district staff is always available to help constituents navigate a complex web of state agencies.

Recently, a constituent and business owner in San Diego was having trouble connecting with the state Economic Development Department's (EDD) Office of Taxpayer Rights. She needed help in dealing with a lien that a bank had placed on her business' account. Frustrated, she gave up and contacted my district office for help. My staff was able to reach EDD on the constituent's behalf, and EDD worked with her to create a payment plan to settle the lien in a way that worked well for her.

If you're having trouble working out an issue with any state agency, please call my office at 619-645-3133, and my staff will do everything in their power to help.
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I'm always excited to visit with my close neighbors at the annual Burlingame Neighborhood Association meeting.

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