The California Senate Fellows program was established in 1973 to provide participants with insight into the legislative process. The program's primary goals include exposing people with diverse life experiences and backgrounds to the legislative process and providing research and other professional staff assistance to the Senate. The program is jointly sponsored by the

California State Senate The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature (the lower house being the California State Assembly). The state senate convenes, along with the state assembly, at the California State Capitol in Sacramento. ...

and the Center for California Studies at

California State University, Sacramento California State University, Sacramento (CSUS, Sacramento State, or informally Sac State) is a public university in Sacramento, California, United States. Founded in 1947 as Sacramento State College, it is part of the California State Universit ...

(CSUS). __NOTOC__

Fellowship year

Eighteen California Senate Fellows are selected to serve as full-time Senate staff for 11 months beginning each October. Fellows are assigned to either senators' or committee offices in early December and work as part of the public policy staff in the Capitol. Responsibilities include helping develop legislative proposals, researching and analyzing bills, responding to constituent inquiries, and writing press releases and speeches. Those selected for policy committees specialize and develop expertise with respect to the subject-matter of their committee. Additional committee responsibilities include research assignments and assisting the chairperson with committee-related legislation that they are moving through the legislature. All Fellows receive a monthly stipend of $2,794 plus full health, vision and dental benefits. Academically the Fellows attend mandatory seminars taught at the Capitol by faculty from the CSUS's

Government Department Ministry or department (also less commonly used secretariat, office, or directorate) are designations used by first-level Executive (government), executive bodies in the Machinery of government, machinery of governments that manage a specific se ...

, earning 12 units of graduate credit.

Requirements

The only program prerequisites are being 20 years of age and having a degree from a four-year college or university when the program commences. There is no preferred major due to the interdisciplinary nature of the work. Individuals with advanced degrees and those in mid-career are encouraged to apply. Although no previous political or legislative experience is necessary, applicants should have a strong interest in public policy and politics. Selected applicants receive a five-week orientation provides background on state government, the legislative process, and major policy issues.

Previous Senate Fellows

Notable Senate Fellows include: *

Xavier Becerra Xavier Becerra (; born January 26, 1958) is an American attorney and politician who served as the 25th United States secretary of health and human services, a position he held from March 19, 2021 to January 20, 2025. He is the first Latino to h ...

(1980–81),

United States Secretary of Health and Human Services The United States secretary of health and human services is the head of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, and serves as the principal advisor to the president of the United States on all health matters. The secretary is ...

and former

Attorney General of California The attorney general of California is the state attorney general of the government of California. The officer must ensure that "the laws of the state are uniformly and adequately enforced" ( Constitution of California, Article V, Section 13). ...

* Jordan Cunningham (2000–01), California State Assemblyman *

Dean Florez Dean Raymond Florez (born April 5, 1963) is an American former politician who served as a California State Senator from the 16th Senate District, who served from 2002 until the end of his second term in November 2010. He was first elected to the ...

(1987–88), former California State Senate Majority Leader and former California State Assemblyman *

Matt Haney Matthew Craig Haney (born April 17, 1982) is an American politician from San Francisco currently serving as a member of the California State Assembly from the California's 17th State Assembly district, 17th district, covering the eastern portion ...

(2005–06), California State Assemblyman *

Kristin Olsen Kristin Olsen (born January 19, 1974) is an American business owner and politician. She served on the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors from 2017 to 2021. From 2010 to 2016 she served in the California State Assembly representing the ...

(1996–97), former California State Assembly Republican Leader * Sebastian Ridley-Thomas (2009–10), former California State Assemblyman *

Todd Spitzer Todd Allan Spitzer (born November 26, 1960) is an American attorney and politician serving as the district attorney of Orange County, California. Spitzer successfully ran for Orange County district attorney in 2018 against incumbent Tony Racka ...

(1982–83), Orange County District Attorney and former California State Assemblyman *

Jose Solorio Jose J. Solorio (born September 28, 1970) is an American politician from California. He was elected to the California State Assembly in 2006 as a Democrat. He represented the 69th Assembly District, which includes the city of Santa Ana and part ...

(1992–93), former California State Assemblyman *

Betty Yee Betty T. Yee (born October 19, 1957) is an American politician and member of the Democratic Party who served as California State Controller from 2015 to 2023. She previously served as a member of the California Board of Equalization from 2004 to ...

(1988–89),

California State Controller The state controller of California is a constitutional office in the executive branch of the Government of California, government of the U.S. state of California. Thirty-three individuals have held the office of state controller since statehood. T ...

and former Chair of the

California Board of Equalization The California State Board of Equalization (BOE) is a public agency charged with Tax, tax administration and Fee, fee collection in the state of California in the United States. The authorities of the Board attempt to ensure that counties fairl ...

External links

California Senate Fellows Program
– CSUS web site
California Senate Fellows Program
– Senate web site
California State Senate
{{California-university-stub California State University, Sacramento California State Legislature 1973 establishments in California