California Legislature Races to Clear Pre-Holiday To-Do List

A bill that would grant legal driving privileges to undocumented immigrants cleared a big hurdle, as did a bill that would incrementally raise the current 8 dollar per hour minimum wage up to 10 dollars per hour by 2018.

Measures that would ban lead ammunition, order the state to investigate possible fuel price gouging, and expand the scope of the paid family leave act outside the immediate family, also moved on. Two environmental bills moved forward: One that would streamline the Environmental Quality Act to promote smart growth and another that would regulate hydraulic fracturing, or fracking.

Another bill that would allow pregnant women on welfare to claim extra benefits for the child stalled, as did a bill to expand the legally authorized scope of a nurse practitioner’s duties.