Bill inspired by Indio high schooler unanimously passes State Senate

A bill that was inspired by a Shadow Hills High School student unanimously passed the State Senate Wednesday. S.B. 583, the California Financial Literacy Act, was put forth by Senator Jeff Stone (R-Temecula) after he conducted his “There Ought to be a Law” contest in which Shadow Hills senior Robert Ortega won.

The bill would require high school students in the state to pass a course in financial literacy before receiving their diploma.

Ortega’s proposal was chosen from more than 120 entries in Senator Stone’s contest. He was flown to the Sacramento to testify in front of a Senate committee on behalf of the bill.

“So many of our young people enter the job market or head off to college without the necessary financial tools they need,” Senator Stone said. “As a result, many run almost immediately into massive debt and credit card problems that force them to begin their adult lives with bad credit scores and huge bills.”