Legislation to Help Give Youth Offenders a Second Chance Highlights Atkins Bills Passed by Assembly

September 13, 2017

Six more bills authored by Sen. Toni Atkins have passed on the Assembly floor. They are:

SB 214: This bill strengthens the capacity of the San Diego River Conservancy to protect and enhance historic, cultural and natural resources within the watershed along the 52-mile San Diego River. It adds representation from the City of Santee and the Kumeyaay Diegueño Land Conservancy to the conservancy’s Board of Directors. It also provides the conservancy with greater ability to enter into joint-powers agreements. SB 214 was sent back to the Senate for concurrence with amendments made in the Assembly. It passed on concurrence and is now on its way to the governor’s desk.

SB 223: This bill requires health plans in California to meet the higher nondiscrimination, consumer-protection and language-assistance standards that exist in the Affordable Care Act – no matter what happens to the ACA – ensuring equal access to affordable healthcare, regardless of race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, age, sex, sexual orientation or disability. SB 223 now heads back to the Senate for concurrence with amendments made in the Assembly.

SB 310: The Name and Dignity Act establishes the right of people in state prisons and county jails to access the courts to obtain a name or gender change. It also requires corrections officials to use the new name of a prisoner who has successfully obtained a name change. SB 310 now heads back to the Senate for concurrence with amendments made in the Assembly.

SB 379: This bill clarifies that schools that offer free oral-health assessments may facilitate dental screenings by requiring parents to opt-out if they do not want their children to receive an assessment, although any treatment would require active consent. It also requires schools to report to counties aggregate data on tooth decay and encourages schools to report oral-health data to the state. SB 379 now heads to the governor’s desk.

SB 625: This bill reestablishes an “honorable discharge” program for juvenile offenders who meet certain criteria, paving an easier path for them to access higher education or vocational training or get a job after their release from incarceration. SB 625 was sent back to the Senate for concurrence with amendments made in the Assembly. It passed on concurrence and is now on its way to the governor’s desk.

SB 667: This bill enables the Riverine Stewardship Assistance Program (RSAP), which was created in the 2016-17 fiscal year state budget. The RSAP provides technical and financial support for stream restoration, reduced flood risk and improved habitat corridors, empowering communities to reconnect with and take pride in their neighborhood waterways. SB 667 was sent back to the Senate for concurrence with amendments made in the Assembly. It passed on concurrence and is now on its way to the governor’s desk.

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