Senator Wiener’s Legislation to Streamline Student Housing, Support Mental Health Professionals and Sexual Assault Victims, & Hold Health Plans Accountable Among Those to be Heard by Full Senate

SACRAMENTO -  10 of Senator Scott Wiener’s (D-San Francisco) bills will be taken up for a full Senate vote after passing the Senate Appropriation Committee.The deadline for the Senate to approve these bills is May 31.

The bills heading to Senate floor from Appropriations are:

SB 834 (No Tax Exemption for Insurrection) - Ends tax-exempt status for nonprofits that engage in or support insurrection or overthrowing elections

SB 853 (Medication Access Act) - Requires health plans to cover medications through the duration of any appeals of a denial of insurance coverage

SB 858 (Health Plan Accountability Act) - Updates and increases penalties for health plans that violate state law in denying or delaying insurance coverage

SB 879 (PET Act) - Ends the suffering of cats and dogs by prohibiting these household pets from being used in toxicity tests for products such as pesticides and food and color additives

SB 886 (Student and Faculty Housing Act) -  Streamlines and accelerates student housing production across the state and increases the supply of housing so more students and faculty can live on campus

SB 923 (TGI Inclusive Care Act) - Requires health providers and staff who interact with transgender, gender non-conforming, and intersex (TGI) people to undergo cultural competency training to help them provide inclusive care

SB 964 (Behavioral Heath Workforce Revitalization Act) - Increases California’s investment in its behavioral workforce in order to retain workers, increase the size of the behavioral health workforce, and support behavioral health workers who are facing a significant increase in demand for services

SB 1144 (Safe and Efficient Water Act) - Requires public schools and state agencies to complete a water quality and efficiency assessment on their facilities

SB 1228 (Genetic Privacy for Sexual Assault Victims Act) - Protects sexual assault survivors and other victims by prohibiting the retention of DNA profiles collected from victims by local law enforcement agencies — including rape kits for sexual assault survivors

SB 1336 - Provides targeted tax relief to California’s struggling, legal cannabis businesses

“We have a strong 2022 legislative package, and we are one step closer to getting legislation across the finish line,” said Senator Wiener. “Our bills to streamline housing for college students, to expand resources for mental health professionals, to ensure that sexual assault victims’ DNA isn’t used against them, and many more will now be heard by the full Senate. I’m proud to author legislation that will help create a more equitable, sustainable and just California.”