Alex Padilla in CA legislative records


On Abortion: Allow nurses to perform non-surgical abortions

Excerpts from Legislative Counsel's Digest:

Status: Passed House, 54-20-4; passed Senate 29-8-2; signed by Governor, 10/9/2013. (State Sen. Alex Padilla voted YES).

Source: California legislative voting record for AB 154 Aug 30, 2013

On Civil Rights: Eliminate "gay panic" tactic for criminal defendants

Legislative Counsel's Digest: A "gay panic" or "trans panic" defense allows a criminal defendant to claim that the victim's sexual orientation or gender identity provoked them to violence. This outrageous tactic sends the message that violence against members of the LGBT community is understandable or acceptable. These defense tactics also hurt survivors and loved ones of victims by asking the jury to find that the victim's sexual orientation or gender identity excuses the defendant's actions. AB 2501, the first bill of its kind in the nation, eliminates "gay panic" and "trans panic" as a tactic for criminal defendants, ensuring that attacks on members of the LGBT community can be seen for what they are.

Legislative Outcome: 8/26/14: Passed Senate 25-9-6 on 8/27/14; State Sen. Alex Padilla voted YES.; Passed Assembly 58-15-6; signed by Gov. Brown

Source: California legislative voting record for AB2501 Aug 27, 2014

On Drugs: Reduce drug possession from felony to misdemeanor

Excerpts from Legislative Counsel's Digest:

Status: Passed House, 41-31-6; passed Senate 24-14-1; State Sen. Alex Padilla voted YES;.vetoed by Governor, Oct. 12, 2013; no override vote.

OnTheIssues Explanation: "Tetrahydrocannabinols" means marijuana and its derivatives. The failure of this bill joined a series of similar bills to reduce penalties for marijuana usage. Only medical marijuana usage is currently legal in California.

Source: California legislative voting record for SB649 Sep 10, 2013

On Education: End suspension of students for willful defiance of authority

Legislative Summary: AB420: This bill would eliminate the authority to suspend a pupil in kindergarten or grades 1 to 3, and the authority to recommend for expulsion a pupil in kindergarten or grades 1 to 12, for disrupting school activities or otherwise willfully defying the valid authority of those school personnel engaged in the performance of their duties.

Analysis by ACLU of Northern California, Oct 20, 2014: Gov. Brown signed AB 420 which will eliminate the most extreme uses of harsh discipline under the category of "willful defiance." Gov. Brown's signature on AB420 represents a huge step forward for students in California. The enactment of AB 420 places our state at the front of the pack: we are leading in making meaningful advancements in civil liberties as other states turn in the opposition direction.

Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 24-8-8 on 8/19/14; State Sen. Padilla voted YES; Passed Assembly 62-16-1 on 8/21; Signed on Sep/27

Source: ACLU of Northern California: analysis of voting record AB420 Aug 19, 2014

On Education: Allow student sports choice based on gender identity

Excerpts from Legislative Counsel's Digest: Existing law prohibits public schools from discriminating on the basis of specified characteristics, including gender, gender identity, and gender expression, and specifies various statements of legislative intent and the policies of the state in that regard. Existing law requires that participation in a particular physical education activity or sport, if required of pupils of one sex, be available to pupils of each sex.

This bill would require that a pupil be permitted to participate in sex-segregated school programs and activities, including athletic teams and competitions, and use facilities consistent with his or her gender identity, irrespective of the gender listed on the pupil's records.

Status: Bill passed House, 46-25-8; passed Senate, 21-9-8; State Sen. Alex Padilla voted YES; approved by Governor, August 12, 2013.

Source: California legislative voting record for AB1266 Jul 3, 2013

On Energy & Oil: Slow down fracking until scientific study is completed

Excerpts from Legislative Counsel's Digest:

Status: Passed House, 54-20-4; passed Senate 29-8-2; State Sen. Padilla voted YES;.signed by Gov.Brown, 9/20/2013

OnTheIssues Explanation: "Fracking" extracts more oil and gas from otherwise non-productive wells. Controversies includes that fracking causes earthquakes (hence the "scientific study"), and issues about disposal of the large volumes of potentially toxic liquids used. This bill slows the implementation of fracking.

Source: California legislative voting record for SB4 Sep 11, 2013

On Environment: Ban single-use plastic bags

The California Plastic Bag Ban Veto Referendum, also known as Proposition 67, was on the November 8, 2016, ballot in California as a veto referendum. It was approved.
Source: Ballotpedia.org:California ballot measure voting record AB32 Sep 30, 2014

On Gun Control: Voted YES on wider definition of assault rifles

Excerpts from Legislative Counsel's Digest:
  • Existing law defines as assault weapon as a semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has the capacity to accept a detachable magazine, or a semiautomatic weapon that has a fixed magazine with a capacity to accept 10 or more rounds.
  • This bill would add to that definition a semiautomatic centerfire rifle without a fixed magazine even if it accepts fewer than 10 rounds.
Status: (with 2 additional bills voted & vetoed in same week)
  • 9/10/13: SB-374: wider definition of assault weapons: Passed House 44-31-3, passed Senate 21-15-3, State Sen. Alex Padilla voted YES; Vetoed by governor
  • 9/11/13: AB 48: Banning large capacity magazine conversion kits; Passed House 46-30-2, passed Senate 22-14-3, Approved by Governor.
  • 9/12/13: SB 755: 10-year prohibition on firearm purchases by people convicted of crimes (expanding to more misdemeanors); Passed House 45-28-5, passed Senate 25-12-2, Vetoed by governor
Source: California legislative voting record for SB374 Sep 12, 2013

On Immigration: Voted YES on driver's license for undocumented immigrants

Excerpts from Legislative Counsel's Digest:
  • Existing law requires the DMV to require an applicant for an original driver's license or ID card to submit satisfactory proof that the applicant's presence in the US is authorized under federal law.
  • This bill would require the department to issue an original driver's license to a person who is unable to submit satisfactory proof that the applicant's presence in the US is authorized under federal law if he or she meets all other qualifications for licensure and provides satisfactory proof to the department of his or her identity and California residency.

Status: Concurrence vote passed House, 55-21-2; passed Senate 28-8-3; State Sen. Alex Padilla voted YES; approved by Gov.Brown 10/3/2013

OnTheIssues Explanation:Undocumented immigrants have no federal authorization; this bill allows them to get a state driver's license regardless of their lack of federal authorization.

Source: California legislative voting record for AB60 Sep 12, 2013

The above quotations are from Legislative voting records for California House and Senate.
Click here for other excerpts from Legislative voting records for California House and Senate.
Click here for other excerpts by Alex Padilla.
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Page last updated: Mar 09, 2024