The State Senate unanimously passed legislation by Senator Dave Cortese on Tuesday to create clear rules surrounding the ability of incarcerated people to wear religious clothing, headwear, and grooming. Studies show that free exercise rights established under SB 309 helps reduce violence and other negative behaviors in correctional facilities, and lowers recidivism.
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The Senate on Tuesday unanimously passed a bill by Senator Dave Cortese that seeks to prevent opioid overdoses at public schools and would also give students and their families’ information about the growing fentanyl crisis. SB 10 would require that school safety plans – which are already mandated by law – include concrete strategies for the prevention and treatment of an opioid overdose, such as new campus safety rules and regulations concerning fentanyl on campus.
The State Senate on Tuesday unanimously passed legislation by Senator Dave Cortese to give young people the ability to stay in the extended foster care system for an additional year, from age 21 to age 22. SB 9 would allow youth to extend their access to payment benefits and transitional support services.
The State Senate on Wednesday passed legislation by Senator Dave Cortese establishing landmark safety rules on motion picture productions. SB 735, a bill that was spurred by the 2021 death of a cinematographer on the ‘Rust’ film set, establishes a first-in-the-nation regulatory process for keeping workers safe. The bipartisan bill reflects months of negotiations between studios and labor representatives.
The State Senate passed a bill by Senator Dave Cortese on Wednesday that would allow judges to review the cases of people sentenced to life-without-parole if the person has been incarcerated for at least 25 years.