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Ting Bill Allowing More Counties To Increase Jury Pay Under Pilot Program Sent To The Governor

The California Legislature today approved AB 881, the Be the Jury pilot program, by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), allowing five counties to increase jury pay in criminal trials from $15 a day to $100 a day for low-to-moderate income jurors. The pilot program seeks to see whether a higher stipend results in juries that are more racially and economic diverse. 

“Californians from all backgrounds are entitled to serve on juries. When financial hardship determines whether someone can be participate in our democracy, we miss out on a diversity of perspectives. Studies show when juries are more reflective of the communities they serve, they spend more time in deliberations and are less likely to presume guilt, which help defendants get a fair trial,” said Ting. “AB 881 helps ensure the accused gets a jury of their peers.”

CalMatters: Soaring Chronic Absenteeism In CA Schools Is At ‘Pivotal Moment’

As a new school year gets underway in California, districts are desperately trying to lure thousands of missing, tardy and truant students back to the classroom in what many view as a pivotal moment for education in California.

In 2021-22, 30% of students in California’s public schools were chronically absent, an all-time high and more than three times the pre-pandemic rate. Advocates fear that unless schools can reverse the trend, so many students will fall behind that they may never catch up.

KCBS Radio: Eliminating “Legacy Admissions” in Universities Evens The Playing Field

Affirmative action is no longer legal in college admissions, after it was outlawed this summer by the U.S. Supreme Court. But many universities still give preference to so-called “legacies”, The children of alumni and prominent donors.

A recent report found that at at least three colleges in California, some of those applicants get in even when they’re not qualified for admission. An attempt to ban legacy admissions in the Golden State fell short four years ago, but now the author of that bill wants to try again.

Assembly Budget Chair Phil Ting Secures $20 Million In State Funding For San Francisco and Daly City

A stronger care network, more bike lanes and additional cultural resources top the list of projects getting state funding as a result of the efforts of Assembly Budget Chair Phil Ting’s (D-San Francisco). AB 102, signed by the Governor today, includes $20 million that will help improve the lives of his constituents and beyond.

“While we have so many needs locally, I prioritized plans that help our most vulnerable residents, expand active transportation, and strengthen community because their impacts will felt far and wide for years,” said Ting. “These investments will not only make our neighborhoods stronger, but also ensure our communities are cleaner, safer, greener, and more equitable for those who live there.”

KQED: Millions of Criminal Records Cleared After Landmark California Law Takes Effect

More than 11 million arrest and conviction records have been wiped clean in the first six months of the implementation of a new California law, marking the largest expungement over that time period in the country’s history.

The mass expungement follows the years-long effort by lawmakers and voters dating back to 2016 — when marijuana was legalized in the state — to clear certain criminal records and open up employment and housing opportunities for Californians.