News Room: There Oughta Be A Law Press Releases
July 2010
Friday, July 16, 2010
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Legislation to improve the Election Day experience at polling places, which began as an idea presented to State Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) by two of his constituents, has been signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The bill, Senate Bill 1342, provides more flexibility in designating precincts and polling places.
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June 2010
Tuesday, June 01, 2010
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Today the State Senate passed Senate Bill 1362, by State Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto), to protect drivers by regulating the use of “red light” cameras.
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March 2010
Monday, March 29, 2010
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State Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) has announced three winners of this year’s “There Oughta Be A Law” contest. Since 2001, Simitian has invited Californians to submit suggestions for new legislation. To date, fifteen winning ideas have been signed into law. This year, his office received 426 proposals from residents throughout his district and across the state.
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Tuesday, March 09, 2010
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Wednesday State Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) will join representatives of the National MS Society, the Diabetes Coalition of California, the California Conference of Environmental Health Directors and other consumer health organizations to present criteria that will be used to evaluate safe needle disposal plans prepared by drug manufacturers. The criteria come on the heels of Simitian’s Senate Bill 486, which was signed into law by Governor Schwarzenegger last fall.
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October 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
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State Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) announced today that he will extend the deadline for his ninth annual "There Oughta Be A Law" contest, which invites Californians to submit ideas for new state legislation. The new deadline is Sunday, November 15, 2009.
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Monday, October 12, 2009
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Sacramento – Governor Schwarzenegger signed Senate Bill 486, authored by State Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto). The new law – suggested by a constituent in Simitian’s annual “There Oughta Be A Law” contest – will help an estimated one million Californians safely dispose of their “sharps” (a type of medical waste that includes syringes and needles).
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September 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
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State Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) kicked off his ninth annual “There Oughta Be A Law” contest today. The contest invites Californians to submit ideas for state legislation.
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Thursday, September 10, 2009
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State Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) announced today that his bill, SB 486, to facilitate the safe disposal of “sharps” (a type of medical waste that includes syringes and needles) passed its final hurdle in the Legislature.
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April 2009
Thursday, April 30, 2009
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Sacramento – Winners in State Senator Simitian’s 2009 “There Oughta Be A Law” contest traveled to Sacramento this week to testify in the State Senate – with good results. Advocates for all three bills persuaded Senate Committee members that each of their bills should become state law. Each of the bills now moves onto the next steps of the legislative process.
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March 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
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Sacramento -- After reviewing 331 proposals from residents around the state, State Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) announced today the three winners of this year’s “There Oughta Be A Law” contest. Simitian’s annual contest invites Californians to submit suggestions for new legislation.
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October 2008
Monday, October 06, 2008
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Palo Alto – State Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) kicked off his eighth annual “There Oughta Be A Law” contest today. The contest invites Californians to submit ideas for state legislation.
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Wednesday, October 01, 2008
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Palo Alto – State Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) announced today that Governor Schwarzenegger has signed his Senate Bill 1400, which provides greater protection for the elderly and vulnerable against deceptive sweepstakes solicitations. Simitian’s measure is the first such effort in the past 10 years.
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September 2008
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
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Sacramento – Governor Schwarzenegger today signed legislation creating outreach programs for veterans to learn about and seek treatment for traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Senate Bill 1401, authored by State Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto), ensures that service men and women returning from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars are aware of the causes, symptoms, impacts and treatment options for these injuries.
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July 2008
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
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Sacramento – The contentious issue of “trees versus solar power” –– that produced a criminal conviction and drew international attention –– has been put to rest. State Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) announced today that Governor Schwarzenegger has signed his Senate Bill 1399.
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March 2008
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
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Sacramento – After reviewing 429 bill ideas from within and outside of his district, State Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) today announced three winners in this year’s “There Oughta Be A Law” contest.
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October 2007
Friday, October 12, 2007
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Sacramento – Governor Schwarzenegger announced today that he has signed Senate Bill 966, a bill by State Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) to put in place a drug “take-back” program to help ensure proper disposal of over the counter drugs and prescription pharmaceuticals.
