What happened on Thursday, 08 April 2021
San Francisco City, San Francisco County, California
Commissioners adopt new dental rates for two years and UHC rates for one year.
San Francisco County, California
Local officials explore strategies for addressing safety and support challenges in Tenderloin area.
STATE AGENCIES & GOVT'L AFFAIRS-SENATE, Senate, Committees, Legislative, Arkansas
HB1803 would require absentee ballots returned in person to be delivered to the county clerk's physical office by the Friday before election day (mail returns and certain agent exceptions preserved); county clerks asked for clarifying language to preserve drive-through or temporary sites used during emergencies.
CITY, COUNTY & LOCAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE - SENATE, Senate, Committees, Legislative, Arkansas
The committee voted to pass House Bill 17‑88, which expands municipal and property improvement district powers to build and finance broadband through public‑private partnerships and to form special broadband improvement districts; proponents stressed connectivity needs and access to grants.
San Francisco County, California
Deputy Chief addresses 7 charged hate crimes against Asian Americans in 2021
San Francisco City, San Francisco County, California
Kaiser Permanente announces funding to combat violence and support Asian and Pacific Islander communities.
San Francisco City, San Francisco County, California
San Francisco Health Service System directors presented financials and plan benchmarking; the board approved Hartford life/LTD renewals and VSP vision rates for 2022, heard a new proactive communications plan for members, and reviewed Kaiser and Aon benchmarking data.
STATE AGENCIES & GOVT'L AFFAIRS-SENATE, Senate, Committees, Legislative, Arkansas
The committee passed HB1715, a package of absentee-ballot and election-administration changes including tighter signature-comparison rules for applications, daily absentee counts, new conditional warnings and expanded State Board enforcement powers; county election officials warned of operational burdens if inner envelopes cannot be opened before election day.
San Francisco County, California
San Francisco Supervisor Ronan advocates for legislation addressing crime targeting Asian seniors.
San Francisco County, California
Citywide initiative aims to enhance support for victims and promote community engagement.
San Francisco City, San Francisco County, California
The San Francisco Health Service System board approved 2022 retiree dental premiums (Delta Dental two‑year quote; UnitedHealthcare one year) after detailed presentations and extended commissioner concerns about provider network participation, assignment‑of‑benefits policies and possible patient experience issues.
CITY, COUNTY & LOCAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE - SENATE, Senate, Committees, Legislative, Arkansas
Lawmakers and witnesses sparred over House Bill 12‑80, which would let cities and counties hold recorded executive sessions to discuss Jobs Act‑exempt economic development information. Supporters said it would improve competitiveness; opponents warned it would erode FOIA and hide deliberations. The bill died for lack of a motion.
San Francisco County, California
Coalition addresses violence, especially against women, amid rising anti-Asian incidents in San Francisco.
STATE AGENCIES & GOVT'L AFFAIRS-SENATE, Senate, Committees, Legislative, Arkansas
A bill to eliminate Arkansas�������������s six-person limit on how many voters one person may assist at the polls failed in committee for lack of a second after supporters said the cap likely conflicts with the Federal Voting Rights Act and witnesses described language- and disability-related access problems.
San Francisco County, California
DPH improves access to mental health services for Asian crime victims facing language barriers
INSURANCE & COMMERCE - SENATE, Senate, Committees, Legislative, Arkansas
The committee unanimously or broadly approved several largely technical or targeted bills: HB1834 (timeshare secondary‑market anti‑scam measures) and SB489 (public service commission filing cleanup) passed; the panel also approved SB602 and HB1569 and adjourned after approving additional items.
San Francisco County, California
Ronan's legislation aims to ease graffiti citation stress on small businesses during COVID-19.
AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - SENATE, Senate, Committees, Legislative, Arkansas
The Senate Agriculture, Forestry & Economic Development committee recommended 'do pass' on multiple short bills: authorizing ambulance transport and first aid for injured police dogs, running Senate Bill 637 for consideration, renaming the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission into the Department of Agriculture as an agency-cleanup, and removing a drafting word in House Bill 1575 tied to swine-feed rules. All moved by voice vote.
CITY, COUNTY & LOCAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE - SENATE, Senate, Committees, Legislative, Arkansas
The committee approved a set of bills by voice votes: a police‑service mandate for first‑class cities (HB16‑33), a newspaper public‑notice formatting requirement (SB6‑10), and others discussed earlier in the session; one prominent measure on executive sessions for economic development (HB12‑80) died for lack of a motion.
