California Senate cancels all hearings for the coming week due to coronavirus

The California Senate has canceled all hearings next week, due to the spreading coronavirus, while the Assembly is continuing to hold them on a more limited basis.

Senate President Pro Tempore Toni Atkins, D-San Diego, issued the statement canceling the hearings on Friday evening, “in order to focus on an immediate response to COVID-19.”

Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, D-Paramount, has left the decision to cancel or postpone committee hearings to the discretion of the committee chairs.

Regular floor sessions in both houses will be held.

“The Assembly is committed to carrying out the crucial business of the Legislature as much as possible, while protecting staff, members and the public,” said Katie Talbot, spokeswoman for Rendon’s office. “Several hearings originally set for next week have been postponed or canceled. As the Assembly continues to receive guidance from the (California Department of Public Health) and other community health partners, additional scheduling changes may occur.”

Committees that have postponed or canceled hearings include:

▪ The joint hearing of Assembly Committee on Business and Professions and Senate Committee on Business, Professions and Economic Development

▪ The Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation

▪ The Assembly Committee on Aging and Long-Term Care

▪ The Assembly Select Committee on Women in the Workplace

▪ The joint hearing of the Assembly Committee on Health and the Senate Committee on Health

▪ The Assembly Select Committee on Domestic Violence

▪ The Assembly Select Committee on Native American Affairs

▪ The Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy

Groups like We Said Enough have put pressure on the Legislature to cancel all policy hearings until a method of providing remote participation is made available and argued that all staff should be permitted to work from home without needing to use sick leave or vacation time.

“It has come to our attention that legislative staff do not have the appropriate support to ensure their health and safety. True, the work of the people must be done, especially in times of crisis like these. However, it is possible for staff to continue in service without being denied workplace accommodations and protections that this Legislature sees to afford other California employees,” the group said in a statement.

The Capitol building was closed to the public over the weekend, and public tours have been ended temporarily.

This story was originally published March 14, 2020 at 3:03 PM.