Ellen Corbett
Senator Ellen M. Corbett was elected to the Senate in 2006. A lawyer and civic activist, she is dedicated to protecting the rights of consumers, encouraging educational opportunities and protecting the environment.
During her six years in the Assembly and term in the Senate, Senator Corbett has enacted landmark legislation, including creating a cash back for gift cards worth less than $10 program, giving consumers more information about bottled water, and updating the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Senator Corbett has a long history of public service in the district. She served as a city councilmember and was the first woman elected mayor of San Leandro. Prior to that, she worked as an attorney, community college professor and civic activist.
Senator Corbett maintains a strong connection to her district. She has worked to secure funding for transportation improvements, environmental projects and economic development opportunities.
Senator Corbett has received numerous awards during her legislative career. In 2008, she was named one of the Top 100 Attorneys in California and an Outstanding Legislator by the California State Sheriff’s Association.
She has also received honors from the California Labor Federation, the Consumer Federation of California, the American Cancer Society, the California Congress of Seniors and the Sierra Club of California.
As chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator Corbett works to make sure our laws are fair and effective.
Senator Corbett successful passed a law that allows consumers to receive cash in exchange for a gift card worth less than $10. California gift cards have no expiration date.
Another law by Senator Corbett requires bottled water producers to provide essential water quality information to consumers and list the source of their water on the label. It also requires bottled water companies to publish a Consumer Confidence Report on their website enabling consumers to easily find information about the quality of their bottled water
A major effort led to the passage and governor’s signature on a bill improving compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. It was the first comprehensive reform of access laws in more than 17 years.
Senator Corbett also led efforts to try to reduce the costs of college textbooks, but the governor vetoed the bill. She fought to ban toxic food packaging, but that bill was also vetoed by the governor. Other legislative efforts include reducing prescription drug costs and restoring the wetlands along the Bay.
This year, Senator Corbett is authoring the Car Buyers Protection Act to give customers more safeguards when they purchase a vehicle. The bill will prevent car dealers from selling a car unless they pay off its lien. Consumers will be protected from having their credit ruined if the dealer goes out of business.
Senator Corbett is the author of SB 55, which will expand California’s successful beverage recycling program to include more products, and thus divert materials away from our landfills and create more green jobs for California.
She is also the author of SB 400, which will encourage car manufacturers to produce energy efficient vehicles here in California. The bill helps California fight global warming while creating high paying jobs for Californians and protecting our car manufacturing sector during these difficult economic times. Another key bill, SB 42, looks at updating our energy practices so that they do not destroy marine life.
In addition to chairing the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sen. Corbett serves on Appropriations; Budget; Business, Professions and Economic Development; Energy, Utilities and Communications; Environmental Quality and Legislative Ethics.
She is also the chair of the Biotechnology and Earthquake and Disaster Preparedness Select Committees and sits on the Mobile and Manufactured Homes Select Committee.
A native Californian, Sen. Corbett attended local schools in the East Bay, including Chabot Community College and California State University, Hayward. She graduated from the University of California, Davis and McGeorge Law School. Prior to her legislative career, Sen. Corbett practiced civil law.
Sen. Corbett lives in San Leandro with her teenaged son.