Imagine you've recently given birth to your first child. You don't earn a lot of money, so you rely on Medi-Cal, California's safety-net health-insurance program, and you get your healthcare at a community health center. The baby won't stop crying, and the stress and lack of sleep are fraying your last nerve. You're really struggling.

You see your doctor during a regular health visit, and you tell her about all the difficulties you're experiencing. She thinks it would help for you to talk with a therapist - today.

You're eligible to receive California's safety-net benefits, so the health center can bill Medi-Cal for your regular visit. The problem is, it can't do the same for a mental-health visit when it happens the same day.

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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. SB 945 cleared the Senate Health Committee in April.

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It was a special day on April 13 - for me and for our city - when I used my swearing-in as the new Senate President Pro Tempore as an opportunity to celebrate San Diego.

Hundreds of civic-minded San Diegans attended the event at the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation. They heard wonderful words from former Senator Christine Kehoe, Senator Ben Hueso, Assemblymember Shirley Weber and labor leader Doug Moore, and watched as Judge Paula Rosenstein administered the oath of office.

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The June 5 primary election is coming right around the corner, and here are some important dates to keep in mind:

The vote-by-mail ballot-mailing period runs from May 7 through 29; you can request a mail ballot up until May 29. If you're not registered to vote at your current address, the deadline to do so is May 21. New citizens who are sworn in by May 21, 2018, may register to vote from May 22 through Election Day, June 5.

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Did you notice that your SDG&E bill was much lower in April? That's because twice a year, utility customers receive what's known as the California Climate Credit. The credit is from a state program that requires power plants and other large industries that emit greenhouse gases to buy carbon-pollution permits.

According to the California Public Utilities Commission, "Households and small businesses are receiving the Climate Credit to protect them from cost increases and to give people additional opportunities to take advantage of energy and money-saving upgrades that also help fight climate change."

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My district staff is always available to help constituents navigate a complex web of state agencies. 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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