Senator Roth Closes Out Another Successful Legislative Session

(SACRAMENTO) – On Friday, Senator Richard D. Roth’s (D-Riverside) Senate Bills 554 and 586 were signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom as a part of a higher education package of bills. Both bills expanded college and career technical educational opportunities in higher education.

SB 554 allows adult high school equivalency students to dual enroll in local community college courses as special part-time students, for whom tuition and fees may be waived, and receive credit in one or more community college courses (up to 11 credits) during any session or term.

SB 586 establishes opportunities for community colleges and school districts to work closely with Local Workforce Development Boards when developing College and Career Access Pathways (CCAP).

With the signing of these two bills, Senator Roth closes out a successful legislative and budgetary session with numerous victories that included protecting the California Mojave National Preserve by hitting the pause button on a controversial pumping project (SB 307), securing resources for the UCR School of Medicine to build a new facility, allocating funding for critically needed judgeships in Riverside and San Bernardino County, and expanding financial aid packages for summer term UC and CSU students.

Additionally, as Chair of Budget Subcommittee No. 1 on Education and a member of the Budget Conference Committee, Senator Roth was instrumental in directing resources to some of California’s most vulnerable populations, including funding for mental health resources in schools, dramatically increasing funding for special education, and securing specific funding for pediatric hospital-based residencies, thereby developing our healthcare workforce.

“We are so proud of all that we have been able to accomplish this year. From protecting the Mojave Desert to securing vital funding for education and health services, Team Roth has continued to be a vocal advocate on the behalf of 31st Senate District and all Californians,” said Senator Roth. “I greatly look forward to continuing our work in the future. Stay tuned!”

# # #
The 31st State Senate District includes portions of Riverside County including the communities of Riverside, Moreno Valley, March Air Reserve Base, Perris, Corona, Norco, Eastvale, and Jurupa Valley.