SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - The latest developments in the California Legislature, which is considering hundreds of bills ahead of a Friday deadline for passage (all times local):
12:29 a.m.
The state Assembly is rejecting legislation that would prevent California patients from facing surprise out-of-network bills for treatment at in-network hospitals or medical facilities.
AB533 by Democratic Assemblyman Rob Bonta of Alameda failed to win enough votes in the Assembly early Saturday, ending its chances for the year.
The bill was sponsored by Health Access California to prevent consumers from being hit with unexpected out-of-network charges.
The measure failed just before lawmakers ended the regular legislative session for the year. They also opted not to take up a package of bills to regulate tobacco, including a proposal to raise the smoking age to 21.
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11:48:
A bill that would expand the number of people entitled to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave from work to care for relatives is on its way to the governor’s desk.
The state Senate passed SB406 by Democratic Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson of Santa Barbara on a 23-16 vote late Friday.
The legislation would guarantee California workers the right to take unpaid leave to care for grandparents, grandchildren, siblings and parents-in-law.
Currently, family leave applies only to those caring for parents, spouses, children and domestic partners.
The legislation also includes a more expansive definition of “child.”
The leave provisions would apply to employees who need to care for foster children, stepchildren, legal wards and the children of their domestic partners.
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This item has been corrected to reflect that unpaid leave already applies to domestic partners.
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11:14 p.m.
California lawmakers are sending Gov. Jerry Brown a far-reaching climate change measure with two out of three provisions he sought at the start of the year.
The Senate on Friday passed SB350 on a partisan, 26-14 vote. The Assembly passed the bill earlier in the evening.
SB350 by Democratic Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon of Los Angeles aims to increase California’s renewable electricity use to 50 percent and double energy efficiency in existing buildings by 2030.
De Leon was forced to remove a third provision to cut petroleum use in half in the face of fierce opposition from oil interests.
Still, Brown hailed the bill’s passage. He said, “Taking carbon out of the modern economy requires heroic efforts and tireless struggle.”
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10:10 p.m.
California lawmakers have sent Gov. Jerry Brown a measure to implement state-funded health coverage for children from low-income families regardless of their immigration status.
The Senate on Friday voted 28-11 on SB4 by Sen. Ricardo Lara, D-Bell Gardens.
The bill enacts a budget agreement struck earlier this year to enroll children under 19 who are in the country illegally into Medi-Cal, the state’s health program for the poor.
The cost to taxpayers is estimated to increase to $132 million annually once fully implemented.
Republicans objected, saying the state doesn’t have the money to properly care for legal residents.
Lara said he will continue to push to extend Medi-Cal for low-income adults who are in the country illegally. He also wants to allow immigrants to buy private insurance through Covered California.
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9:30 p.m.
Lawmakers are advancing legislation that would give firefighters immunity for disabling hobbyist drones flying over wildfires or interfering in emergency situations.
SB168 by Sen. Ted Gaines, a Republican from Roseville, passed the state Assembly unanimously on a 67-0 vote late Friday.
Assemblyman Mike Gatto, a Glendale Democrat, says rogue drones need to be stopped from interfering in emergency situations.
California firefighters have been forced to ground helicopter operations several times recently as unmanned aircraft came dangerously close to firefighting operations.
The bill heads to the Assembly for another vote Friday.
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9:08 p.m.
A cheer went up in the state Assembly as lawmakers passed landmark climate change legislation sought by Gov. Jerry Brown.
Lawmakers took up SB350 late Friday, days after Brown and Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon of Los Angeles removed a key provision that would have required California to cut oil use in half within 15 years.
The remaining bill calls for increasing renewable electricity use by 50 percent and doubling energy efficiency in existing buildings.
Republicans who were largely opposed warned that higher energy costs would disproportionately hurt poor people.
But Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins, the San Diego Democrat who carried the bill, argued that greater efficiency would drive down power costs.
The bill passed on a 51-26 vote and returns to the Senate for final approval.
