Employees of the California State Legislature would get the right to unionize for the first time under a proposal introduced Monday. The people who work for California state departments, known as rank-and-file civil service employees, received the right 45 years ago to unionize and collectively bargain over their pay, benefits and working conditions. But the 1977 Ralph C. Dills Act didn’t include the roughly 1,900 employees of the Legislature, who are still forbidden from organizing.

For the second consecutive year, a major overhaul to California’s main financial aid program is being proposed by lawmakers who say the current system is overly complex and excludes too many students from getting aid.

A Sacramento legislator is working to pass a bill to make it easier to clear homeless encampments along rivers and what is known as special parklands.

Assemblymember Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento) said more homeless housing is, of course, needed, but “certain places are just no-goes.”

Click "view article" to read the full story.

Two newly introduced bills could significantly impact the early education landscape in California if they eventually become law. 

Three Democratic state lawmakers from the Sacramento area are backing legislation they say would speed up the removal of homeless encampments along the American River Parkway — and eventually ban the camps from the 23-mile natural corridor. 

Click "view article" to read the full story.

Assemblymember Kevin McCarty, D-Sacramento, gave his reaction to the horrific events that unfolded Sunday morning, and discussed the gun control bills he’s pushing to make into law.

To watch the news segment, click the link: https://fox40.com/morning/assemblymember-kevin-mccarty-reacts-to-downtown-sacramento-shooting/

The University of California housed more students than the system officially had room for last fall. Yet UC leaders, lawmakers and the governor all want to dramatically expand student enrollment.

But that ambition is at odds with a housing crunch crippling the UC and campuses across California.

Students will need somewhere to live and a new legislative plan would throw in $5 billion to help the state’s campuses ramp up their housing stock.

Read more at: https://calmatters.org/education/2022/01/student-housing-2/

The week, Gov. Gavin Newsom built on last year’s record state budget with a 2022-23 spending plan that tops it.

The week, Gov. Gavin Newsom built on last year’s record state budget with a 2022-23 spending plan that tops it.