California Legislature Advances Numerous Bills As Session Winds Down

Boaters would have to pass examinations to obtain boating licenses and people looking to add solar roofs to their homes could use a streamlined permitting process under bills advancing out of the California legislature Thursday. 

California school districts would lose the power to suspend, or expel children grades kindergarten through third grade for defying teachers, or other school authorities under a bill that has cleared the legislature.

Sexually exploited minors arrested for prostitution would be taken out of the criminal justice system and offered social services under a bill that has cleared the Senate. It now goes back to the Assembly for a final vote.

 A bill to strike the language of a controversial ballot measure from the state’s books is headed to the Governor. Prop. 187 was eventually ruled unconstitutional. It denied school and other state services to undocumented immigrants.

Another bill now advancing to the Governor’s desk would allow counties, cities and local parks districts to put a five dollar vehicle license fee on the local ballot to fund bicycle lane and trail improvements.