SACRAMENTO, Calif., – Governor Jerry Brown recently signed Assembly Bill 2492 authored by Assembly member Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer Sr. This measure deletes the requirement that a person convicted of using or being under the influence of specified controlled substances serve at least 90 days in a county jail.

In the 1980s, Congress and state legislatures around the country imposed mandatory minimum sentences for certain criminal offenses, including but not limited to being under the influence of illegal drugs. As a result of these laws, prison and county jail populations across the nation skyrocketed, causing overcrowding in federal, state and local facilities, and shifting valuable resources from important government priorities to correctional institutions.

SACRAMENTO, Calif., – Governor Jerry Brown recently signed Assembly Bill 1650, the Fair Chance Employment Act, authored by Assembly member Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer Sr.

AB 1650 will decrease the impediments for ex-offenders to obtain employment by requiring private contractors who have state contracts to remove the conviction history box from job applications. This policy only applies to on-site constructed related jobs that fall under the State Contract Act which includes the erection, construction, alteration, repair, or improvement of any state structure, building, road, or improvement project.

SACRAMENTO, Calif., – Governor Jerry Brown recently signed Assembly Bill 1765 authored by Assembly member Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer Sr. which seeks to increase the availability of affordable housing for low income individuals across California.

AB 1765 allows an individual to designate on his or her tax return a specified amount to be donated to the Habitat for Humanity Fund. The revenue raised through this tax check off can only be used for the sole purpose of building affordable housing throughout California.

(SACRAMENTO, CA)   – Today, as part of California Small Business Day, Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer recognizes Stephen Randolph as the Small Business Owner of the Year for the 59th Assembly District.  Mr. Randolph owns Chambers, a shoe repair business located in South Los Angeles.

California Small Business Day is a valuable day for small business owners to connect with government agencies, elected officials and businesses that can help them succeed and grow. The annual event honors a few of the millions of small businesses that serve as the economic engine of California. With small businesses contributing to 75% of California’s Gross State Product and over half of the state’s private sector jobs, small businesses are engrained in California’s communities and economy.

(SACRAMENTO, CA)   – On Sunday June 15th, the California State Assembly passed a $108 billion dollar general fund state budget.  Included in the budget was funding in the amount of $223 million for California’s judicial system and $106 million for rehabilitation programming.

Assembly Member Reggie Jones-Sawyer played a key role in the increased judicial system funding.  “Courts play a vital role in our criminal justice system, but unfortunately, they have been cut by almost a billion dollars over the past few.  This funding was needed to increase access to justice and reopen courthouses that were closed down during the recession,” said Assembly Member Jones-Sawyer.

(SACRAMENTO, CA)   – On January 9, 2014 Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer introduced AB 1456, a measure to study the popular higher education funding plan “Pay it Forward Pay it Back.”  This measure is a financial aid system where a student’s pays no upfront costs for their college education. Upon graduating they pay 2%-4% of their gross income to a state or college trust fund for a specified number of years.  

AB 1456 will require the California Student Aid Commission, the Community College Board of Governors, the California State University Board of Trustees, and would encourage the University Of California Board of Regents, to commission a study to review and make recommendations on Pay it Forward Pay it Back.