Gov. Brown Signs Bills On Immigration, Family Leave, Marijuana Use

California Gov. Jerry Brown has vetoed a bill that would have allowed non-citizens to serve on state and local boards and commissions.

In his veto message of SB 174 by Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens), Brown wrote that he believes existing state law, which only allows citizens to serve on boards and commissions, is “the better path.”

The governor also rejected another Lara bill, SB 349, that would prohibit any civil arrest of someone attending a judicial proceeding in a courthouse.

He wrote in his veto message that he supports the measure’s intent but fears its unintended consequences. Instead, he wants to wait for the release of new guidelines under the “sanctuary state” law he approved last year.

But Brown signed Lara’s SB 1194, which bars hotels and bus companies from turning over guest and passenger records without a court-issued subpoena, except to California peace officers.

He also approved AB 2185 by Asm. David Chiu (D-San Francisco), a bill intended to protect the identities of immigrant parents in court. They’ll be able to ask a judge to let them appear under a pseudonym and have legal documents be written so as to protect their personal information.

Family Leave Benefits Extended To Military Families

In other legislative actions Thursday, Brown signed a bill that expands California’s paid family leave program to cover military families.

The new law, SB 1123 by Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara), will allow family members to help care for a spouse, parent, son or daughter who is about to deploy abroad.

Federal law already allows up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave in that situation for eligible employees of private companies with 50 or more workers. That means they can take time off work, but they don’t get paid unless they use vacation time.

Now they’ll be able to participate in California’s paid family leave program, which means they’ll receive between 60 and 70 percent of their wages, based on their income.

The program is funded by employee contributions deducted from paychecks, so there is no cost to the state or to employers. The law takes effect in January of 2021.

Restrictions On Marijuana Use

Brown also signed two marijuana related bills Thursday.

One measure, AB 2914 by Asm. Ken Cooley (D-Rancho Cordova), prohibits the combination of cannabis and alcohol in food products and beverages.

The other addresses the medicinal use of marijuana on pets. AB 2215 by Asm. Ash Kalra (D-San Jose) prohibits veterinarians from giving medical cannabis products to pets. But it allows them to discuss it with the pets’ owners, and requires the state to issue guidelines on how to do so by January 2020.