Atkins introduces bill to ease name- and gender-change process for transgender prisoners

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —Sen. Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) announced today that she has introduced SB 310, legislation that establishes the right of people incarcerated in state prisons and county jails to access the court to obtain a name or gender change. Currently, people incarcerated in state prisons seeking a court order for a name change…

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Atkins introduces legislation to protect the environment, improve health care, and help prosecute human traffickers

SACRAMENTO—Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) this week introduced new bills that will strengthen the San Diego River Conservancy (SB 214), bolster language-assistance services in medical care (SB 223), and help prosecute human traffickers (SB 230). SB 214 builds the capacity of the San Diego River Conservancy to  protect and enhance historic, cultural, and natural resources…

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Sen. Atkins introduces legislation to create new housing for lower-income Californians

SACRAMENTO—Shortly after being sworn in as the senator representing California’s 39th District Monday, Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) introduced legislation, SB 2, to create a permanent source of funding for affordable housing. “The Legislature must address California’s severe housing crisis,” Atkins said. “While local communities largely control housing development, there are ways the state can…

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Governor signs bill giving San Diego County more flexibility in Health and Human Services

SACRAMENTO—Gov. Jerry Brown Thursday signed AB 2568, a bill authored by Assembly Speaker Emeritus Toni G. Atkins that authorizes the County of San Diego to be designated as an integrated Health and Human Services Agency. San Diego County has been running an integrated agency overseeing all health and human-services departments since 1998. It has worked…

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Speaker Atkins credits Assembly members, governor, with compromise to create historic medical marijuana legislation

SAN DIEGO – Today, Assembly Speaker Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) credited Assemblymembers Rob Bonta (D-Oakland) and Jim Wood (D-Healdsburg) for negotiating legislation with Gov. Brown and bringing the state to the verge of finally having medical marijuana regulations in place. Bonta and Wood, two of the lead authors of the legislation, joined Atkins, along…

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