AB 2165: GREAT NEWS!

EXTRA! EXTRA! Read all about it!

I just heard some wonderful news: This afternoon, California Assembly Bill 2165 sailed through its last committee hearing on a unanimous vote of consent!

Assemblyman La Suer strode to the podium and started to speak: “AB 2165 prevents student athletes…” he began, and then got cut off by the committee chair. “I make a motion for passing the bill,” Senator Murray said, and all the other Senators followed his lead. “Great presentation,” they laughed, and went on to debate the next bill on the docket.

Now, the bill goes for a vote of the full Senate, followed by a vote on the accepted amendments in the Assembly. It’s likely both votes (pretty much pro forma) will happen sometime next week. Then (cue drum roll), on to the Governor’s desk for Schwarzenneger’s signature!

Thanks to all of you who’ve supported this legislation — and my family — as we’ve worked through the process of passing the bill. It understand it may get tiresome to hear about this, but I’m very grateful for your patient support, as it’s been a long and often painful road. As I mentioned to a friend, I’d never go into politics full-time. If I did, I’d probably die of a heart attack or a broken heart.

ABOUT THE BILL:  AB 2165 would prohibit California student-athletes from participation in athletic endeavors or on athletic teams if, after enrollment in CA public colleges and universities, they are convicted of a violent felony or certain sex crimes and have not yet served their sentences. 

If this topic is news to you, here’s a link to a USA Today article about my personal/professional involvement in this, and here’s a blog entry that gives the backstory on the bill.

45 Comments

    • Thanks so much! It feels remarkable to have an impact, especially since it’s been our way of getting back personal power, of seeing good come from a terrible situation.

      Wanna initiate legislation in your state? Since it affects NCAA-affiliated schools (among others), and since the problem it addresses doesn’t stop at the California border, it stands to reason other states might choose to get involved.

      By the way, my older son is studying for his Master’s degree in Library Information Services (or some such) at UW. So there’s our six-degrees-removed-from-kevin-bacon link!

    • Thank you so much Brandie!!! Looks like it was a very good day for both of us.

      I have to admit, though, that it’s been hard to concentrate on my writing.

    • Thank you for stopping by to celebrate. 🙂

      It’s definitely worth the hard work, if this legislation makes a difference for others who might otherwise have experienced what we went through.

    • YES! We’re hoping that he’ll have a signing ceremony for this (and other bills, of course). I’d love to hand over to my son the signing pen, as a symbol of what we’ve accomplished. 🙂

    • It’s always been very important to me that my sons see me as a soft place to fall and also a source of strength. This effort symbolizes my commitment to being that kind of mom… As author of HUGGING THE ROCK, I feel certain you’ll understand.

    • It looks like we’ll make it to the finish line, which is SO GREAT, but I think I’ll be able to really relax and celebrate when the bill’s actually signed into law.

      How’s your YA work coming along?

      • Anonymous

        Good, working on book #2. I’m thinking Five Ways will need quite a bit more work though.

Comments are closed.