BSP'S Policy Advocacy

BSP is devoted to protecting workers’ rights! On April 25th, 2023, as part of the Solis Policy Institute fellowship, BSP’s Director of System Change & Worker Voice, Slyvia Romo, testified before the CA Senate Judiciary Committee in support of bill SB 521, which protects pregnant & parenting students receiving CalWorks assistance from being sanctioned and therefore having their benefits diminished.

Activities that should be protected under Title IX include missing class for lactating needs or making up work when parenting needs conflict with class.

The bill’s author is Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (District 28, LA), who knows BSP well and was previously at the UCLA Labor Center. So far, the bill has received unanimous bipartisan support so far in Senate committees for judiciary and human services.

Sylvia Romo pictured with the California delegation - Rep Mark DeSaulnier (Contra Costa county) and Rep Ami Bera's (Sacramento) staff members

Sylvia Romo pictured with the California delegation - Rep Mark DeSaulnier (Contra Costa county) and Rep Ami Bera's (Sacramento) staff members

In May 2023, Slyvia Romo was in Washington, D.C., for the National Skills Coalition's annual Skills Summit.

In addition to attending sessions on ways to support job quality and Workforce Development through policy, the group also did Hill visits to advocate for these priorities.