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September 2007
Monday, September 24, 2007
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Palo Alto – State Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) kicked off his seventh annual “There Oughta Be A Law” contest today. The contest invites Californians to submit ideas for new state legislation.
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Tuesday, September 11, 2007
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Sacramento – State Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) announced today that his Senate Bill (SB) 966, which puts in place a drug “take-back” program, passed the California State Senate by a 28-11 vote on Monday. The bill now goes to the Governor, who has 30 days to sign or veto it.
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May 2007
Thursday, May 31, 2007
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Sacramento – State Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) announced today that his SB 966, which puts in place a prescription drug disposal plan, passed the California State Senate on a 21-13 vote, with no margin to spare. The bill now moves to the State Assembly for a hearing in June or July.
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April 2007
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
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Sacramento - After reviewing more than 250 bill ideas from within and outside of his district, State Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) today announced this year's winners in his "There Oughta Be A Law" contest. read more ...
December 2006
Friday, December 29, 2006
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Sacramento – Effective January 1, 2007, a new state law will require drivers approaching a roadside emergency scene to move over one lane to create a safety buffer for emergency crews, or to slow down if they can’t move over safely. Drivers who disobey the law risk receiving a $50 ticket. The law, introduced as SB 1610 by State Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto), was signed by the Governor in September.
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September 2006
Thursday, September 21, 2006
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Sacramento – Governor Schwarzenegger announced today that he has signed Senate Bill 1610, by State Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto), a bill to require motorists to move over or slow down when approaching roadside emergency scenes along the highway. The new “Move Over, Slow Down” law takes effect January 1, 2007.
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Wednesday, September 20, 2006
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Palo Alto – State Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) kicked off his sixth annual “There Oughta Be a Law” contest today. The contest invites Californians to submit ideas for new state legislation.
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Tuesday, September 05, 2006
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Governor Schwarzenegger announced today that he will hold a bill signing ceremony in Palo Alto to sign into law State Senator Joe Simitian’s (D-Palo Alto) SB 1609.
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August 2006
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
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Sacramento – Senior groups are urging Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to sign State Senator Joe Simitian’s (D-Palo Alto) Senate Bill 1609, a bill to protect seniors from predatory lending practices and abuse in connection with reverse mortgages, a popular type of loan that allows seniors age 62 or older to receive cash by borrowing against the equity of their homes.
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February 2006
Monday, February 27, 2006
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Sacramento – After reviewing more than 260 bill ideas from within and outside of his district, State Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) today announced this year’s winners in his “There Oughta Be A Law” contest.
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October 2005
Tuesday, October 11, 2005
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Sacramento – Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed SB 798 and SB 802, by State Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto), which will help people of modest means gain access to unused prescription drugs, and protect consumers against identity theft, respectively.
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September 2005
Friday, September 23, 2005
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Palo Alto – State Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) kicked off his fifth annual “There Oughta Be a Law” contest today. The contest invites Californians to submit ideas for new state legislation.
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May 2005
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
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Sacramento - State Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) today announced that his bill to require motorists to move over or slow down when approaching tow trucks or other emergency crews along the highway has been approved by the State Senate. It will be heard next in the Assembly.
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March 2005
Thursday, March 31, 2005
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Sacramento – After reviewing 129 bill ideas from within and outside of his district, State Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) today announced this year’s winners in his “There Oughta Be A Law” contest. The annual competition invites Californians to submit ideas for new state legislation. Three of the five winning entries will first be heard in the Senate April 5, and local contest winners will be traveling to Sacramento to testify on behalf of their proposals.
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September 2004
Tuesday, September 21, 2004
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Palo Alto– Assemblyman Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) kicked off his fourth annual “There Oughta Be A Law” contest today, following the news that Governor Schwarzenegger signed one of this year’s “There Oughta Be A Law” bills.
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March 2004
Friday, March 19, 2004
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Palo Alto – A frightening and dangerous way for teens to get high has caught the attention of State Assemblyman Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto). Known by names such as ‘robotripping’ or ‘tussing,’ this growing trend for kids is gaining popularity for those looking for an inexpensive and easy method to abuse drugs.