San Francisco County, California
Department focuses on communication prevention and education to address violence in AAPI community
INSURANCE & COMMERCE - SENATE, Senate, Committees, Legislative, Arkansas
Senate Bill 602 was amended and passed to broaden craniofacial coverage: it renames the chapter, excludes dental/vision only policies, requires expedited approval timeframes for accredited craniofacial teams and permits covered patients to receive out‑of‑state care without out‑of‑network charges when services are unavailable in Arkansas.
CITY, COUNTY & LOCAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE - SENATE, Senate, Committees, Legislative, Arkansas
The committee passed House Bill 17‑63 to raise production ceilings for microdistillers and allow them to sell directly to licensed retailers before distributors must be used; sponsors said the change aids small businesses that produced sanitizer during the pandemic and need parity with microbrewers.
San Francisco County, California
Investigators find a 40% rise in reported hate crimes against Asian Americans from 2020.
San Francisco County, California
Nadia Ocano shares insights as a founder of the Latino Cultural District agency.
STATE AGENCIES & GOVT'L AFFAIRS-SENATE, Senate, Committees, Legislative, Arkansas
HB1675 would eliminate the separate carryover account and remove a cap on how much an officeholder may retain in campaign funds; the Ethics Commission������������� director reviewed the bill and cautioned the removal of the cap is a significant change, but sponsor said edits addressed conflicts and the committee passed the measure.
San Francisco County, California
Carrillo outlines SVIP's strategies to address youth violence and community safety.
INSURANCE & COMMERCE - SENATE, Senate, Committees, Legislative, Arkansas
Senate Bill 594, which sets minimum residential habitability standards and a tenant notification/repair process, passed the committee 5–4. Supporters call it a first step; tenant advocates and some senators said it lacks anti‑retaliation protections, remedies other than moving out, and guaranteed smoke/CO detector requirements.
San Francisco County, California
City establishes Cantonese beat officers and substation to enhance safety for residents
CITY, COUNTY & LOCAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE - SENATE, Senate, Committees, Legislative, Arkansas
The committee passed a bill that increases state matching support and establishes incentives (including $500 quarterly payments) for county veteran service officers to become accredited by the federal VA and maintain access to its web‑based claims system; sponsors said it will help veterans navigate federal benefits.
STATE AGENCIES & GOVT'L AFFAIRS-SENATE, Senate, Committees, Legislative, Arkansas
HB1595 prohibits voting machines from being connected to the Internet; county election officials supported the goal but sought clarifying language to ensure standard thumb-drive election workflow (loading ballots and collecting results) is not unintentionally restricted.
INSURANCE & COMMERCE - SENATE, Senate, Committees, Legislative, Arkansas
Senate Bill 2003, which would create a court‑and‑insurance‑commissioner‑reviewed process to transfer books of legacy insurance business to assuming insurers, did not advance after the committee heard warranty‑fund and insolvency risk concerns from guarantee associations and life insurer groups.
San Francisco County, California
Public commenters advocate for waiving graffiti removal fees to support struggling businesses.
San Francisco County, California
Coalition aims to address violence and promote understanding between Chinese and Black communities.
San Francisco County, California
The police department implements new strategies and units to improve safety for the AAPI community.
CITY, COUNTY & LOCAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE - SENATE, Senate, Committees, Legislative, Arkansas
Lawmakers advanced House Bill 16‑90, which requires cities found in audit to have diverted dedicated street funds to repay those amounts by fiscal year end or set up a repayment plan (10% of general revenue) or risk loss of turnback funds. Auditors told the committee 39 municipalities have similar issues dating back to 2003.
INSURANCE & COMMERCE - SENATE, Senate, Committees, Legislative, Arkansas
The Senate Insurance & Commerce Committee voted to pass House Bill 1569, which would require insurers and PBMs to apply the value of manufacturer patient assistance coupons to enrollees’ copayments, coinsurance and deductibles, with carve‑outs for Medicaid, Medicare and self‑insured plans.
San Francisco County, California
A multi‑agency hearing on April 8 brought community groups and city departments together to catalogue rising anti‑Asian incidents and gaps in services. Community coalitions urged a rapid‑response victims network and funding; the DA requested dedicated city funding for a 24/7 victim hotline, more bilingual advocates and an emergency victim fund.
San Francisco County, California
The Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee voted 3–0 to send an ordinance to the full Board recommending suspension of portions of the graffiti abatement code that allow citations to private owners and waiving unpaid fees back to Jan. 1, 2021, with proponents saying it will shield small businesses struggling during COVID-19.