Assembly panel approves toxic cosmetics ban
Debra Kahn, Politico
The Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee approved a bill today that would give the state far more power to restrict chemicals in cosmetics.
CA AB495 (19R), by Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance) and Assemblywoman Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland), would model the state's rules after the European Union's by specifying a list of toxic chemicals that can't be contained in cosmetics, including formaldehyde, asbestos, mercury and several categories of a chemical known as PFAS.
Quirk: Science is Clear, Action Needed on Climate Crisis
SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Bill Quirk (D-Hayward) today called for action on the unfolding global climate crisis with the introduction of his resolution, ACR 143.
California divorce courts go to dogs as pets gain status
Denton Staff Contributor, Denton Daily
LOS ANGELES (AP) – California courts could be going to the dogs – and maybe cats, too – under a new law granting judges authority to settle disagreements over who keeps the family pet in divorce cases the same way they handle child-custody disputes.
Until now, Fido and Kitty have been considered family property, a status giving them little more standing in a divorce than a family‘s big-screen TV.
Bill to Protect Legal Non-Citizens from going Hungry and Homeless is Vetoed
SACRAMENTO – Earlier this year, Assemblymember Bill Quirk (D-Hayward) partnered with Alameda County and Western Center on Law and Poverty to introduce a bill to streamline and align the CalFresh and CalWORKs programs in order to assist sponsored noncitizen individuals and families from the risk of hunger and homelessness.
Quirk Effort for Accurate and Humane Hazardous Waste Identification is Stalled with Veto
SACRAMENTO – Hazardous waste must be disposed of properly to protect public health and the environment. However, today Governor Newsom vetoed AB 733, by Assemblymember Bill Quirk’s (D-Hayward), which would have enabled California to identify this waste using tests that are human and result in more accurate identification. .
Alameda and Santa Cruz Counties to Offer More Public Services
SACRAMENTO – Recognizing the growing need for public services and the constraints Alameda and Santa Cruz Counties were facing to meet those demands, Assemblymember Bill Quirk (D-Hayward) took the lead in making changes to how the Transactions and Use Tax Law cap is calculated.