News

Derek M. Norman, The New York Times

Last May, Samir Bhavnani, a 47-year-old tech executive from San Diego, was planning a trip to Palm Springs, Calif., where he planned to propose to his girlfriend. He found the perfect spot on Vrbo: It offered a “spa in a grotto,” a slide and a swim-up bar and had plenty of five-star reviews.

He decided to book two nights, at $595 a night. But somehow, the total came to about $2,300.

Ana Mata, San Mateo Daily Journal

As the state and county continue to pursue policies expanding the parameters for involuntarily detentions in cases of mental health or substance abuse concerns, local leaders are looking to make sure loved ones can be informed advocates.

When former San Carlos Mayor Laura Parmer-Lohan experienced firsthand how out of the loop a caretaker can be when a loved one above the age of 18 is involuntarily detained, or 5150’d, she felt something had to change.

Students in the West Valley Mission Community College District could see their tuition automatically waived starting Jan. 1, 2025.

State Assemblymember Marc Berman introduced AB 3158 on Friday, which would streamline the district’s tuition waiver program. Berman’s Assembly district includes Saratoga, where West Valley College is located, and Campbell.

A new education policy has so far flown largely under the radar among the general public, but it’s worth paying attention because it could have far-ranging benefits if schools do a good job of implementation.

This year California joins a handful of other states in requiring all K-12 public schools to provide instruction in media literacy, thanks to a bill sponsored by Assemblyman Marc Berman that passed last fall with near-unanimous bipartisan support.

As artificial intelligence increasingly blurs the distinction between real and fake, state Assembly member Marc Berman, D-Menlo Park, plans to introduce a law that would make it illegal to use AI technology to create child pornography.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A state lawmaker from Silicon Valley wants to crack down on AI-generated depictions of child sexual abuse as tech companies face growing scrutiny nationally over their moderation of illicit content.

Seeking to strengthen California's gun laws, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed, on Sept. 26, a pair of bills authored by Assembly member Marc Berman, D-Menlo Park. The bills empower the Department of Justice to conduct firearm inspection and also require firearm sellers to provide information about the risks of gun ownership.

The bills were Berman's response to the January shooting in Half Moon Bay, which claimed the lives of seven people. Berman, who is a founding member of the Legislature's Gun Violence Working Group, said, "The incident rocked (his) district."

There are no easy answers, but Assemblymember Marc Berman's webinar outlines how homeowners can find insurance

With insurance companies ending coverage of thousands of local homes, a lament is growing along the Peninsula.

CAROLYN JONES

JUNE 5, 2023

Recognizing fake news, being savvy about social media and resisting cyberbullying would be a required part of California school curriculum under a bill now making its way through the Legislature.

Legislation that would ensure all high school students have access to computer science courses was introduced last week by Assemblyman Marc Berman, D-Menlo Park.

“From Silicon Valley to Biotech Beach, California is the undisputed cradle of innovation. People move here from all across the globe with bold ideas and big dreams of changing the world,” Berman said. “But the reality is that far too many California students grow up in the shadows of these tech companies, yet go to schools that don’t even offer them the opportunity to learn the skills they need to one day work there.”