Glendale commission backs several California bills, will forward recommendations to city council

The Glendale Commission on the Status of Women agreed May 11 to forward a package of recommendations on state legislation to the City Council, including reaffirming prior support for AB 65 and recommending support for AB 2134 (parental leave for local elected officials), SB 1192 (domestic‑violence Reclaim Act), AB 1570/AB 1560 (breast imaging coverage and related health bills), AB 2066 (pregnancy as a qualifying life event), AB 1628 (Safe Surrender Kid Act) and several other measures on child care and foster‑youth disaster aid.

Kira Ross, the commission’s Sacramento lobbyist, briefed commissioners on the bills’ purposes and where they stood in the legislative process. Ross said some bills were on appropriations suspense files and that the state appropriations committees would address cost impacts this month. "If we're going to interact, we'll have maybe an opportunity on the floor, but most likely we'll have an opportunity in early June," she said, outlining the timeline for amendments or additional input.

Commissioners asked staff to consider impacts on local institutions — for example, whether Glendale Unified School District or Glendale Community College would be affected by changes in career‑technical education funding — and to reach out to affected community organizations before council consideration. Staff said the commission could send letters of support or opposition independently and that staff would forward the commission’s recommendations to the City Council for its determination.

After discussion the commission moved to carry forward the list of bills that had majority support. The motion passed on a roll call in favor of the items the commission identified for forwarding.

Votes at a glance (commission positions forwarded to City Council):
- AB 65 — reaffirm support (carry forward)
- AB 2134 — parental leave for local elected officials — support (4 yes)
- SB 1237 / SB 1237? (Pay equity enforcement was discussed as SB 1237 but did not have unanimous support) — no position recorded for the commission at large (quorum/positions varied)
- AB 2434 — inmate visitation/visitor protections — support recorded by some commissioners; not unanimous
- SB 1192 — Reclaim Act (domestic violence legal tool) — support (4 yes)
- AB 1570 — breast imaging coverage — support (4 yes)
- AB 2066 — pregnancy qualifying life event — support (4 yes)
- AB 1628 — Safe Surrender Kid Act (extend surrender window) — support (4 yes)
- AB 1602 — foster youth disaster aid assistance — support (4 yes)
- AB 1590 — career technical education allocation — no position by some commissioners
- AB 1981 — true cost of childcare act — support (4 yes)
- AB 1755 / SB 1030 — CalWORKs reforms (100‑hour rule repeal and man‑in‑the‑house repeal) — some measures forwarded with recorded support

Action: The commission made a motion to carry forward the set of bills that had majority support; staff will forward those recommendations and prepare letters per City Council direction. Tally recorded for the commission motion: yes 4, no 0, abstain 0.

Provenance: staff presentation and bill walkthrough began at SEG 951; per‑bill roll calls and motion recorded between SEG 1239 and SEG 1650.

Proposed next steps: staff to reach out to local education and community partners for potential impacts where relevant, and to coordinate letter language to the City Council.