All News

Governor Signs SB 328 CALIFORNIA to Lead the Nation on School Start Time Policy Children Will Sleep More & Excel With Later Start Times

Monday, October 14 2019

Sacramento, California – Our Kids win today as State Senator Anthony J. Portantino’s (D – La Cañada Flintridge) school start time bill SB 328 has been signed by Governor Gavin Newsom. California will become the first state in the country to mandate that high schools and middle schools start later in the morning.  The bill is based on over three decades of research on teen health, sleep patterns and brain chemistry.  SB 328 seeks to align school start times with the biology of teens. Overwhelming research shows that when the school day starts later, our children are significantly healthier and perform better in school.  The California PTA sponsored and supported SB 328.  While pediatricians and researchers from across the country united behind the bill, it faced stiff opposition.  That opposition led to a veto from Gov. Brown last year.  This year, Gov. Newsom appropriately saw things differently and put our children’s health and welfare at the forefront of education policy.

Fox 40: Governor Newsom Signs Bill Evaluating School Lockdown Drills

Sunday, October 13 2019

SACRAMENTO — In the last round of legislative action in 2019, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a law that will evaluate school lockdown drills.

The bi-partisan bill, SB 541, by Senators Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) and Anthony Portantino (D-La Canada Flintridge)  will require the California Department of Education to report on the use of existing lockdown drills in K-12 public schools.

It’s a step in the right direction to ensure students, teachers and staff are prepared for other dangers besides fire, says Bates.

 

Pasadena Now: Portantino's Comprehensive 710 Freeway Bill Signed by Governor, Killing the Extension and Framing the Corridor's Future

Sunday, October 13 2019

Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D- La Canada Flintridge) announced early Sunday morning that SB 7, the “final nail in the coffin” for plans for a 710 freeway extension in Pasadena, has been signed by Governor Newsom.

The bill is the legislative outcome culminating of over 20 years of dedication the Senator brought to fighting the 710 Freeway extension and to helping stakeholders in the 710 corridor.

The Governor, appropriately, signed SB 7 after other bills dealing with the corridor.

Ed Source: California mandates later start times for middle and high school students

Sunday, October 13 2019

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation Sunday that will mandate a later morning start for most middle and high schools, choosing to side with pediatricians and the PTA rather than the state’s leading teachers union and groups representing school boards and superintendents.

The bill’s author said California will now become the first state to require later start times in response to medical research that shows most teens are sleep deprived as a result of changes to their biological clocks that prevent them from going to sleep early.

Portantino’s Comprehensive 710 Corridor Bill Signed by Governor Final End of Freeway Threat, Stub Development Help for Pasadena, Relief for Tenants, Non-Profits & Post Freeway Actions All Included

Sunday, October 13 2019

Sacramento, California – Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D- La Cañada Flintridge) has proudly announced that SB 7 has been signed by Governor Newsom.  This final legislative outcome is the culmination of over 20 years of dedication the Senator brought to fighting the 710 freeway and to helping stakeholders in the 710 corridor.  It follows through on a promise that Senator Portantino made to activists, non-profits, and tenants in the 710 region when he negotiated the end of the 710 tunnel threat in December of 201

Committees

2020-2021 Budget
Register to Vote
Know Your Rights
COVID-19
California DACA Guide