My first year as your state Senator is coming to a close, and I would like to take a moment to wish you and your family a wonderful holiday season and may you have a happy, healthy, and very successful 2024! It is an honor to serve you in the California State Senate. I have four offices to serve you located in Roseville, Rancho Cordova, Yuba City, and by the State Capitol. If you have issues with state agencies that I can assist, please contact one of my offices.
In the Community
It has been wonderful to meet with many constituents at my office and at community events this year. From the community meetings that I co-hosted with Assemblymen Josh Hoover and Joe Patterson, it is clear that our communities are engaged and they want results, just like I do. It was great to hear from different viewpoints on important issues that impact our community. Thank you to those of you that took time out of your busy lives to attend one of my community meetings.
Homelessness Audit in Progress
Homelessness is getting worse in California despite record spending on state programs. My colleagues and I submitted a request earlier this year to the Joint Legislative Audit Committee (JLAC) to authorize an audit of public funds that were intended to reduce homelessness throughout the state. This request was approved, and the audit is underway. We asked for the audit to include a review and evaluation of the state’s structure and efforts for funding and addressing homelessness, the effectiveness of the State’s investment, how local agencies and cities used the federal and state funding for homeless programs, and the outcome of the funding that has been used for homeless programs. My hope is that this audit will shed light on why billions of dollars in investments have not achieved meaningful outcomes and will help guide the state efforts to address our growing homelessness crisis.
Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (left) and I were two of the five signatories of the bipartisan audit request. Photographed by Rich Pedroncelli, Associated Press
2023 Legislative Update
Each year, thousands of policy ideas go through a process to become law. Here is a quick summary of some of my legislation that became law this year. For a more comprehensive list, visit https://sr06.senate.ca.gov/legislation.
Senate Bill 264 extends the sunset date by 5 years to January 1, 2029 for the Disaster Loss Tax Deduction. The Tax Deduction provides individuals with automatic disaster loss relief for any disaster occurring in a city or county that is proclaimed by the Governor to be in a state of emergency.
Uniform Acts simplify people’s lives and facilitate commerce by providing consistent rules and procedures from state to state. The current Uniform Principal and Income Act (UPIA) directs a trustee on how to allocate money to beneficiaries of an estate or trust as either principal or income. Senate Bill 522 replaces the Uniform Principal and Income Act (UPIA) with the Uniform Fiduciary Income and Principal Act (UFIPA) to recognize the development of modern portfolio theory that allows trustees to invest for the maximum total return, whether the return is in the form of income or growth of principal.
Senate Bill 548 provides a permissive option for interested courts and counties to establish a separate CalPERS contract for the court employees. Over 20 years ago, Superior Courts were separated from counties and became appendages of the state. Although court employees are not paid by the county but by the Superior Court, they are still factored in the total pension liability figures for counties.
I joined Senator Grove and co-authored Senate Bill 14 to make the trafficking of a minor for purposes of a commercial sex act a serious felony.
Senate Bill 43 introduced by Senator Eggman has been signed into law. The state’s homelessness crisis was a driving determination for my return to the legislature, and I was proud to be a principal co-author on this critical measure. Many homeless individuals suffer from mental health issues, and SB 43 expands the definition of “gravely disabled” to aid individuals in extreme psychological distress who require treatment but may not be well enough to realize they are in need of assistance.
Nonprofit of the Year
Saint John’s Program for Real Change is the 2023 Nonprofit of the Year for Senate District 6. The hardworking and passionate staff at Saint John’s provide a comprehensive 12 to 18 month residential program to help women in crisis succeed in a new life.
While mothers rebuild their lives, childcare and mental health experts work with children to counteract the impact of homelessness.
Click here to take a quick tour with me and see the life changing work they are accomplishing!
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library puts books in the hands and hearts of children across the world. They partner with local communities to provide a specially-selected, high quality book each month to participating children from birth to age five. These books are personalized with each child’s name and mailed directly to their home to create a gifting experience that makes books exciting and encourages families to spend time enjoying books together. Best of all, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is at no cost to the family.
Currently the Imagination Library is available in Sutter, Yuba and Placer Counties. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is expanding statewide in California and will also be available in Sacramento County in the future. The goal is to establish local programs in every county across the state and cultivate new partnerships to help fund and support local program partners in California with the aim of enrolling 2 million children in the Imagination Library of California by 2028.
Visit https://imaginationlibrary.com/check-availability/ to check availability and enroll your child today.
My Legislative Director Calvin Rusch and his daughter reading one of the books from the Imagination Library.
Woman of the Year – Anne Marie Schubert
Anne Marie Schubert from Senate District 6 was recognized at this year’s California Women Making “Herstory” Celebration. She is an incredible leader who spent 32 years of her career as a prosecutor and fought the area’s most notorious and dangerous criminals – murderers, rapists and child molesters.
Anne Marie led the investigation and prosecution of Joseph DeAngelo, the Golden State Killer. Since the arrest of DeAngelo, Anne Marie assisted and trained law enforcement on the use of forensic investigative genetic genealogy to solve violent crime, identify missing persons, and exonerate the innocent. She is nationally recognized in her knowledge of forensic DNA and provides consulting on a variety of public safety issues, including DNA, cold cases, and the use of forensic investigative genetic genealogy. Congratulations, Anne Marie Schubert!
Niello in the News
KCRA: When will Newsom and lawmakers deal with California's big budget shortfall?
Niello and other Republicans have suggested state leaders reopen last year’s spending plan and make changes so that the $68 billion doesn’t impact next budget year as hard. Experts note that the magnitude of this deficit could mean deep cuts to key services if we don’t take immediate action. “The governor and Legislature have to take immediate actions in the current budget year because if we don’t, the whole $68 billion deficit is going to have to be solved with one budget year, and we think that’s terribly unwise,” said State Sen. Roger Niello, R-Roseville.
Comstock’s Magazine: Stolen Business
Republican Sen. Roger Niello of Fair Oaks authored Senate Bill 316, which would have mandated jail time for a fourth conviction of retail theft. The Senate Committee on Public Safety voted 3-1 on March 28 to kill the bill. “I knew there would be resistance to it, which of course there was,” Niello says.
ABC 10: Galt cancer survivor turns to advocacy after doctors find 100 polyps during colonoscopy
California Senator Roger Niello introduced a resolution to make October 7, 2023 ’Ostomy Day’ in the state. The first Saturday of October is nationally known as ’Ostomy Day’ The vote passed unanimously and Shockley was recognized from the Senate floor.
“That resolution is the first and only resolution of its type in the entire state,” Shockley said “I was just asking for a commemorative message.”
He says he’s grateful he got more than he asked for. Today, Shockley is healthy, he’s keeping up with his prevention and encourages others to do the same. He said he wants to be a source of inspiration and encouragement for those who might be in a situation similar to his.
Sacramento Bee: Reject ACA 1
Proponents argue that this will allow for more affordable housing, but that simply doesn’t add up. When you increase the cost of building supplies and the taxes on the end product, the word “affordable” seems a stretch.
More news articles are available at https://sr06.senate.ca.gov/news/icymi.