Representing the 7th District

Sacramento – Today, Assemblymember Roger Dickinson's (D-Sacramento) Assembly Bill 1960 was approved by the Senate Governmental Organization Committee on a 8-5 vote. The bill would require that information about lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) owned business enterprises be included along with information about minority, women, and disadvantaged business enterprises as reported by the California Department of General Services. The bill will next be heard by the Senate Appropriations Committee.

"Minority-owned, women-owned, and disadvantaged business enterprises, along with LGBT-owned businesses, make up a large share of the small businesses that are major economic drivers and job creators for our state," said Assemblymember Dickinson. "With this bill, California is the first state to have a bill dedicated to the advancement of LGBT-owned businesses."

Read more...

Sacramento – Yesterday, Assembly Bill 1541 by Assemblymember Roger Dickinson (D-Sacramento) was approved on a 10-2 bipartisan vote by the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee. The bill would subject the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to the state's Public Records Act, make information submitted by utilities to the CPUC available for public review, and bring the CPUC into line with the policy and practice of other public agencies in California. The bill will next be heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

"This bill will provide some much needed sunshine on this currently opaque state agency," said Assemblymember Dickinson, Chair of the Assembly Committee on Accountability and Administrative Review. "This bill would bring transparency and accountability to the CPUC with the primary goal of protecting public safety and increasing oversight."

Read more...

Sacramento – Assembly Bill 1435 by Assemblymember Roger Dickinson (D-Sacramento) was approved today by the Senate Public Safety Committee on a unanimous bipartisan vote. The bill requires that all athletic coaches, administrators and directors be mandatory reporters of child abuse and neglect. The bill will next be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

"As a former high school and collegiate athlete myself, I know firsthand the position of trust that coaches have with their athletes," said Assemblymember Dickinson. "This close relationship and bond should never be exploited to hurt a child and we need to do all we can to prevent it," he added.

Read more...

Sacramento – Today, Assemblymember Roger Dickinson (D-Sacramento) released the following statement on the state budget:

"Once again, my colleagues and I were forced to make tough decisions and we successfully closed our $16 billion deficit. Even though General Fund spending is at its lowest since Ronald Reagan was Governor, further cuts were unavoidable. These cuts which reduce indispensable services for our most vulnerable Californians and which reduce access to justice are troubling. Nonetheless, I am proud that we have passed a balanced, responsible, and on time budget while mitigating the severest reductions in assistance to those most in need.

Read more...

Sacramento – Today, Assemblymember Roger Dickinson (D-Sacramento) released the following statement on President Barack Obama’s executive order to allow young undocumented immigrants to remain in the United States:

“I applaud President Obama for taking the historic step today to allow young undocumented immigrants to remain in the United States. These are our friends, neighbors, classmates, and coworkers and they should be treated justly. This policy is long overdue, especially in a diverse country such as ours.”

The staff of Sacramento News & Review, the 2012 Small Business of the Year in the Ninth Assembly District. Photo courtesy of Sacramento News & Review

Sacramento – In recognition of California Small Business Day, Assemblymember Roger Dickinson (D-Sacramento) named Sacramento News & Review as 2012 Small Business of the Year in the Ninth Assembly District today at a luncheon sponsored by the California Small Business Association.

“Since its inception, the Sacramento News & Review has been enjoyed by its loyal readers and directed by strong leaders and dedicated and talented staff,” said Assemblymember Dickinson. “Their commitment to the Sacramento community, culture, arts, and spirit makes them beyond worthy of this honor,” Dickinson added.

Read more...

Sacramento – Assemblymember Roger Dickinson (D-Sacramento) released the following statement after the US Attorney’s office revealed the indictment of four Sacramento area Officers:

“I applaud the indictment for violations of federal law,” said Assemblymember Dickinson.  “These individuals appear to have been operating an illegal gun trade in our community. But, there continue to be opportunities for the legal sale of illegal handguns around our state and that is why I have introduced legislation, AB 2460”.

Read more...

Sacramento – Today, Assembly Bill 2242 by Assemblymember Roger Dickinson (D-Sacramento) was approved by the California State Assembly on a vote of 42-19. AB 2242 would remove the reference to “willful defiance” as a reason a student may be subject to extended suspensions and expulsions from school.  The bill will next be heard in the State Senate.

“AB 2242 would reduce the number of expulsions and out-of-school suspensions and the accompanying poor outcomes for students. It would also reduce the extent to which these practices disproportionately impact students of color,” said Dickinson, Chair of the Assembly Select Committee on Delinquency Prevention and Youth Development. “This will result in more appropriate types of intervention with less academic student disruption, and better student outcomes.”

Read more...

Sacramento – Assembly Bill 1435 by Assemblymember Roger Dickinson (D-Sacramento) was approved today by the State Assembly on a 67-0 vote. The bill requires that all athletic coaches, administrators and directors be mandatory reporters for purposes of complying with the Child Abuse and neglect reporting Act (CANRA).

“As a former high school and collegiate athlete myself, I know firsthand the position of trust that coaches have with their athletes,” said Assemblymember Dickinson.  “This close relationship and bond should never be exploited to hurt a child and we need to do all we can to prevent it”, he added.

Read more...

Sacramento – Assembly Bill 1917 by Assemblymember Roger Dickinson (D-Sacramento) was approved today by the State Assembly on a 47-24 vote. The bill would ensure that public education facility administrators are informed of and remitted any discounts, rebates, allowances, and incentives received by a service contractor from its supplier. The bill will next be heard by the State Senate.

“With this bill, we will ensure that overburdened school officials who negotiate food service contracts are aware of off-invoice rebates and what they are worth, and will make sure that our already cash-strapped California schools get their fair share of those rebates,” said Assemblymember Dickinson.  “AB 1917 will bring some long-overdue transparency and accountability to this opaque process,” he added.

Read more...