Representing the 7th District

Sacramento – Today, Assemblymember Roger Dickinson (D-Sacramento), member of the Assembly Budget Committee and Budget Subcommittee No. 1 on Health and Human Services, released the following statement on the State Budget:

“The budget passed today reflects a stable fiscal future for California. Passage of the Middle Class Scholarship Act means that hardworking California families will once again be able to afford college. Although the courts received a 7% restoration of urgently-needed funding, their limited ability to restore previously-cut critical services and begin construction projects is troubling. With Affordable Care Act implementation, I am concerned that Sacramento County may potentially lose over $9 million in health realignment funding for their indigent patient services. Nonetheless, I am proud that we have passed a balanced, accountable, and on time budget, paying down our debt while increasing necessary funding for our schools and mental health programs.”

Sacramento – Today, Assembly Bill 169 authored by Assemblymember Roger Dickinson (D-Sacramento) was approved on a 5-2 vote by the Senate Public Safety Committee. The bill would close the loophole in law that currently allows the private party transfer of “unsafe handguns” to individuals not eligible to buy them. It further closes a loophole that presently allows some buyers to purchase an unsafe handgun if that handgun was previously modified to be a single shot weapon.

“AB 169 will keep non-rostered, unsafe handguns out of the hands of people who don't have a legitimate and lawful reason to own them. By limiting the guns available for sale we can further protect our families and our communities from gun violence,” said Dickinson.

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This Month, California’s Largest School District Passed Similar Policy

Sacramento – Spurred by new data and growing consensus among leaders in the education field, on May 14, the Los Angeles Unified school board voted to ban “willful defiance” as grounds for student suspensions. In California alone, there are more than 700,000 student suspensions per year. A bill that would take a large step towards fixing California’s broken school discipline practices statewide was approved today on a bipartisan 45-20 vote by the State Assembly. Assembly Bill 420 authored by Assemblymember Roger Dickinson (D-Sacramento) would curb the excessive use of willful defiance as a reason to suspend and expel students.

“Kids who have been suspended or expelled are five times more likely to drop out and 11 times more likely to turn to crime,” said Dickinson, Chair of the Assembly Select Committee on Delinquency Prevention and Youth Development.

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Bill Would Maximize Employment Opportunities and Increase Public Safety

Sacramento – Today, Assembly Bill 218 by Assemblymember Roger Dickinson (D-Sacramento) was approved by the State Assembly on a 47-25 vote. The bill would prohibit requesting criminal background information on the initial employment application for local and state government employees, with the goal of reducing unnecessary barriers to employment for the one in four adult Californians who have an arrest or conviction record. If passed, California would join nine states and over 50 cities and counties across the United States that have adopted similar legislation.

“With this bill, the state and our cities and counties will take an important step toward becoming model employers, leading the way for the private sector to allow people with a conviction history to compete fairly for employment without compromising safety and security on the job,” said Assemblymember Dickinson. “California should join the bi-partisan movement across the nation that’s opening doors, not shutting them, for qualified workers who have turned their lives around.”

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Sacramento – Today, the State Assembly approved Assembly Bill 385 authored by Assemblymember Roger Dickinson (D-Sacramento) on a 49-19 bipartisan vote. The bill would establish the Bank on California Program within the new Department of Business Oversight. The bill gives the program a permanent home and establishes it in statute indefinitely.

“AB 385 will ensure that the Bank on California Program will stand the test of time but more importantly, that more unbanked Californians join the financial mainstream by becoming banked,” said Dickinson, Chair of the Assembly Committee on Banking and Finance. “With a bank account, unbanked Californians can achieve financial security, start to save for the future, and establish a credit history,” he added.

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Sacramento – Today, Assembly Bill 844 authored by Assemblymember Roger Dickinson (D-Sacramento) was approved by the State Assembly on a bipartisan 42-23 vote. AB 844 would protect consumers’ personal information when making credit card purchases online. The bill is in response to the recent ruling by the California Supreme Court that online retailers can continue to require customers purchasing with credit cards to provide personal information.

“California consumers shouldn’t have to reveal any more personal information than absolutely necessary, whether they’re shopping at a mall or at their computers,” said Dickinson, Chair of the Assembly Committee on Banking and Finance. “AB 844 increases consumer privacy while ensuring appropriate fraud and identity theft protection. The bill will better protect consumers’ privacy by safeguarding against the exploitation of personal information,” he added.

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Sacramento – Today, Assembly Bill 786 authored by Assemblymember Roger Dickinson (D-Sacramento) was unanimously approved by the State Assembly. The bill would reform the California Money Transmission Act and provide clarity for existing licensees and assist with removing market entry barriers to start-up payment technology companies.

“Technological innovation within the money transmission and payments industry has skyrocketed in the last few years, yet California's regulatory framework has lagged behind this innovation,” said Dickinson, Chair of the Assembly Committee on Banking and Finance. “Providing clarity to existing companies and new start-ups on licensing requirements will ensure a vibrant money transmission market place that is fair for business while protecting consumers,” he added.

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Sacramento – Today, Assembly Bill 339 authored by Assemblymember Roger Dickinson (D-Sacramento) was approved by the State Assembly on a bipartisan 58-7 vote. The bill would prohibit the sale of animals at swap meets and flea markets unless the local jurisdiction adopts minimum animal care and treatment standards in order to prevent the suffering of animals, protect consumers, and eliminate the public health and safety risks and potential threats of disease outbreaks associated with such sales.

“Animals are currently being sold at flea markets and swap meets in often abysmal conditions where there is no legal oversight of the seller and no consumer accountability,” said Dickinson. “AB 339 would regulate animal sales permitted at swap meets and flea markets to alleviate the suffering of these animals, ensure that public health and safety is protected, and safeguard consumers,” he added.

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Sacramento – Assemblymember Roger Dickinson (D-Sacramento) released the following statement in support of striking AFSCME Local 3299 University of California (UC) hospital workers:

“This strike is about more than workers rightfully demanding fair wages and a good contract. This demonstration is about adequately serving our families and communities across the state when they enter a UC hospital. The UC hospitals often serve those who cannot obtain health insurance and need access to healthcare. AFSCME’s workers provide top quality care and support for patients and families each and every day. I support the workers of AFSCME 3299 because what you do matters to all Californians.”

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Sacramento – Assemblymember Roger Dickinson (D-Sacramento) released the following statement on today’s vote by the NBA board of governors to keep the Kings in Sacramento:

“I am delighted by the Board’s affirmative decision to keep the Kings in Sacramento. The City of Sacramento, our entire region, its leaders, and the supportive fans of the team have proven that they will stand by and fight for the Kings through thick and thin. I am hopeful that the Maloofs and the Ranadive investor group will agree on an acceptable deal and there will be a successful conclusion for Sacramento which will keep the Kings here for years to come.”