Legislative Issues
Ortiz focused on health and education and passed the first law in the nation protecting embryonic stem cell research. She was the first legislator to ban sodas from schools, created the California Biomonitoring Program and created the California Department of Public Health. Ortiz also authored the historic Cal Grant Scholarship Program that guarantees college grants for poor and working class students who attend California schools. Major issues that Ortiz fought for while in the legislature included stem cell research, and obesity prevention.
Ortiz is well known for authoring the California Freedom of Access to Clinic and Church Entrances Act (or California FACE Act) and the Reproductive Rights Law Enforcement Act in 2001. Passed by the Legislature and signed into law by Governor Davis, the law protects reproductive health care clients, providers and assistants and also worshipers and places of worship. Motivated by attacks on abortion patients, providers, clinics, and clinic escorts, it targets crimes, not First Amendment-protected speech.
She also authored laws that required criminal background checks for school employees after the death of Michelle Montoya at Rio Linda High School. Michelle Montoya was brutally raped and murdered on a school campus by a janitor that had been released from prison for manslaughter. Montoya was the daughter of a friend of Ortiz.
Ortiz also passed laws to create funding for ovarian cancer research and laws to assure access to emergency contraception.
One of the most controversial bills she sponsored was SB 400 - the controversial bill generously increased retirement benefits for state, local and safety employees. Many argue that changes enacted by the bill are the sole reason for the fiscal crisis in the State of California.
Read more about this topic: Deborah Ortiz
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