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8:20 p.m.
California lawmakers are pushing through late-hour legislation to expand a powerful state regulatory board that sets vehicle emission and fuel standards.
The California Senate on Friday passed AB1288 by Democratic Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins of San Diego on a 28-10 vote.
The bill expands the state Air Resources Board from 12 to 14 members by adding two legislative appointments. The board’s expansive authority came under attack in this year’s climate change debate.
Sen. Fran Pavley, D-Agoura Hills, who presented the bill in the Senate, says giving the Senate and Assembly each an appointee would give those in disadvantaged communities a seat at the table because they are most adversely impacted by poor air quality.
The bill heads to the Assembly for a final vote.
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7:15 p.m.
The troubled Public Utilities Commission would have more rules governing communications with utilities under a bill heading to Gov. Jerry Brown.
The measure comes after a series of emails showed former commission chairman Michael Peevey having private discussions with Pacific Gas & Electric Co., California’s largest power utility.
The bill bans back-channel communications entirely as commissioners and their staffs consider setting the rates that utilities can charge consumers. SB660 also sets new standards for disqualifying commissioners from participating in proceedings if they have a conflict.
Democratic Senators Mark Leno of San Francisco and Ben Hueso of San Diego say their bill will create more public oversight and confidence in the commission and its decisions.
Senators approved the bill unanimously on Friday.
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7:07 p.m.
Lawmakers are sending Gov. Jerry Brown another bill responding to a pipeline break that spilled more than 100,000 gallons of crude oil on the beach and into the ocean near Santa Barbara in May.
SB414 by Democratic Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson of Santa Barbara would require regulators to study how local fishing vessels and crews can help with a more rapid response. Regulators also would have to quickly notify the Legislature if chemical dispersants are used, how effective they were and if there was any harm to the environment.
Senators gave the measures final approval Friday on a 26-13 vote.
They earlier approved bills requiring annual inspections of pipelines and requiring pipeline operators to use technology like remote controlled valves and automatic leak detection to control spills.
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2:50 p.m.
California lawmakers are sending Gov. Jerry Brown a bill that would turn prospective drivers into voters.
The California Assembly on Friday passed AB1461 on a 41-21 vote.
The bill by Democratic Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez of San Diego would automatically enroll eligible voters when they obtain or renewing drivers’ licenses. It is backed by Democratic Secretary of State Alex Padilla.
Oregon adopted the nation’s first automatic voter registration law earlier this year. Some Republican lawmakers say voters shouldn’t be forced to sign up.
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2:30 p.m.
Lawmakers are advancing legislation to help students of shuttered for-profit colleges that were owned by Corinthian Colleges Inc.
AB573 by Democratic Assemblyman Jose Medina of Riverside would restore Cal Grant Awards eligibility for students at Heald, Everest and WyoTech campuses who were unable to complete their degrees.
It also makes grants to community service organizations that help students seek federal loan forgiveness and lets state licensing boards waive certain requirements for Corinthian students.
Senators approved the bill on a 36-0 vote Friday, sending it to the Assembly for final action.
The Assembly also is considering SB150, a Senate-approved bill which would give a state income tax break to students who had their student loans forgiven after the colleges’ collapse.
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1:55 p.m.
Despite initial hopes for a daytime departure, California lawmakers seemed in no hurry to get to work on dozens of pieces of legislation remaining to be taken up on the final day of the regular legislative session.
Lawmakers faced a Friday deadline to pass major initiatives, including groundbreaking climate change legislation sought by Gov. Jerry Brown, a bill giving terminally ill patients the right to take life-ending medication, and a last-minute deal to regulate medical marijuana.
Both houses recessed at mid-day Friday for two hours so lawmakers could attend a rally outside the Capitol for three Sacramento natives who helped foil a possible terrorist attack on a train headed for France.
Leaders in the state Assembly were projecting voting could last until 2 a.m. Senators still hoped to leave earlier.
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