Legislative issues Ortiz focused on health and passed the first law in the nation protecting embryonic stem cell research. She was the first legislator to ban sodas from primary and middle schools when she passed SB 677 in 2003. Ortiz passed laws that created the California Biomonitoring Program, established the California Lead Abatement standards program, established the standards for Chromium 6 in drinking water, 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. 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 ensure access to emergency contraception. Ortiz also authored SB 400 that allowed public employees to receive more generous pensions and provided local government the authority to vote to increase public employee pensions. Many argue that changes enacted by the bill have contributed to fiscal crisis in the State of California. 2006 bid for Secretary of State Ortiz was termed out of office in 2006 having served two terms in the Senate. Thus, she decided to run for Secretary of State against incumbent Bruce McPherson. However, Ortiz lost the June 6, 2006 Democratic primary to fellow State Senator Debra Bowen (D-Marina del Rey) who ended up defeating McPherson in November. Personal Ortiz was born and raised in the Oak Park neighborhood of the City of Sacramento. Ortiz attended UC Davis for her undergraduate studies and received her Juris Doctor degree from McGeorge School of Law. Ortiz was elected to the Los Rios Community College Board of Trustees in 2010 and reelected in