(December 3, 2008) After being sworn in on Monday as president pro tem of the California State Senate, Senator Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) appointed Senate committee chairs for the 2009-10 session, which convened on December 1.

In addition, the following are serving in Senate leadership positions:

Majority Leader: Senator Dean Florez (D-Shafter)
Minority Leader:  Senator Dave Cogdill (R-Modesto)
Democratic Caucus Chair: Senator Jenny Oropeza (D-Long  Beach)
Republican Caucus Chair: Senator George Runner (R-Lancaster)
Minority Whip: Senator Tom Harman (R-Huntington Beach)

Committee chairs for the 2009-10 legislative session:

• Appropriations Committee — Senator Christine Kehoe (D-San Diego)
• Banking and Finance Committee — Senator Ron Calderon (D-Montebello)
• Budget and Fiscal Review Committee — Senator Denise Ducheny (D-San Diego)
• Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee — Senator Gloria Negrete-McLeod (D-Chino)
•  Education Committee — Senator Gloria Romero (D-East Los Angeles)
• Elections, Reapportionment and Constitutional Amendments Committee — Senator Loni Hancock (D-Berkeley)
• Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee — Senator Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima)
• Environmental Quality Committee — Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto)
• Governmental Organization Committee — Senator Roderick Wright (D-Inglewood)
• Health Committee — Senator Elaine Alquist (D-Santa Clara)
• Human Service— Senator Carol Liu (D-La Cañada Flintridge)
• Judiciary Committee — Senator Ellen Corbett (D-San Leandro)
• Labor and Industrial Relations — Senator Mark DeSaulnier (D-Concord)
• Local Government — Senator Pat Wiggins (D-Santa Rosa)
• Natural Resources and Water Committee — Senator Fran Pavley (D-Agoura Hills)
• Public Employment and Retirement — Senator Lou Correa (D-Santa Ana)
• Public Safety Committee — Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco)
• Revenue and Taxation — Senator Lois Wolk (D-Davis)
• Rules — Senator Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento)
• Democratic Members of Rules Committee: Senator Jenny Oropeza (D-Long Beach) and Senator Gil Cedillo (D-Los Angeles)
• Transportation and Housing Committee — Senator Alan Lowenthal (D-Long Beach)

There are currently 24 Democrats in the caucus (due to former Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas' recent resignation) and the announced committee chairmanships account for 19 of those members.