Brown Signs Variety Of Bills

California Governor Jerry Brown has until next Tuesday to act on the remaining bills sent to him during the final days of the legislative session. This week he approved a measure making it easier for prison inmates to request post-conviction DNA tests. He also signed into law a bill prohibiting the sterilization of female inmates.

Brown signed a measure prohibiting state agencies from selling the confederate flag or objects containing images of the flag. He also approved the creation of a new state holiday. Native American Day will be observed on the fourth Friday in September.

Another bill regulates the transport of crude oil by rail through California. Another requires health insurance carriers to give women access to all FDA-approved forms of birth control.

Brown has also signed several “Farm-to-Fork” bills to promote agriculture and healthy foods. Among them is a bill that tightens regulations on farmer’s markets. Another creates the Office of Farm to Fork, which will be tasked with increasing the amount of healthy food available in schools and underserved communities.

Brown also took action today on several bills related to women and the LGBT community. One would allow death certificates to reflect the gender-identity of the person, rather than their biological sex. Another streamlines the stepparent adoption process for spouses and domestic partners. A third bill requires large, commercial airports to provide separate rooms for mothers to breastfeed.