JCRC’s top legislative priority for 2023 is AB 1185, which expands the California State Nonprofit Security Grant Program (CSNSGP) to include “community connectors,” nonprofits and government agencies who provide security services like vulnerability assessments and trainings for a network of at-risk nonprofits. We will also be calling on the legislature to approve $80 million in the annual budget specifically for the implementation of the CSNPSG.

“Amid California budget deficit, nonprofit security funding on the line,” Jewish Insider, May 4, 2023

JCRC’s other legislative priorities include:

COMMUNITY SECURITY

AB 449 – Requires every state and local law enforcement agency to adopt a hate crimes policy guiding officers to prevent, report, and respond to hate crimes. Requires pamphlets to be sent to the AG’s office on what’s available locally.

AB 1079 – Establishes a Hate Crimes Intervention Unit to implement research-based community interventions in conjunction with community leaders and organizations in communities where a hate crime has been confirmed by the Department of Justice.

CIVIL RIGHTS

ACA 4 – Amends the California Constitution to restore the voting rights of people currently incarcerated in prison.

AB 544 – Requires a county jail facility to establish an in-person polling location that allows eligible incarcerated individuals to register to vote and vote, as specified.

GUN VIOLENCE

SB 2 – Restructures several provisions of law related to carrying concealed firearms in response to the 2022 United States Supreme Court decision New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen. The bill also corrects a cross reference in the statute establishing the basic ammunition eligibility check fee.

AB 28: The Gun Violence Prevention, Healing, and Recovery Act – Would, commencing July 1, 2024, impose an excise tax in the amount of 11 percent of the gross receipts from the retail sale in this state of a firearm, firearm precursor part, and ammunition, as specified. The bill would require the moneys received in the fund to, upon appropriation, be used to fund various gun violence prevention, education, research, response, and investigation programs, as specified.

ANTI-DISCRIMINATION

SB 399 – Except as specified, would prohibit an employer from requiring its employees to attend an employer-sponsored meeting or participate in any communications with the employer or its agents or representatives, the purpose of which is to communicate the employer’s opinion about religious matters, political matters, or certain rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution and California Constitution, as defined.

ACA 5 – Brings a 2024 ballot initiative to voters to remove anti-same sex marriage language (from Prop 8) from the California constitution.

HUNGER

AB 311 / SB 245: Food4All – Provides state-funded nutrition benefits to all Californians who are income-eligible for CalFresh but cannot access the benefit due to their immigration status.

SB 348: Healthy Meals for Children – Ensures every school-aged child has access to two healthy meals every day, regardless of where they live or their family’s income; increases student access to lower-added sugar and sodium meal options; and provides students with adequate time to eat at school.

SB 600 – Increases benefit adequacy by raising the CalFresh minimum allotment from $23 a month to $50 a month.

AB 325 – Human services benefits for non-citizen human trafficking victim.

POVERTY

AB 1128: Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC) Expansion – Expands the YCTC to all CalEITC-eligible families, providing $1,000 to low-income families with children ages 6+. 62 percent of CalEITC-eligible families are excluded from the YCTC, causing families to lose access to this critical source of income when their children turn 6, despite continuing to incur child-related expenses. Also benefits families who are excluded from the full federal Child Tax Credit. Most families with incomes under $30,000 are excluded from the full $2,000-per-child federal CTC, making access to California’s YCTC even more critical. This would benefit 700,000 families, including 1 million children.

AB 1498 – Raises the minimum CalEITC credit from $1 to $300. 88 percent of CalEITC recipients get less than $300, and 43 percent get less than $100. The majority are ineligible for the federal EITC, making a larger state credit even more critical. Most Californians who miss out on the CalEITC are eligible for tiny credits, suggesting that a larger credit would help justify the significant time and effort it takes to navigate barriers to filing, encouraging greater participation. This would benefit 500,000 workers supporting children and 2.5 million workers who are not supporting children.

AB 617: Representation, Equity, and Protections (REP) for All Immigrants Act – Ensures all immigrant Californians can access high-quality, holistic immigration legal services.

SB 4: Affordable Housing on Faith Lands Act – Provides a streamlined process for religious organizations and nonprofit colleges to develop affordable housing on their property, making it easier for these institutions to build stable, affordable homes for their communities.

SB 37 – Creates a Rent Subsidy Program for Older Adults and People with Disabilities to end and prevent homelessness.

SB 85: California Extended Case Management Act – Extends critical case management services for new refugees beyond the federal government’s 90 days. Offers an additional 90-270 days, depending on need.

SB 227: SafetyNet4All – Creates an Excluded Workers Program for workers excluded from unemployment insurance due to their immigration status. Eligible workers would receive $300 each week for up to 20 weeks.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE

SB 94 – Authorizes an individual sentenced to death or life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for a conviction in which one or more special circumstances were found to be true to petition for recall and resentencing if the offense occurred before June 5, 1990, and the individual has served at least 20 years in custody. The bill would authorize the court to modify the petitioner’s sentence to impose a lesser sentence and apply any changes in law that reduce sentences or provide for judicial discretion, or to vacate the petitioner’s conviction and impose judgment on a lesser included offense, as specified.

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

SB 461 – Allows state employees to utilize their allocated 8 hours of holiday credit towards time off for religious or cultural observance. Currently, the time may only be used for predetermined holidays.

SB 309: Inmate Religious Practices – Creates a statewide policy on religious clothing, grooming, and headwear in state and local correctional and detention facilities.

AB 1503 – Extends the acceptable amount of time off of school for religious holidays and gatherings from four hours to one full school day per semester.