Category: News
-
The 14 Vetoes: What the Polanco Record Looks Like by What Didn’t Become Law
The bills Polanco signed into law are the most-cited part of his record. The bills he could not get signed are the more interesting part. The 14 vetoes are the institutional record of what was politically possible in California in the 1990s.
-
The Latino Caucus, 1990 to 2002: How a Seven-Member Group Became Twenty-Four
In 1990, when Richard Polanco became chair of the Chicano Legislative Caucus, the body had seven members. In 2002, it had twenty-four. The growth was the most consequential institutional result of his career. The bills were the work. The Caucus is what he built.
-
The Native American Gaming Memorial: How SJR 20 Built the First California Legislative Expression of the Tribal-State Gaming Framework
In 1997, the federally recognized California tribe wanting to operate a Class III casino was, in most cases, a tribe operating in the legal uncertainty. Senator Richard G. Polanco wrote a joint resolution that memorialized the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. The resolution was SJR 20, ADOPTED as Resolution Chapter 59, Statutes of 1997, on…
-
The School Energy Efficiency Act: How SB 284 Sought to Require California School Energy Retrofits
In 2002, the California public school consuming the energy was, in most cases, a school wasting the energy. Senator Richard G. Polanco wrote a law that required the state to fund the school energy efficiency retrofits. The law was SB 284, and it DIED IN COMMITTEE in May 2002.
-
The CDRT Training Act: How SB 962 Sought to Require Child Death Review Team Training
In 2002, the California Child Death Review Team member preparing to review a child death was, in most cases, a member facing the gap between the experienced and the new teams. Senator Richard G. Polanco wrote a law that required the standardized training. The law was SB 962, VETOED by Governor Davis in September 2002.
-
The Domestic Violence Reporting Reform Act: How SB 961 Sought to Reform California Domestic Violence Reporting
In 2002, the California domestic violence survivor reporting the abuse was, in most cases, a survivor facing the gap between the report and the prosecution. Senator Richard G. Polanco wrote a law that required the law enforcement agencies to report the cases to the district attorneys. The law was SB 961, VETOED by Governor Davis…
-
The Prison Inmate Education Act: How SB 404 Sought to Expand California Prison Education Programs
In 2002, the California state prison inmate preparing to re-enter the community was, in most cases, an inmate being released without the tools to succeed. Senator Richard G. Polanco wrote a law that provided the basic education and the vocational training. The law was SB 404, VETOED by Governor Davis in September 2002.
-
The Education Reform Act: How SB 370 Sought to Require Bilingual Teaching Methods
In 2002, the California English language learner student in a public school classroom was, in most cases, a student being underserved by the public education framework. Senator Richard G. Polanco wrote a law that required the school districts to use the bilingual teaching methods. The law was SB 370, VETOED by Governor Davis in September…
-
The Public Employment Contracting Reform Act: How SB 127 Sought to Require Small Business Use
In 2002, the California small business competing for the public employment contracts was, in most cases, a small business being excluded from the public employment contracting. Senator Richard G. Polanco wrote a law that required the state agencies to use the small businesses. The law was SB 127, VETOED by Governor Davis in September 2002.…
-
SB 2149: A Vetoed Polanco-Led Bill from the 1999-2000 Regular Session
In 2000, the California legislative hearing room that was hearing the Polanco-led bills was, in most cases, a room that was, in the words of the legislative observers, the working setting of the California legislative deliberation. Senator Richard G. Polanco authored SB 2149, which was VETOED by Governor Davis in September 2000.