Prisons, psychedelics and unions: 3 bills California Democrats would like to revive next year

California Democrats are lining up a series of ambitious bills to tackle when the state legislative session resumes in January — including several measures that failed to become law last year.

State senators and assemblymembers are bringing back proposals on prison policy, unionization and drug legalization that failed in the Capitol or were vetoed by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

A Southern California senator has also reintroduced a measure to reform the state’s concealed carry permitting process in the wake of a U.S. Supreme Court decision that struck parts of it down.

Here are some pieces of legislation Democrats will give another go in the new session.

Limiting solitary confinement

Assemblyman Chris Holden, D-Pasadena, is resurfacing a proposal to limit solitary confinement in state prisons and immigrant detention centers.

The Legislature passed his earlier version, which would have restricted solitary to 15 days at a time. It would have banned it entirely for pregnant people, inmates with certain disabilities and those under 25 or older than 65.

Newsom vetoed the bill in September, saying that while he supports limits to solitary confinement, Holden’s measure was “overly broad” and could put staff and inmates at risk.

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Newsom directed the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to create rules limiting solitary confinement, “except in limited situations,” such as dealing with inmates engaging in violence.

Holden has not yet reintroduced his bill, but he said plans to bring it back it in late January or early February.

“Solitary confinement remains one of the most pressing human rights issues of our time,” he said in a statement. “The governor acknowledged in his veto message that this issue was ‘ripe for reform,’ and I agree.”

Allowing legislative staff to unionize

Assemblywoman Tina McKinnor, D-Inglewood, reintroduced a measure that would allow legislative staff to unionize. It failed last session in dramatic fashion.

McKinnor is picking up for Assemblyman Mark Stone, D-Santa Cruz. Stone, who opted not to run for re-election, carried a bill that would have allowed staffers to form a union and collectively bargain with the Assembly speaker and Senate president pro tem.

Civil employees have been able to unionize since the late 1970s, but legislative staff has been exempt.

Stone’s bill died at the last minute in the Assembly Public Employment and Retirement Committee, after former Assemblyman Jim Cooper, D-Elk Grove, blocked it. He cited the lack of a no-strike clause, while other members had concerns about staff having conflicts of interest when dealing with union-backed bills. Cooper did not run for re-election and instead became the next sheriff of Sacramento County.

The committee eventually took a vote after Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, D-Lakewood, “reiterated an expectation” the bill would be heard. It failed 2-4, and McKinnor was one of two members to vote in favor of the measure.

“Legislative staff aren’t looking for special treatment. They are looking for the same dignity and respect afforded to all represented workers,” McKinnor said in a statement. “We ask our staff to write legislation and staff bills that expand collective bargaining rights for other workers in California, yet we prohibit our own employees from that same right.”

Decriminalizing psychedelic drugs

Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, will reintroduce a bill to decriminalize the use of specific psychedelic drugs, which proponents say can help treat mental health conditions and addiction.

Wiener’s legislation to curb penalties for psilocybin, psilocyn, mescaline and other substances was gutted in the Assembly Appropriations Committee last summer.

He announced on Monday the proposal will return as Senate Bill 58, sponsored by Heroic Hearts Project, a veterans’ group that advocates psychedelic therapy for those dealing with trauma.

This story was originally published December 19, 2022 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Prisons, psychedelics and unions: 3 bills California Democrats would like to revive next year."