California Senate committee appointments

The Sacramento Bee reports that Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg has released the full Senate committee roster for the 2013-2014 legislative session that begins today.

Mark DeSaulnier (D-Concord) returns as chair of the Senate Transportation and Housing Committee, which is where you’ll find most bills that will affect cyclists. The Republican co-chair, Ted Gaines of Roseville, is an avid cyclist who can often be seen biking to work in the state capital. DeSaulnier voted in favor of extending the cell phone ban to cyclists, while Gaines voted against it. Both DeSaulnier and Gaines voted against High Speed Rail. Both voted in favor of Lowenthal’s 3 foot passing law.

Other members of the Transportation & Housing Committee include:

  • Jim Beall (D-San Jose), newly elected. Previously served as a city of San Jose councillor, Santa Clara County supervisor, and on the SF Bay Area Metorpolitan Transportation Commission.
  • Anthony Cannella (R-Ceres) is a UC-Davis engineering grad who represents the Central Valley. Cannella consistently has voted in favor of the 3 foot passing law that Lowenthal repeatedly introduces. He votes “Nay” on most measures that increase spending or regulations.
  • Cathleen Galgiani (D-Stockton), freshman.
  • Ricardo Lara (D-Long Beach), another freshman Senator.
  • Carol Liu (D-Redondo Beach).
  • Richard Roth (D-Riverside).
  • Michael Rubio (D-Fresno).
  • Mark Wyland (R-San Juan Capistrano)

The Senate Budget and Fiscal Review committee has a number of subcommittees. Assigned to the Resources, Environmental Protection, Energy and Transportation subcommittee are Jim Beall, Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) and Jean Fuller (R-Bakersfield). Jackson in particular has demonstrated an interest in women’s cycling. Fuller sponsored AB 1581, which mandates new installations of traffic signals must detect bicycles, and the green phase must be long enough to allow bicycles to cross the intersection.

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