compiled by Chanaye J. Thomas
The California Assembly appointed Assembly member Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco) as Chair of the Assembly Public Safety Committee for the 2009-2010 Regular Session.
The Assembly Public Safety Committee is responsible for overseeing and reviewing legislation within the California Penal Code. This includes almost all issues that are related to criminal justice, including but not limited to: prisons, sentencing, juvenile justice, criminal penalties, gun control, and controlled substances.
NOAA funding to support Ocean Observing Central and North California
The NOAA Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) is awarding over $1.6 million in 2009 competitive grant funding to support ocean-observing efforts in Central and Northern California, according to a written statement.
The grants will go to the Central and Northern California Ocean Observing System through the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute. Funding supports long-term monitoring of environmental conditions in support of protecting marine life and habitat.
Governor believes extended shelter funds may help homeless
According to a written announcement, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed Assembly member Tom Ammiano’s (D-San Francisco) bill AB 767 into law last week. The bill is an urgency measure that extends the deadline to encumber Prop. 1C multi family housing, homeless youth, shelter and begin funding from the original Housing and Emergency Shelter Trust Fund of 2006.
The bill garnered unanimous support in the California Legislature before reaching the Governor’s desk.
“The extension of the deadline of the Shelter Trust Fund is one crucial step in addressing the housing crisis facing residents throughout the state,” said Ammiano.
House approves Gallison’s employee credit check bill
State House reports that The House of Representatives has passed a bill sponsored by Rep. Raymond E. Gallison Jr. to ban employers from requesting credit reports as part of the application process for prospective employees.
“There’s no connection between employees’ fi nancial history and their job performance,” said Representative Gallison, a Democrat whose district 69 is in Bristol and Ports mouth.
There are exceptions in the bill for employers in types of businesses like supervised fi nancial institutions, investment fi rms, law enforcement agencies and jewelry and precious metal companies.
New Cato report economic benefits of legalizing immigrants
In Washington D.C., a new report released August 13th, Restriction or Legalization? Measuring the Economic Benefi ts of Immigration Reform, the Cato Institute is seeking to quantify the benefits that would fl ow to the U.S. economy from comprehensive immigration reform, which grants some form of legal status to unauthorized immigrants
already living in the United States, according to the Immigration Policy Center.
Reform that includes legalization would yield a net benefi t of $180 billion over 10 years, while enforcement efforts alone would incur $80 billion in losses.
Macy’s customers support Reading Is Fundamental Program
The Reading Is Fundamental Program, a provider of free books to 566, 672 underserved children, reports that as families in the Bay Area prepare to send their kids back to school, Macy’s is giving customers the opportunity to support local children’s literacy programs through the Book A Brighter Future Campaign, while saving money with in-store coupons.
“Through the Book A Brighter Future campaign, one dollar of every three received is being invested locally to support programs like the Oakland Unified School District, and other children’s literacy initiatives,” says RIF President and CEO Carol H. Rasco.
