Darrell Steinberg
Encyclopedia
Darrell Steven Steinberg (born October 15, 1959) is a Democratic
politician from Sacramento, California
. He is currently serving his second term in the California State Senate
, representing the 6th District. He has been the Senate President Pro Tem since 2008. Steinberg had previously served as a member of the California State Assembly
(1998–2004) and as a member of the Sacramento City Council
(1992–1998).
and a Juris Doctor from the University of California, Davis School of Law (King Hall).
Steinberg worked as an Employee Rights Attorney for the California State Employees Association for 10 years and as an Administrative Law Judge and mediator.
Steinberg served on the Sacramento City Council
representing the 6th District, where he founded Sacramento START (Students Today Achieving Results for Tomorrow), a free literacy-based public/private after-school program.
from 1998 until he was termed out in 2004.
Steinberg served as Chair of the Assembly Committees on Budget, Appropriations, Judiciary, Labor and Employment, and the Select Committee on High Priority Schools. He authored 70 bills that were signed into law that included expansions to mental health, helping low performing schools, expanding after-school programs, extending Title IX , creating the Sacramento Emergency Clean Air and Transportation (SECAT) program to improve Central Valley air quality, and several bills in the areas of consumer protection and public safety.
While in the Assembly, he co-authored the 2004 California Ballot Proposition
63
, the Mental Health Services Act
(MHSA), which imposes a 1% tax
on incomes of $1,000,000 or more for mental health
funding. He co-authored "Prop 63" with mental health lobbyist, Sherman Russell Selix, Jr.
He also served as a Commissioner for the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission (2004–2009).
Before being elevated to Pro Tem, he was Chair of the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee. He also chaired the Senate Select Committee on High School Graduation., the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission, and the Legislative Blue Ribbon Commission on Autism.
As a member of the State Senate, Steinberg continued many of the same causes he had undertaken as a member of the Assembly. He continued his work on improving test scores, aiding under performing schools, lowering dropout rates, and improving the state's mental health system. In 2007, Steinberg introduced a bill to cap at 20 the number of hours high school students can work after school if their grade point average is not 2.5 or higher.
parts of Elk Grove
and Citrus Heights
.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician from Sacramento, California
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
. He is currently serving his second term in the California State Senate
California State Senate
The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. There are 40 state senators. The state legislature meets in the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The Lieutenant Governor is the ex officio President of the Senate and may break a tied vote...
, representing the 6th District. He has been the Senate President Pro Tem since 2008. Steinberg had previously served as a member of the California State Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
(1998–2004) and as a member of the Sacramento City Council
Sacramento City Council
The Sacramento City Council is the governing body of the city of Sacramento, California. The council holds regular meetings at Sacramento City Hall on Tuesdays at 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm, with exceptions for holidays and other special cases....
(1992–1998).
Education and early career
Steinberg received a B.A. in Economics from the University of California, Los AngelesUniversity of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
and a Juris Doctor from the University of California, Davis School of Law (King Hall).
Steinberg worked as an Employee Rights Attorney for the California State Employees Association for 10 years and as an Administrative Law Judge and mediator.
Steinberg served on the Sacramento City Council
Sacramento City Council
The Sacramento City Council is the governing body of the city of Sacramento, California. The council holds regular meetings at Sacramento City Hall on Tuesdays at 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm, with exceptions for holidays and other special cases....
representing the 6th District, where he founded Sacramento START (Students Today Achieving Results for Tomorrow), a free literacy-based public/private after-school program.
California State Assembly
Darrell Steinberg was a member of the California State AssemblyCalifornia State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
from 1998 until he was termed out in 2004.
Steinberg served as Chair of the Assembly Committees on Budget, Appropriations, Judiciary, Labor and Employment, and the Select Committee on High Priority Schools. He authored 70 bills that were signed into law that included expansions to mental health, helping low performing schools, expanding after-school programs, extending Title IX , creating the Sacramento Emergency Clean Air and Transportation (SECAT) program to improve Central Valley air quality, and several bills in the areas of consumer protection and public safety.
While in the Assembly, he co-authored the 2004 California Ballot Proposition
Initiative
In political science, an initiative is a means by which a petition signed by a certain minimum number of registered voters can force a public vote...
63
California Mental Health Services Act
In November 2004, voters in the U.S. state of California passed Proposition 63, the Mental Health Services Act , which has been designed to expand and transform California’s county mental health service systems by increasing the taxes of high income individuals...
, the Mental Health Services Act
California Mental Health Services Act
In November 2004, voters in the U.S. state of California passed Proposition 63, the Mental Health Services Act , which has been designed to expand and transform California’s county mental health service systems by increasing the taxes of high income individuals...
(MHSA), which imposes a 1% tax
Tax
To tax is to impose a financial charge or other levy upon a taxpayer by a state or the functional equivalent of a state such that failure to pay is punishable by law. Taxes are also imposed by many subnational entities...
on incomes of $1,000,000 or more for mental health
Mental health
Mental health describes either a level of cognitive or emotional well-being or an absence of a mental disorder. From perspectives of the discipline of positive psychology or holism mental health may include an individual's ability to enjoy life and procure a balance between life activities and...
funding. He co-authored "Prop 63" with mental health lobbyist, Sherman Russell Selix, Jr.
He also served as a Commissioner for the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission (2004–2009).
The 9th District
In the 2000s, the 9th district included the city of Sacramento and some of the unincorporated urban and suburban areas south of the city.State Senate
Steinberg is the President pro Tempore of the California State Senate. In February 2008, he was selected by Senate Democrats to become Pro Tem in the next legislative session, when the incumbent would be termed-out. He took office in November 2008 as the first Senate leader from Sacramento since 1883.Before being elevated to Pro Tem, he was Chair of the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee. He also chaired the Senate Select Committee on High School Graduation., the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission, and the Legislative Blue Ribbon Commission on Autism.
As a member of the State Senate, Steinberg continued many of the same causes he had undertaken as a member of the Assembly. He continued his work on improving test scores, aiding under performing schools, lowering dropout rates, and improving the state's mental health system. In 2007, Steinberg introduced a bill to cap at 20 the number of hours high school students can work after school if their grade point average is not 2.5 or higher.
The 6th District
The 6th District includes the capital city of SacramentoSacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
parts of Elk Grove
Elk Grove, California
Elk Grove is a city in Sacramento County, California, located just south of the state capital of Sacramento. It is part of the Sacramento–Arden-Arcade–Roseville Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the population of the city is 153,015...
and Citrus Heights
Citrus Heights, California
Citrus Heights is a city in Sacramento County, California, USA. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 83,301, down from 85,071 at the 2000 census....
.