Photo caption: SPI State Team Class of 2021-2022
Feminist Policy is the best kind of group project.
This year’s Solís Policy Institute State fellows are poised to change California’s legal landscape and they need the help of this powerful community. All five of the bills from this year’s class secured sponsors and went on to move right through their first committee, but now they’re bogged down and it’s time to pick up the phone.
Will you call the Chairs of the Appropriations committees to put the pressure on to pass our SPI fellows’ bills and get us closer to the world we want?
We’ve even included a draft “script” for you to use at the bottom of the blog.
Expanding access to mental health services at school – Community Health:
- AB 552 expands access to on-campus mental health services for all students by building a partnership program between school support staff and county behavioral health departments available to all students.
- Who is sponsoring it: Assembly Member Quirk-Silva
- Where it stands: This two-year bill is currently on suspense file.
- How to take action: Call Assembly Member Chris Holden at 916-319-2041 and Assembly Member Frank Bigelow at 916-319-2005
- Who to talk to: Our Community Health team – sign up for their updates!
- Who to write to: Submit a letter of support here. The folks at NourishCA put together a very clear how to guide that might be a helpful reference.
Correcting the record and holding police accountable for lives lost on their watch – Criminal Justice Reform:
- This bill, AB 2761, provides critical transparency and a more accurate reflection of the lives lost while in the custody of or through use of force by public safety officials, by adding simple reporting requirements to official death certificates.
- Who is sponsoring it: Assembly Member McCarty
- Where it stands: Referred to suspense file- which means we need your help
- How to take action: Call the Appropriation Committee Chairs: Assembly Member Chris Holden at 916-319-2041 and Assembly Member Frank Bigelow at 916-319-2005
- Who to talk to: Our Criminal Justice Reform team – sign up for their updates!
- Who to write to: Write a letter of support and check out this sponsor letter.
Ensuring benefits for folks leaving unsafe workplaces – Economic Security:
- AB 2300 maintains the benefits of welfare-to-work recipients if they leave the workplace after violation of their rights.
- Who is sponsoring it: Assembly Member Kalra
- Where it stands: Referred to suspense file- which means we need your help
- How to take action: Call the Appropriation Committee Chairs: Assembly Member Chris Holden at 916-319-2041 and Assembly Member Frank Bigelow at 916-319-2005
- Who to talk to: Our Economic Security team – sign up for their updates!
- Who to write to: Write a letter of support and check out this fact sheet.
Preventing homelessness by stopping evictions – Trauma Services & Prevention:
- SB 1017 closes loopholes in current eviction protections for survivors and victims of crime to prevent homelessness and support families.
- Who is sponsoring it: Senator Eggman
- Where it stands: Referred to suspense file- which means we need your help
- How to take action: Call Senator Anthony Portantino at 916-651-4025 and Senator Particia Bates at 916-651-4036 and check out this fact sheet.
- Who to talk to: Our Trauma Services and Prevention team – sign up for their updates!
Improving culturally-responsive reproductive healthcare – Reproductive Health, Rights, and Justice:
- A pilot program that directs funds to community health centers (CHCs) across five counties in California, AB2320 improves culturally-responsive reproductive healthcare services for patients from marginalized populations through projects that center workforce capacity, language access, and sustainable community partnerships.
- Who is sponsoring it: Assembly Member Garcia
- Where it stands: Referred to suspense file – which means we need your help
- How to take action: Send a letter of support, check out this fact sheet, and stay in the loop on next steps.
- Who to talk to: Our Reproductive Health, Rights, and Justice team – sign up for their updates!
Draft Call Script
Hi – My name is XXXXX and I’m calling from XXXX. I am calling to let you know that as a California resident it is important to me to see BILL NUMBER cross the finish line. I care deeply about building a California where we all can thrive with health, safety, and prosperity and passing BILL NUMBER is an important part of making that a reality in our state.