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February 2004
Sunday, February 01, 2004
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Sacramento – After reviewing 231 individual ideas from around the State, Assemblyman Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) today announced this year’s winners in his “There Oughta Be A Law” contest. The third annual competition, which gives Californians a chance turn their ideas into State law, saw a record number of entries this year.
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January 2004
Friday, January 30, 2004
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Palo Alto – Once again, California leads the nation on child safety and environmental policy. Legislation authored by Assemblyman Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) and passed in 2002 has been introduced at the federal level by Congressman Gary Ackerman (D-New York).
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December 2003
Monday, December 29, 2003
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Palo Alto – As New Year’s Eve approaches, law enforcement has a new tool to combat teenage drinking and driving.
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Tuesday, December 23, 2003
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Palo Alto – A new law takes effect January 1 to prevent accidental poisonings of children, pets and wildlife in California.
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October 2003
Friday, October 10, 2003
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Last week's tumultuous recall was proof positive to anyone who needed it that Californians can and will engage in the political process - and in substantial numbers.
The recall, however, is a big blunt instrument, for use in extraordinary circumstances. The more interesting question is whether or not the public has the will and the ability to engage in the day-to-day work of governance.
As I kick off my third annual "There Oughta Be A Law" contest, I can tell you without a doubt that the answer is "yes."
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Wednesday, October 01, 2003
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Palo Alto – Assemblyman Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) kicked off his third annual “There Oughta Be A Law” contest today after learning that the Governor had just signed two of this year’s “There Oughta Be A Law” bills. “The two winning entries from the 2002-2003 contest show that individuals really can make a difference,” Simitian said. “These proposals are now law in California.”
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March 2003
Monday, March 17, 2003
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Palo Alto – There actually ‘oughta be’ several new laws, if the record number of entries for Assemblyman Joe Simitian’s annual contest is any indication. More than 100 people submitted their ideas to put new laws on the books.
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September 2002
Friday, September 27, 2002
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Sacramento – Winners of Assemblyman Joe Simitian’s (D-Palo Alto) “There Oughta Be a Law” Contest joined Simitian and Governor Gray Davis today in Sacramento as their bills were signed into law by the Governor.
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Monday, September 09, 2002
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Sacramento – Assemblyman Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) announced today his second annual “There Oughta Be a Law” contest. Beginning Monday, September 9th, Simitian will be accepting entries – ideas for new legislation – from his constituents in the 21st Assembly District.
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May 2002
Wednesday, May 08, 2002
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Sacramento – Assemblyman Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) announced today that a winner of his “There Oughta Be a Law Contest” was in Sacramento to testify on behalf of her entry which will protect consumers using gift certificates. Assembly Bill 2473, regarding gift certificates in bankruptcy, was unanimously approved by the Assembly Committee on Business and Professions on Tuesday, May 7th. This bill protects consumers by requiring businesses that have declared bankruptcy to honor gift certificates issued prior to the date of the bankruptcy filing.
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April 2002
Monday, April 22, 2002
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Sacramento – Assemblyman Joe Simitian announced today that his Assembly Bill 2474 regarding antifreeze poisoning will be heard in the Assembly Committee on Business and Professions on April 23, 2002. By adding a bittering agent to antifreeze, the bill is designed to improve consumer safety and reduce the number of accidental poisonings suffered by children and animals.
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Thursday, April 18, 2002
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Sacramento – Winners of Assemblyman Joe Simitian’s (D-Palo Alto) “There Oughta Be a Law” Contest will be coming to Sacramento to testify on behalf of their bills. Three different winners were selected by Simitian, who introduced three bills based on their proposals.
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March 2002
Wednesday, March 06, 2002
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Sacramento – Assemblyman Joe Simitian announced today that there are three winners in his “There Oughta Be A Law” contest. Simitian sponsored the contest last fall to solicit ideas for new legislation. Nearly 100 people entered the contest. The winning legislative ideas covered diverse issues including consumer rights, environmental protection and public health.
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September 2001
Wednesday, September 05, 2001
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Sacramento – Assemblyman Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) announced today his first annual “There Oughta Be a Law” contest. Beginning Friday, September 14th, Simitian will be accepting entries – ideas for new legislation – from his constituents in the 21st Assembly District.
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